Sports
Why Geno Smith is settling in for the long haul in Las Vegas
HENDERSON, Nev. — Geno Smith feels at home in Las Vegas. Hailing from Broward County in Florida, the heat and fast-paced lifestyle fit the Raiders’ starting quarterback.
Smith says Seattle, where he spent the previous six seasons as a backup turned starter and a two-time Pro Bowl selection, reminded him of his college football days at West Virginia: slow-paced, with limited sun. Even though he cherished his time with the Seahawks, the 34-year-old acknowledged that his personality never quite meshed with the Pacific Northwest.
“Vegas is perfect for me,” Smith told ESPN. “… Me being a Miami kid, and how I was raised and act, I really didn’t fit the culture [in Seattle].”
Las Vegas — Smith’s fourth team in 11 seasons — has offered more than preferable weather to satisfy his hunger.
For the first time in his career, Smith walked into a new organization as Plan A at quarterback.
When Las Vegas traded for Smith from Seattle in exchange for a third-round pick on March 7, it did so with the intention of Smith leading the franchise and providing stability at the most important position on the field. Smith didn’t have to worry about a training camp battle.
“I finally got my team,” said Smith, whose Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). “I always felt like I was trying to replace Russell [Wilson in Seattle], and you can never replace all the great things that he did. So I never felt like Seattle was my team.
“Also, I didn’t feel like I fit the aesthetic of the Seattle organization. The Raiders just fit me.”
Smith is a part of the Raiders’ plan to turn around a franchise that has become accustomed to losing, setbacks that have included inconsistent play at quarterback. With Smith under center, there’s optimism within the organization that the team can be competitive this season.
More importantly, Smith’s strong relationship with Pete Carroll and his fiery competitive spirit can help set the tone for the type of culture the veteran NFL coach wants to establish.
“He’s a facilitator in that regard,” Carroll said. “He’s such an all-in guy that there’s no questioning his commitment and conviction, and so that just helps the message embedded even more. [That’s] why he’s so valuable to us.”
SMITH MIGHT HAVE never been in Las Vegas — or Seattle — if not for Carroll.
After making 29 starts in his first two seasons after his selection by the New York Jets in 2013, Smith spent the subsequent five years as a backup for the Jets, Giants and Chargers, making only two starts in seven games played from 2015 to 2018.
Smith was 28 when he went in search of a job in 2019, and says he harbored doubts about his career. He wanted to be a starter again, but his previous history in that role also warranted doubt from others. Smith had gone 11-19 as the Jets starter in 2013-14, throwing for 5,571 yards, 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions — the third-most picks in the league despite being ranked 19th in pass attempts (810) in that span.
Smith said he believed no one viewed him as a QB1 and wondered what else life might have to offer.
“I’m making money, but I’m not achieving my goals,” Smith recalls of that time. “There was this glass ceiling that was put above me. No matter what [I did], I could only get this far. And so I wanted to do other things outside of football.
“It wasn’t my confidence breaking. I think it was the confidence I had in the evaluators, if anything. I didn’t think they saw my talent or what I could bring to the table.”
While training with former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown and Thad Lewis, the current quarterback coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Smith surprised the group by talking about various business ideas he wanted to explore.
“I was like, ‘Man, I’m gonna retire from the game and work on something else,'” he recalled.
Brown told Smith he was too young to consider that path and Lewis expressed a similar sentiment, telling Smith, “You’re crazy to retire.”
Smith decided to give football another shot. He eventually signed a one-year deal to become a backup in Seattle, where he realized Carroll believed in him just as much as he believed in himself.
“That led to all of this,” Smith said.
Carroll and Smith established a bond early. The Super Bowl-winning coach admired Smith’s arm talent and how he always prepared as if his name would be called on the next play.
Smith recalled Carroll walking up to him after his first training camp with the Seahawks and saying, “I know what you are. … We got you.”
“I didn’t know what he meant, but at least he recognized that I can play,” Smith said.
