Tom Brady still suspended, and Las Vegas bookmakers not surprised
It now appears to be a near certainty that the New England Patriots will open the season without Tom Brady at quarterback, but the latest development in the Deflategate case did not blindside Las Vegas bookmakers.
A federal appeals court Wednesday rejected Brady’s request to overturn the four-game suspension he was issued by NFL. When the decision was announced by commissioner Roger Goodell in late April, bookmakers adjusted odds on the Patriots assuming Brady’s suspension would stick.
“We didn’t adjust anything today,” Jason Simbal, vice president of CG Technology sports books, said.
Brady’s value to the point spread is 3½ to 4 points.
New England still is a favorite in three of the four games with backup Jimmy Garoppolo replacing Brady. The Patriots opened as 1-point underdogs at Arizona in Week 1, and the line was adjusted to 4½ in April. It might inflate to 5 or 5½ by kickoff on Sept. 11.
In Week 2, New England is a 6-point home favorite over Miami. The Patriots’ next two home games against Houston and Buffalo each were adjusted from minus-7 to minus-3 three months ago and remain the same.
New England’s regular-season win total is 10½ (Over minus-150), and Westgate sports book manager Jeff Sherman said the public has been betting the Patriots over the total.
“We put up the season win (total) expecting Brady to be out four games,” Sherman said. “If he had been reinstated, then we would have to make changes.”
The Patriots remain the Super Bowl favorites, with odds of 6-1 at the Westgate and 13-2 at CG Technology.
Brady’s legal team still could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, yet the chances of that attempt being successful are remote.
Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247