Dolphins poised to make run at historic futility
If only the NFL would embrace sports betting as a marketing tool, it would have a wonderful opportunity to portray truly awful football teams, on occasion, as winners who covered the spread and made an element of the public proud of their play.
Last week, the focus was on the New England Patriots, and to a lesser degree the Indianapolis Colts, in their quests to go unbeaten. Today, let’s flip to the league’s dregs, St. Louis and Miami, two teams sporting a goose egg in the win column.
Concerning the wagering line, the Dolphins and Rams have been just as pathetic. Miami is 1-4-2 against the spread, and St. Louis is 1-6.
Let’s assume with the return of running back Steven Jackson and quarterback Marc Bulger to the lineup that wins are likely for the Rams.
The same glass-is-half-full approach cannot be applied reasonably for the Dolphins, who are about 10-point underdogs to the New York Giants today in London.
Tampa Bay’s 0-14 season in 1976 made for a great “NFL Films” folly reel. In the 16-game regular-season era, several teams flirted with a winless record.
In 1980, New Orleans gave it a run, with its only win coming in Week 15, 21-20 over the Jets. The 2000 San Diego Chargers beat Kansas City by one point in Week 13. Before going on to win Super Bowls, coach Jimmy Johnson’s 1989 Dallas Cowboys were 1-15. The Carolina Panthers posted an opening-day victory in 2001, then lost 15 straight.
Having lost quarterback Trent Green (concussion) and running back Ronnie Brown (knee), and shipping top wide receiver Chris Chambers to San Diego, the question for the Dolphins becomes, where will the points and wins come from?
Also, the schedule offers only a handful of realistic opportunities for Miami to secure a victory. After today, the Dolphins have two games with Buffalo, home games with the Jets, Baltimore and Cincinnati and visits to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New England. The bottom line is, as of today, Miami will not be favored in any of its remaining games.
A reverse proposition is being prepared. Will a team go winless this season? Las Vegas Sports Consultants odds director Tony Sinisi said it remains a long shot.
“In modern-day football, as abysmal as Miami has looked, the stars will probably align for them to get a win,” Sinisi said. “There is a much greater chance of a team quitting in a bad season, provided they’ve already won. The potential stigma attached to a winless season is a great motivator.”
Around the room, oddsmakers’ opinions varied.
“The Dolphins are playing hard each week, and it stands to reason, eventually they’ll face an opponent who experiences a letdown,” LVSC’s Mike Seba said.
Said oddsmaker Sean Van Patten: “The injuries are taking their toll, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t win a game.”
LVSC’s Ken White said it might be a moot point after today’s game overseas.
“Factor in the travel, a break in routine for the Giants and the neutral field, and Miami might settle the issue once and for all in London,” White said.
If that were to be the case, you can find Miami at plus-400 on the money line at some sports books in Las Vegas.
Memo to the marketing gurus at NFL headquarters: Make sure to let your new international fan base in on the fact that those in attendance at Wembley Stadium could be witnessing a team on the cusp of a milestone achievement.
A T-shirt proclaiming, “I was there: Halfway Home to History!” could be a big seller. Wonder if the 1972 Dolphins are toasting their franchise’s run at an unprecedented feat of futility.
Brian Blessing, project manager for Las Vegas Sports Consultants, can be reached at bblessing@lvsc.com. Hear the LVSC oddsmakers on Sportsbook Radio, weekdays at 4 p.m. on KENO-AM (1460).