As the season went along, Smith liked how Carroll always kept him engaged in team decisions and seemed to value his opinion. Carroll would approach Smith on the sideline during games, asking for his thoughts on certain situations.
More than anything, Smith respected how Carroll cared about his players, calling him a “real dude.” He said Carroll has always had his players’ best interests at heart, even off the field. Smith mentioned how Carroll occasionally recommended houses to buy while he was in Seattle.
“It’s not a facade,” Smith said. “He would say, ‘Hey, this is a good investment in the offseason.’ … Coaches don’t do that type of stuff. He’s one of the guys, and that’s why I love him so much.”
AFTER THE SEAHAWKS sent Wilson to Denver in a blockbuster move ahead of the 2022 season, Smith beat out Drew Lock for starting duties and didn’t disappoint. He threw for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, was named AP Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Seahawks reach the postseason with a 9-8 record.
Smith played in 37 games under Carroll and threw for 8,641 yards, 55 touchdowns and 21 interceptions while making two Pro Bowl appearances.
“When he finally got his chance, I might have been his biggest cheerleader because he had waited and deserved it,” Carroll said.
The following season, the Seahawks posted another 9-8 record but missed the playoffs. The organization shook things up, as Carroll was out as the head coach after a 14-year tenure and a pair of Super Bowl appearances.
Smith says he never thought Carroll would leave the Seahawks. And the decision to replace Carroll with Mike Macdonald made Smith question his future with the club.
“Shoot, if they let him go, they let Russell go, the writing is on the wall, you know,” Smith said. “Eventually, they’re going to try to find someone younger, which every team does. I wasn’t mad at that, but it was more so how they were going about it, like, the honesty of it all. I felt like they were trying not to tell me what direction they were going.”
Smith says he wanted to remain in Seattle for the long term even though his biggest supporter was no longer in the building. At the same time, he wanted clarity on his future.
Before the start of the 2024 season, Smith said he had a one-on-one conversation with Seahawks general manager John Schneider about the direction of the organization. Smith expressed a desire for a new deal. He had two years left on the three-year, $75 million contract he signed in March 2023.
“I think that’s a fair question to ask anybody,” Smith said. “They didn’t have a definitive answer. … It was kind of up in the air. And so for me, going into the [2024] season, I was like, ‘OK, well, this may be my last season here.’ I literally had a playlist called ‘The Last Dance.’ I wanted to go out there and give it my all for my teammates.”
Smith helped the Seahawks to a 10-7 record in Year 1 under Macdonald, but they again missed the postseason. Smith completed 70.4% of his passes while throwing for 4,320 yards with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions — third most in the NFL. Four of his interceptions came in the red zone (most in the NFL).
His QBR of 53.8 was 21st in the league and his lowest as Seattle’s full-time starter. He was sacked 50 times (third most).
Smith said there wasn’t much negotiation with Seattle this past offseason. Schneider told reporters in March that the team made an offer to Smith, but it became apparent that a deal wouldn’t materialize.
“It wasn’t a very long negotiation, so as a staff, we had to be prepared to pivot,” Schneider said.
Said Smith: “I felt like I [had] done all I could do. I showed them who I am, and if they wanted to go a different direction, so be it.”
The Seahawks agreed to send Smith to Las Vegas. Three days later, they landed 28-year-old Sam Darnold on a three-year, $100.5 million free agent deal after a career season with the Minnesota Vikings. Seattle used the No. 92 pick, which they received from the Raiders, to draft former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Smith said he didn’t think the Raiders would be a possible destination until Carroll arrived.
“When Carroll signed here, I knew he would be coming for me, and it was a matter of time before that happened,” Smith said. “The other options [I had], I kind of took them off the table. I looked at their offers, and they were decent offers, but I wanted to be with Coach Carroll.
Smith and Carroll are the 18th head coach-quarterback duo to serve as head coach and starting quarterback in at least one game together across multiple franchises, and the third such Raiders duo (Dennis Allen and Derek Carr for Las Vegas and the New Orleans Saints; Mike Shanahan and Steve Beuerlein for the Raiders and Denver Broncos).
