The NFL returns to your TV set tonight. OK, it’s not the most legitimate form of the NFL, but rather the annual Hall of Fame Game that kicks off preseason play. But at least the 8 p.m. ET matchup has the appeal of America’s Team, going against Arizona’s Team. Covers checks in on the action with Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US in Las Vegas, and Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu. **video
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals – Open: Pick; Move: +1; Move: +2
The Cowboys are coming off their best season in many years, going 13-3 SU and 10-6 ATS behind then-rookies Dak Prescott at quarterback and Ezekiel Elliott at running back. However, neither of those two will play much if at all tonight. Meanwhile, Arizona enters off a disappointing 7-8-1 campaign (6-10 ATS), and coach Bruce Arians said his starters would not take the field tonight.
That’s not unexpected, but it certainly doesn’t attract bettors’ attention either.
“There’s very little betting interest in this game at all,” Bogdanovich said of action at the more than 100 William Hill locations around Nevada. “We opened pick and 37 (for the total), and we’re at Dallas -2 and 35. A little bit of money on the Cowboys, a little bit of money on the under.”
Bogdanovich said money isn’t really moving the numbers as much as keeping William Hill in line with what other books are offering.
“It’s pretty much air moves. That’s the way it’ll be all preseason,” he said. “We’re definitely not interested in having a big decision on an exhibition game. That’s why they call it exhibition – it’s not real.”
Bookmaker.eu opened the Cardinals -1, but by this morning had made a 3-point shift to Cowboys -2, while the total dropped from 37 to 34.5.
“Sharp action has been on America’s Team, as we have about 70 percent of the money handle on Dallas,” Cooley said. “The total has also been hit pretty hard by the pros, as they always seem to look toward the under in this first game and the first week of preseason.”
Bogdanovich echoed Cooley’s point on the total.
“They bet this game under every year. That is standard operating procedure right there,” he said.
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
