Vegas Vic: No major oddsmaking changes because of new PAT rule - yet
Las Vegas sportsbooks will adjust to PAT rule during the season, as need be, says Daily News' gambling expert.
SO WHAT'S the new PAT rule mean for oddsmakers? Not much, for now.
"Those are the two key words: 'For now,' " said Daily News gambling expert Vegas Vic. "I talked to a couple of guys who run sportsbooks out here, and they said there was not going to be a dramatic change in the way they do business . . . For now."
Whether it's because of an injury during the week, a quarterback suspension for underinflated footballs or inclement weather, Las Vegas will adjust point spreads frequently. When the Rams were rolling with their Greatest Show on Turf from 1999-2001 or the 2007 Patriots were scoring at an epic pace, Vegas just kept inflating the point spreads and over/under totals.
"Just like everything else, we'll adjust if we have to," Vic said.
One bookmaker speculated that there will be fewer lines of 3, 7 or 10 points and more 3.5, 7.5 and 10.5.
"For now," Vic continued, "we'll keep the Week 1 lines as is and see what happens in the preseason."
- Ed Barkowitz