Carroll said he viewed Smith as an “immediate fix” at quarterback. Before Smith’s arrival, the Raiders had seven quarterbacks start in a game since 2022, including three last season (Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder).
Of his coach, Smith said, “I know what he’s going to bring to the table, and I know that he’s going to mean what he says. That loyalty and honesty mean a lot to me.”
SMITH DIDN’T STUMBLE with his words. After the 34-year-old went 24-of-34 (70.6%) for 362 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his Raiders debut — a 20-13 road win over the New England Patriots in Week 1 — he was asked how he remained confident even after making a mistake.
“I’m me,” he told reporters at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. “I know who I am. I know what I can do.”
In Week 1, Smith threw a touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive before the offense went cold. He threw an interception while attempting to throw to tight end Brock Bowers in double coverage. The Raiders’ next two possessions resulted in a punt, as they went into halftime with a 10-7 deficit.
Smith remained unfazed. He completed 13 of 15 passes for 222 yards and helped his team score 10 unanswered points in the second half to secure a win. He is the third Raiders quarterback in the past 20 years to record at least 350 yards and a completion percentage of 70% in a game, joining Carr (2021) and Carson Palmer (2011).
“Man, I like playing with dogs,” Raiders linebacker Devin White said. “That’s the word to describe him. When anything is on the line, he’s gonna go get it. … He makes this team go.”
Smith’s confidence is his greatest strength. It’s noticeable in his play style. He’s not afraid to take risks, whether it’s throwing downfield or trying to fit the ball through tight windows. Smith’s philosophy is simple: You either make shots or miss them. He wants to give it his all and live with the results.
His confidence also gives him a sense of calm, which allows him to be effective in close games. Since 2022, Smith has recorded 10 fourth-quarter comebacks, including five last season.
“I tell all my coordinators, ‘Man, put the ball in my hands,” Smith said. “I don’t care what play you call, just put the ball in my hands and we’ll make it work.”
Smith has a fiery competitive spirit, and he’s unapologetic about it. He acknowledged being the biggest crybaby after a loss when he played youth football. “My mom still doesn’t get it, but I’m just wired that way,” he said.
Smith gets fired up for the things he’s passionate about. He loves football, and he wants those around him to strive for greatness just as much as he tries to. Smith understands his mentality can turn people off. When he and Carroll were in Seattle, Smith said Carroll knew the moments when he was getting too hot-headed and had to calm him down.
For the most part, Carroll loves it when his players have that fire in them.
“He’s no different than E-Rob [inside linebacker Elandon Roberts] or [defensive end] Maxx [Crosby], those guys. They got the same kind of juice. … We know that sometimes it’s appropriate and sometimes it isn’t, so we just have to work it with the quarterback position. … I want him to be as true to [himself] as he can be.”
In Seattle, he said he felt his personality wasn’t accepted by everybody.
“Not my teammates, but I for sure felt like it rubbed people in the front office the wrong way because of the way I carry myself,” Smith said. “But that’s who I am. I mean, imagine Kobe Bryant. He spoke his mind about how he felt. Those are my idols. … Michael Jordan and guys like that, who were unapologetic about how bad they wanted to win.
“If it rubs somebody the wrong way, good. Those aren’t the people I want to go to war with. I want people who really go die about it because that’s how I am.”
SMITH WILL TURN 35 next month and says he believes he has a good seven years of football left in him.
“My goal is to play 15 to 20 seasons,” Smith said. “I’m on [Year] 12, and I’ll make a decision after [Year] 15 if I want to keep going.”
During the league meetings in March, Carroll said the team acquired Smith with the intention of him playing “a number of years” for the organization. Carroll said he believed the years Smith spent as a backup prevented him from having wear and tear on his body.
At the same time, Smith understands the business of the sport. Smith’s two-year, $75 million contract ties him to the organization through 2028, when he’s 38. He has a cap hit of $40 million in 2025, $26.5 million in 2026 and $39.5 million in 2027. Smith doesn’t have any guaranteed money on the final year of his deal.
