Eagles are one of bettors' favorite teams

The choppy NFL season has had bettors confused and frustrated, unable to lock in on teams that can be counted on to perform well consistently, or least perform poorly with consistency.

Still, there are a handful of wagering favorites, and at the moment, the Eagles happen to one. The Birds are 3- to 31/2-point favorites for Monday night's game at Washington.

"The money is coming in fast and furious [on the Eagles]," said Caesars Palace sports analyst Todd Fuhrman.

The Eagles are among just a handful of teams that the public will rally to, said Jay Rood, director of sports and race book operations at MGM Resorts casinos.

"There are the Steelers and the Eagles - and, of course, the Colts," Rood said.

"I anticipated that the Eagles would attract money, so we opened them at 31/2," he added. Elsewhere, the Eagles began the week as 3-point favorites.

Fuhrman and Jay Kornegay, who runs the sports and race book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said that the public tends to latch onto the Birds when Michael Vick is the quarterback.

Perceived internal problems in the Washington camp add to the Eagles' appeal.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan benched quarterback Donovan McNabb near the end of Washington's loss to Detroit two weeks ago.

Cowboys pay off. The betting public and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones were roughed up in the first half of the season, but both got some relief Sunday when Dallas pasted the New York Giants, 33-20.

The public jumped on the Cowboys, who were 1-7 entering the game and were getting from 12 to 14 points. Not only was that an easy cover with the points, but Dallas backers who bet the money line had a big payday.

In a money-line wager, a bettor simply picks a team to win outright and the point spread is disregarded. The underdog gets favorable odds. In this case, a $10 bet on the Cowboys returned from $45 to $55.

Down to the wire. The New York Jets, giving 31/2 points, covered the only way they could - with a touchdown in overtime to beat Cleveland, 26-20. Detroit (getting 11/2) fell against the spread by a half-point when the Lions failed on a two-point conversion at the end of a 14-12 loss to Buffalo. Cincinnati (getting 61/2) lost to Indianapolis, 23-17, but covered by a half-point on a late TD.