Ostrowski: Week 8 Vegas Perspective
By Joe Ostrowski-
(CBS) A week ago, it looked like New Jersey would become the fifth state to allow wagering on sports. Single-game sports betting is legal only in Nevada. Sports parlay pools with multiple games are permitted in Delaware, Montana and Oregon.
Since then, the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA have asked for a temporary restraining order to prevent gambling on NFL games this Sunday at Monmouth Park racetrack in New Jersey. Most law experts believe the restraining order will be issued prior to Sunday, but that may simply be a delay to an end game that NBA commissioner Adam Silver opined on last month.
"It's inevitable as all these states are broke that there will be legalized sports betting in more states than Nevada in the United States, and we will ultimately participate in that," Silver said.
"If people are sitting and watching a game and clicking to bet on their smartphones, which is what people are doing in the United Kingdom right now, I think it's much more likely you're going to stay tuned for a long time."
Just stay tuned. Now, let's get to the Vegas perspective for Week 8 in the NFL. Keep in mind that the wiseguy and public action listed below may have already moved point spreads.
Sharp (expert) money
(Last week: 0-3; season: 4-10-1)
Bears (+6) over the Patriots
Ravens (-1) over the Bengals
Public money
(Last week: 2-2; season: 9-8-1)
Texans (-3) over the Titans (93 percent)
Dolphins (-6) over the Jaguars (90 percent)
Colts (-3) over the Steelers (88 percent)
Line moves
The largest adjustment occurred after the pros went in on Baltimore and a 4-point change made the Ravens favorites after opening as dogs to Cincinnati. Four other point spreads were moved about two points for different reasons. Zach Mettenberger of Tennessee and Colt McCoy of Washington were named starting quarterbacks. Naturally, the public kept putting cash down on their respective foes, Seattle and Miami.
My picks
(Last week: 1-2; season: 9-9)
Baltimore (-1) at Cincinnati
A.J. Green has missed the last two weeks and sat out Bengals practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Their offense missed the stud receiver, as Cincinnati went three-and-out in its first eight possessions last Sunday against Indinapolis. The Bengals defense hasn't fared any better, allowing 36 points per game over the last three weeks. Baltimore has won five of six since a Week 1 defeat to Cincinnati. The Ravens have the NFL's best scoring defense, and running back Justin Forsett has the highest yards per carry average at his position.
Pick: Ravens -1
Indianapolis (-3) at Pittsburgh
There's been so much focus on the Colts offense that their dominance on the other side of the ball has been forgotten. Indianapolis has reeled off five straight victories, and its opponents have scored 17 points or fewer in four of those contests. Andrew Luck needs three touchdowns to keep pace with Peyton Manning as the league leader. The Steelers are 0-4-1 against the spread in their last five Sunday contests following a Monday night game.
Pick: Colts -3
Chicago (+6) at New England
Being forced to pick the Bears game every week has completely screwed up my once strong record. When the Bears lose, turnovers are usually the biggest reason one goes up in the right column of the standings. New England just happens to have the second-best turnover differential (+9) in the NFL. Tom Brady has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions while averaging 305 yards per game over the last three weeks. Patriots cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner are also waiting for the Bears big-play receivers (at least they were playmakers in 2013).
Pick: Patriots -6
Survivor picks
(Last week: 1-2; season: 10-5)
It feels like I should post some sort of a congrats message if you've read this far. To put things into the "Vegas Perspective," sportsbook.com has 16,464 participants in its yearly survivor pool. After seven weeks, more than 90 percent have been eliminated. Here's who to go with this week.
1) Cowboys over the Redskins
2) Chiefs over the Rams
Joe Ostrowski is a host, producer and update anchor at 670 The Score. He hosts his show on Fridays starting at 10 p.m. Follow him on Twitter @JoeO670 and feel free to ask him questions.