“I would love to finish my career here,” Smith said.
Smith has lofty goals for his time in Las Vegas. Like most players, he wants to win the division and a championship. His aspirations for winning might seem like a tall task given the nature of the AFC West. The three other teams in the division won at least 10 games and made postseason appearances in 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in five appearances over the past six seasons.
Las Vegas, meanwhile, has won at least 10 games and appeared in the postseason only one time in the past eight years. The Raiders haven’t finished first in the division since 2002, when they were based in Oakland.
The Raiders entered this season with a 24.5% chance of making the postseason. But Smith said he doesn’t care about the odds being stacked against them. And he’s not shying away from the tough competition ahead of him.
“They gotta beat us. That’s how I see it,” Smith said. “We’ve got to beat the Chiefs, but they gotta beat us. I’m not afraid to say that because I have confidence in my team and myself.”
Smith says he and the rest of the team have embraced the “us versus the world” mentality. Carroll built his first roster in Las Vegas with players who had something to prove or had been counted out.
Smith perfectly embodies the identity of Carroll’s group. And he’s fine with it.
“I’ve kind of been nobody’s favorite player, but I thrive in that role,” Smith said. “I love being the hunter … the guy who is going out to hunt. If they overlook us, that’s fine. We might just surprise some people, but it won’t be a surprise to us.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a star-studded commentary panel for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, promising what it described as a “world-class viewing experience” for fans across the globe.
In a press release issued on Friday, the ICC said an expert team of former greats and current stars will feature on ICC.TV during the tournament, which begins in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will comprise 55 matches, culminating in the final on March 8.
The ICC said the commentary will be delivered through a world feed service to broadcast licensees, ensuring “consistent, high-quality coverage across all markets”.
Highly regarded voices Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith and Ian Bishop headline the panel. They will be joined by several former T20 World Cup winners, including Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa and Carlos Brathwaite.
Current South Africa captain and reigning ICC World Test Championship-winning skipper Temba Bavuma is also part of the line-up, alongside 2014 T20 World Cup winner Angelo Mathews.
According to the ICC, ICC.TV’s broadcast will include a comprehensive pre-match show, innings interval programming, post-match wrap-ups and daily highlights, capturing the action “all the way through to the knockout stages”.
The full list of commentators includes Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, Carlos Brathwaite, Eoin Morgan, Wasim Akram, Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, Ramiz Raja, Dale Steyn, Michael Atherton, Waqar Younis, Simon Doull, Shaun Pollock, Katey Martin, Harsha Bhogle, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Natalie Germanos, Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Ian Ward, Mark Howard, Nick Knight, Athar Ali Khan, Kass Naidoo, Bazid Khan, Raunak Kapoor, Niall O’Brien, Preston Mommsen, Andrew Leonard, Russel Arnold, Roshan Abeysinghe, Angelo Mathews and Temba Bavuma.
The ICC said the line-up reflects the global nature of the tournament and aims to enhance the viewing experience for cricket fans worldwide.
Everything that happens in sports has additional context when viewed from a sports betting perspective. From season-changing injuries to record-setting moments and so much more, the sports news cycle will constantly and significantly affect the sports betting industry.
Our Super Bowl betting buzz file, with contributions from David Purdum, Doug Greenberg and others, aims to provide fans a look at the sports betting stories that are driving the conversation leading up to the big game.
Key links: Early bets | Updated odds | Sports betting home | DraftKings
Feb. 5: Bettor places $1,000 MVP wagers on Super Bowl kickers
By David Purdum
The Super Bowl can make bettors do strange things, such as wagering big bucks on a kicker to win MVP.
On Feb. 1, a bettor in New Jersey with sportsbook BetRivers placed a pair of $1,000 MVP bets on each of the starting kickers in Sunday’s game:
A spokesperson for BetRivers said the sportsbook had taken only a handful of MVP bets on the kickers, “although several of them are relatively large.” No kicker has ever been named MVP of the Super Bowl.
