Want to wager on Army-Navy in New Jersey? Don’t bet on it
A provision in the state’s gaming regulations prohibits wagering on college teams located in New Jersey or college competitions taking place in N.J. A referendum in November to change the law failed.
New Jersey’s got the eye-popping billion-dollar monthly sports handle, the ridiculous amount of online options for props, and a couple of pretty nice sportsbooks in Atlantic City.
One thing it does not have – at least legally – is a line on Saturday’s Army-Navy game. If you’re sitting in the majestic ‘book at Bally’s or the cozy confines at Tropicana, you’ll need to find another option to bet the only FBS game of the weekend.
» READ MORE: NFL betting picks for Week 14
A provision in the state’s gaming regulations prohibits wagering on college teams located in New Jersey or college competitions taking place in N.J. It’s a stipulation meant originally to appease residents and lawmakers hesitant to back a sports-betting bill in 2011.
Because it’s included in New Jersey’s constitution, it must be overturned by vote. A referendum in November failed.
“Not being able to bet it in N.J. is probably more of a minor nuisance than a major problem though,” said Jack Andrews, co-founder Unabated.com, a site geared toward educating novice bettors. “If the [Army-Navy] game was traditionally played in late October instead of early December, I think the likelihood of that ballot referendum passing would have been greater.”
It may be merely an inconvenience now, but if Rutgers gets relevant again in football – or Seton Hall’s men’s basketball team keeps winning and makes a deep NCAA Tournament run – it will create more headaches.
Army-Navy last year was played at West Point because of the pandemic, as Army shut out Navy (15-0) for the first time since 1969. The Cadets this year are 7.5-point favorites with a minuscule total of 33.5. For now, all that South Jersey bettors can do is cross a bridge and wager in Pennsylvania. If they want to bet legally, that is. If not, they’ll head to the black market.
“I’m sure there will be some confusion by those attending the game at the Meadowlands as to why they can’t bet it in New Jersey,” Andrews continued. “I expect the state will continue to try to get this referendum passed in the next few years. The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament rolls through Newark. They will want to gain sportsbook advertising dollars for that event.”
Army-Navy returns to Lincoln Financial Field in 2022.
This & That
College Football
Two of the four Heisman finalists were not on the preseason board for several sportsbooks. At SugarHouse/NJ, for instance, Alabama QB Bryce Young was 8-1 and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud was 10-1, but Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson and Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett were not listed. Young is the overwhelming favorite to win the award on Saturday at 1-50; yep, bet $50 to win $1. Hutchinson is 20-1, Pickett 25-1 and Stroud 33-1.
A Caesars bettor in New Jersey put $2,500 on Young when he was +220 for a likely $5,500 win. The book also is holding a $55,000 ticket on Hutchinson at 10-1 and a $2,500 ticket on Hutchinson at 15-1 by the same player. The wagers would pay $587,500, but there’d have to be a stunning upset.
College Basketball
Villanova is 3-1 against the spread and 4-0 to the under since losing to Purdue on Nov. 21. Their last major nonconference game is Sunday at No. 2 Baylor.
Texas Southern University was a 24-point underdog and No. 273 in the NCAA’s net rankings when they stunned Florida on Monday. TSU was +1550 on the money line. It was their first win of the season, but improved them to 6-2 against the spread. Their first 13 games are on the road.
Villanova update
Pin this to the bulletin board. Villanova is the only home underdog this weekend in the FCS quarterfinals. James Madison is laying 6.5 to Montana on Friday. On Saturday, North Dakota State is a robust -22.5 to East Tennessee State, Sam Houston State is giving 5.5 to Montana State, but South Dakota State is laying 7. SDSU lost to Sam Houston in last year’s championship game. They’ve never played at Villanova.
Villanova is +225 on BetMGM’s money line, and +1600 to win the FCS Championship. South Dakota State is +600. North Dakota State, Carson Wentz’s alma mater, is +140.
Somebody send some dog masks up to the Main Line.
And finally
“Going from New Jersey to Oregon for sports betting is like going from flying cars to a horse and buggy. And the horse is lame, and one of the wheels on the buggy is broken.”
– Industry analyst Dustin Gouker, a Pennsylvania native who lives in Oregon