DraftKings also reported taking a $1,000 MVP bet on Myers at 100-1 and a $500 bet on Borregales at 200-1.
Joey Feazel, head of football trading for Caesars Sportsbook, said there has been interest on Borregales at his shop.
“Longer odds, that’s really what a lot of bettors are trying to find during the Super Bowl, something that’s not the greatest probability, but it has a decent price,” Feazel said.
Quarterbacks have been named MVP in 34 of 59 Super Bowls, including five of the last six. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold is the MVP favorite in Super Bowl LX, listed at +115 on Thursday at DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye at +240.
Wide receivers have won eight MVPs, followed by running backs with seven. Ten defensive players have won the award: four linebackers, two defensive ends, two safeties, one safety and one defensive tackle.
In other long-shot MVP wagers, Hard Rock Bet reports taking a $1,000 bet on Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon to win Super Bowl MVP at 150-1, and $100 bets on three Seahawks defenders: defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (150-1), safety Julian Love (500-1) and defensive tackle Leonard Williams (100-1).
Feb. 4: Super Bowl odds and ends
More bets on coin flip than any Super Bowl player prop
Among the thousands of Super Bowl props on the board, the most popular one with bettors will be determined by a flick of the thumb before the game even kicks off. At BetMGM sportsbooks, more bets have been placed on the result of the pregame coin flip than on any individual player prop on the board.
Overall, “heads or tails” is eighth overall in Super Bowl wagering, behind the staples such as the point spread, outright winner (money line) and MVP. Bettors annually flock to place a bet on the Super Bowl coin flip. Most of the bets are small in stature, but there have been reports of six-figure wagers on the coin flip in the past. The Super Bowl has landed on tails in 31 out of the 59 past Super Bowls. As of Wednesday, 63% of the money wagered on the coin flip was on heads at BetMGM. — David Purdum
A super hedge
Before the season, a retail bettor at BetMGM in Nevada placed three $50,000 futures wagers on the Seahawks, two of which — to make the playoffs (+185) and to win the NFC (+2800) — have already cashed to the tune of approximately $1.5 million combined.
With the last $50,000 riding on Seattle to win the Super Bowl at 60-1, the same bettor has placed a $725,000 bet on the Patriots to win Sunday’s game at +190 money line odds, BetMGM confirmed to ESPN. Should the Seahawks win, the bettor will net $2,275,000, but if the Pats win, the bettor will net “only” $1,327,500 on the wagers with BetMGM.
The same bettor also placed large bets on the Seahawks in the preseason at sportsbook Circa, according to a source. — Doug Greenberg
Holding the line
The consensus Super Bowl point spread is holding steady at Seattle -4.5 at all but a few sportsbooks, with the Seahawks attracting the majority of the action on the spread. As of Wednesday at DraftKings, approximately 64% of the bets — and 70% of all money that had been wagered — was on Seattle.
“Early action was mostly on Seattle,” Tom Gable, sportsbook director at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, told ESPN. “We opened [Seahawks] -4, touched -5, but settled in at -4.5 and haven’t moved since. If New England keeps it within the number, as of now, that would be a good outcome. New England winning outright even better. But a lot of handle still to come.” — Purdum
Feb. 4: Tracking the largest bets on Super Bowl LX so far
By Doug Greenberg
The matchup for Super Bowl LX is set with the Seattle Seahawks favored over the New England Patriots to take home the Lombardi Trophy. The biggest single event in American sports always brings out the big bets.
Since the summer, bettors have been speculating on the result of this game, and the wagers will finally settle on Feb. 8. Here are some of the largest bets — by odds, stakes and potential winnings — tracked thus far:
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On Wednesday, Florida attorney Dan Newlin placed a $1 million wager on the Seattle Seahawks moneyline at -230 odds to net $434,782.61, all of which will be donated to pediatric cancer research at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. A release from Newlin said he will continue donating to Nemours “regardless of the outcome of this wager.”
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In August, a retail bettor at BetMGM in Nevada placed three separate $50,000 futures on the Seahawks, as first reported by Yahoo Sports and confirmed to ESPN by the sportsbook. Seahawks to make the playoffs at +185 cashed for $92,500 and Seahawks to win the NFC at +2800 cashed for $1.4 million. The bettor still has a Seattle Super Bowl ticket at +6000 odds that will net $3 million if successful.
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On Monday, Circa Sports director of operations Jeffrey Benson announced that the sportsbook took a $1.1 million wager on the Patriots money line at +188 that would net nearly $2.1 million if New England wins outright.
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DraftKings took a $10,000 futures bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl at +8000 that would pay winnings of $800,000.
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In November, BetMGM accepted a $30,000 wager on New England to win the Super Bowl at +2200, a net of $660,000 if successful.
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In late August, Circa took a $100 bet on the exact result of the Super Bowl being Seahawks over Patriots at an astonishing 3100-1. The bettor would win $310,000 if the exacta comes to fruition.
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On Jan. 14, Caesars Sportsbook took a $32,000 wager on the Seahawks at +275 odds for winnings of $88,000; less than two weeks later, it took a $40,000 bet on the Patriots at +260 for a potential net win of $104,000.
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DraftKings accepted a $500 bet on the Seahawks at +65000 to win $32,500.
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At Caesars, a bettor in Nevada placed a $55,000 wager on Patriots +4.5 (-108) for an approximate $51,000 win, while a bettor in New Jersey put in a $36,000 bet on Seahawks -4.5 (-109) for an approximate $33,000 win, according to the sportsbook’s head of football Joey Feazel, who said the wagers came in “within seconds” of the odds going up following the NFC championship.
Feb. 3: Blue, orange the favorites in Gatorade dump markets
By Doug Greenberg
Of the thousands of prop bets offered on the Super Bowl each year, the color of Gatorade poured on the winning head coach is one of the big game’s most enduring novelties.
At DraftKings, blue and orange are the current odds leaders at +250, with yellow/lime or green close behind at +260. Purple (+700), red/pink (+950) and water/clear (+1100) round out the available options.
A representative from BetMGM told ESPN that the Gatorade prop is currently the 23rd-most-bet market for the Super Bowl thus far but that they “expect it will continue to grow,” given it has not been available as long as many of the other prop markets.
In the early betting, yellow/lime or green has been the clear public preference; both BetMGM and DraftKings report their largest shares of bets and handle backing the flavor, maxing out with 28.1% of the money at the former. Blue has also been a popular choice, with a leading 29% of tickets at theScore Bet, as well as the second-most bets and handle at BetMGM. Purple and orange have also seen their fair share of action across the sportsbook marketplace.
The three most recent Super Bowls saw the Philadelphia Eagles use yellow on Nick Sirianni, while the Kansas City Chiefs dumped purple on Andy Reid for both of their Super Bowl wins.
When the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, they used orange Gatorade. The New England Patriots have varied between blue and clear throughout their six Super Bowl wins, with blue being the winning color for their victory in Super Bowl LIII. These were, of course, under different coaching regimes, if that matters.
Since 2001, orange has been the most frequently used color, getting the dump five times. All of the other colors are tied at four except for red/pink, which has never been used, according to data from BetMGM.
Feb. 2: Seahawks’ Shaheed the favorite to be fastest in Super Bowl
By ESPN Staff
Among more than 1,500 betting markets, DraftKings is offering odds on the top speed a ball carrier will reach during Super Bowl LX.
Seattle Seahawks receiver/kick returner Rashid Shaheed, at +200, is the betting favorite to reach the highest speed of any ball carrier in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, a wager that will be determined by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is next at +270, followed by Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III at +400. New England quarterback Drake Maye has the shortest odds of any Patriot, at +450
DraftKings has the over/under on Shaheed’s top speed set at 19.5 mph. He reached a top speed of 21.72 mph this season, while he was with the New Orleans Saints, before his trade to the Seahawks. He has gone over 19.5 on carries in both of Seattle’s playoff games this season but has had only seven possible plays in both playoff games.
The over/under on Maye’s top speed is 18.5 mph. He has exceeded that speed in all three playoff games.
Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson was one of six ball carriers to reach 22 mph during a game this season. Henderson topped out at 22.01 mph during a Week 10 game. He is 10-1 to have the fastest carry in the Super Bowl, but the rookie running back’s touches have been limited in the playoffs.
Jan 31. Sportsbooks resist moving Super Bowl line despite heavy Seahawks action
By David Purdum
After a week of betting, the point spread on Super Bowl LX was holding steady Saturday, with the Seattle Seahawks remaining consensus 4.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots.
Sportsbooks have been reporting early lopsided action on the Seahawks to cover the spread. As of Saturday, 75% of the money that had been bet on the Super Bowl spread with DraftKings was on Seattle. In addition, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who is battling a sore shoulder, missed Friday’s practice with an illness.
Despite the early action on the Seahawks and Maye’s ailments, most sportsbooks were holding the line at 4.5.
“At this point, it would require significant additional action on Seattle -4.5, or a meaningful update to Drake Maye’s injury status, for us to consider a move,” Neil Walsh, senior vice president for Hard Rock Bet, told ESPN. “We do not anticipate either occurring for the next few days.”
Jamey Pileggi, head NFL oddsmaker for Circa Sports, said it would take a “six- or seven-figure” bet on the Seahawks at -4.5 to push the line up to -5.
Two Las Vegas sportsbooks — the South Point and the Westgate SuperBook — had bumped the line up to -5 in recent days.
Chris Andrews, the South Point’s veteran sportsbook director, made the adjustment to Seahawks -5 on Thursday, saying that he’d rather be the first sportsbook to make the move than the last. Since making the move to -5, Andrews said the action has been extremely balanced.
“Only $3 separates the teams at five,” Andrews said.
Bookmakers weren’t putting much stock in any impact Maye’s shoulder might have. Andrews said he was going to let the money wagered guide him. He estimated only around 5% of the total money that he expects will be wagered on the Super Bowl had been placed in the first week.
Jan. 29: Smith-Njigba most popular player in early Super Bowl betting
By Doug Greenberg
In early player prop and MVP wagering for Super Bowl LX, one name is rising above the rest: Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver is currently DraftKings Sportsbook’s most-bet first touchdown scorer (+550) with 15% of the handle, as well as its most-bet anytime touchdown scorer. BetMGM similarly reports Smith-Njigba attracting the most anytime touchdown and first touchdown wagers, making him a liability for the book.
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Seattle’s Defense/Special Teams finding paydirt have become bad results for the book right now,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said in an email release.
Both books list the 23-year-old’s anytime touchdown prop at -110, which has already shortened from +100 likely due in part to the heavy action he has received. That said, Smith-Njigba’s implied odds to score a touchdown, defined as “the probability of an outcome projected by Mike Clay [converted] into a money line,” are +181.
Smith-Njigba has by far the highest receiving yards over/under of any player at 95.5, according to DraftKings lines. The sportsbook reports him receiving the most wagers in the most receiving yards market (-185), as well as the most receptions market (-158).
All the early betting fervor around Smith-Njigba extends to the Super Bowl MVP market, where he is also becoming a creeping liability. At +550, he has the shortest odds for a wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP since Larry Fitzgerald in 2009 (+400), and seeks to be the longest winner overall since his current teammate, Cooper Kupp, won it at +600 with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, according to SportsOddsHistory.
DraftKings says Smith-Njigba is its second-most-bet MVP candidate by handle (19%), while BetMGM reports him receiving by far its most handle (24.9%), making him its largest liability in the market.
Jan. 28: Mattress Mack makes $2 million bet on Super Bowl LX winner
By David Purdum
The largest reported Super Bowl bet so far — $2 million on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl — belongs to a Houston furniture salesman.
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale placed the $2 million bet last week on the AFC to win the Super Bowl with Caesars Sportsbook. At 2-1, McIngvale would win a net $4 million if the Patriots upset the favored Seattle Seahawks. It’s the largest Super Bowl bet that Caesars has taken this year as of Wednesday.
Mattress Mack is hedging his bet with one of his go-to promotions at his Gallery Furniture store: Spend $4,000 on a mattress and gear with McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture, and if the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, you get your money back on your purchase.
McIngvale, a beloved figure in Houston for decades, turns 75 in February. He has tied such giveaways to big sports wagers regularly for years. In 2022, he won approximately $75 million on bets he made on the Houston Astros to win the World Series, believed to be one of the largest sports betting payouts in U.S. history.
McIngvale has had mixed results on the Super Bowl, otherwise, winning big on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, but suffering a multimillion-dollar loss on the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. He also twice lost seven figures on bets on the Houston Cougars men’s basketball team to win the NCAA tournament.
McIngvale hedges his total exposure with any boost in mattress sales generated by the giveaways. He sat out last Super Bowl recovering from heart surgery, but he’s back this season and siding with the underdogs for multiple reasons. Getting plus odds on the underdog helps with the promotion, but he also respects the Patriots’ personnel.
“I really like their quarterback [Drake Maye], coach [Mike Vrabel] and offensive coordinator [Josh McDaniels], plus Robert Kraft is always there,” McIngvale told ESPN on Wednesday.
Last year, there were no disclosed $1 million Super Bowl bets reported by U.S. sportsbooks. This year, there have been at least two, both of which are on the underdog Patriots. On Monday, sportsbook Circa reported taking a $1.1 million wager on the Patriots to win the game outright at +188 odds.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford edged New England Patriots counterpart Drake Maye to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award Thursday night, then made news in his acceptance speech by announcing he’ll return next season.
Stafford received 24-of-50 first-place votes and finished with 366 points. Maye got 23 first-place votes and finished with 361 points. It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.
In his 17th NFL season, the 37-year-old Stafford became the oldest player in NFL history at the time of his first MVP. He also became the third-oldest player to win MVP, behind Tom Brady (2017) and Aaron Rodgers (2021).
Stafford brought his four daughters — all dressed in identical black-and-white dresses — to the stage to accept the award at the NFL Honors show.
He thanked his team and saved his wife and daughters for last: “You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it. I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass.”
It was Stafford’s way of announcing he will be back next season after contemplating retirement.
Over the last two months of the regular season, Stafford and Maye flip-flopped in the odds to win MVP multiple times, with Stafford emerging as the favorite after Week 18. He also was named an AP First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 MVP, received two first-place votes, while Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert got the other. Allen finished third in voting, followed by San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Stafford, who won Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles in the 2021 season, became the fourth Rams player to be named MVP (Roman Gabriel in 1969, Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001, and Marshall Faulk in 2000). He led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards, as well as a career-high 46 passing touchdowns to just eight interceptions.
Stafford became the first player to win MVP for a team outside the top two seeds since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, only eight players have won MVP for non-division winners, including just two quarterbacks (McNair in ’03, Peyton Manning in 2008). The Rams secured the fifth seed in the NFC after finishing second in the NFC West with a 12-5 record.
Los Angeles fell short of the Super Bowl after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. After that defeat, the focus turned to Stafford’s future in the NFL, but the veteran QB assured fans Thursday night that he’ll be back for an 18th season.
“I’ll see you guys next year,” he said. “Hopefully I’m not at this event and we’re getting ready for another game at SoFi.”
The Rams’ home stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2027.
Maye led the Patriots to a 14-3 record, the AFC East title and the second seed in the AFC in his second season. They’ll play the Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Maye’s breakout sophomore season saw him lead the NFL in passer rating (113.5), completion percentage (72.0%) and yards per attempt (8.9), and throw for 4,394 yards, along with 31 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
The 23-year-old became the youngest player since the merger to lead the NFL in completion percentage, surpassing the previous mark set by 24-year-old Joe Montana in 1980.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.
Voters selected a top 5 for the eight AP NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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