The crew at the LVH Super Book in Las Vegas didn’t waste any time in producing a line once the NFL released their 17 week schedule on Tuesday night.
By early Wednesday afternoon, all 16 games were posted with not only point spreads on the sides, but total and money-lines as well.
The speed of producing a line so soon may seem a bit quick, and almost reckless for some conservative bookmakers, but LVH assistant book manager Jeff Sherman says they‘ve already had their team ratings set and were just waiting for the schedule to be released.
"We’ve been doing this every year the day after their schedule is released," said Sherman. "The only thing different the last two years for us has been to offer a total and money-line so soon.
"It’s really no different from the process we go through on any Sunday during football season when we open the ensuing week’s lines," Sherman added. "We collaborate as a group, agree on a number, then open it up to the public and let them bet it."
The posted limits at the LVH are very fair for such an early number. Sides are set at $5,000, totals $1,000 and money-lines at $2,000.
Most of the key free-agents have already been signed and the only real intangible remaining for any team rating is the NFL Draft. Sherman and his crew have already factored in the key personnel that could possibly make an impact on the number.
"We have the Colts’ number figured with Andrew Luck as the starter along with Robert Griffin III penciled in for the Redskins on opening day," Sherman said.
Some of the most intriguing matchups of Week 1 are tied to off-season acquisitions and pivotal games sure to have an impact later in the season when playoff seeding becomes clearer.
Right out the gate, last year’s best regular season team, the Green Bay Packers, are 6½-point home favorites against San Francisco.
Peyton Manning and life with the Denver Broncos begins as 2-point home favorites in a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh -- a rematch of last season’s Wild Card game.
The star of that playoff game in Denver, Tim Tebow, is already causing a stir in New York. Did Rex Ryan have a plan all along to use Tebow as his ground control quarterback and oust Mark Sanchez or simple gimmick plays like Brad Smith did for the Jets? Sanchez is likely to get the opening day start with the Jets a 6-point home favorite against a vastly improved Bills defense.
New Orleans gets life started at home without key members of its coaching staff. The Saints are 11-point favorites welcoming Griffin III and the Washington Redskins.
Within a few hours after the LVH posted their numbers, Lucky’s sports books also had sides for all of the Week 1 games posted. Cantor Gaming sports books will also have their numbers up Thursday afternoon.
Here’s a complete look at the early, early Week 1 lines from the LVH Super Book:
NFL - WEEK 1 (all times Pacific)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
5:30 PM - NBC
DALLAS COWBOYS 47 +155
NEW YORK GIANTS -3 -120 -175
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012
10:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 41.5 +425
CHICAGO BEARS -9.5 -550
10:00 AM
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -6.5 -310
CLEVELAND BROWNS 42 +260
10:00 AM
BUFFALO BILLS 42.5 +240
NEW YORK JETS -6 -280
10:00 AM
WASHINGTON REDSKINS 51.5 +500
NEW ENGLAND SAINTS -11 -700
10:00 AM
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -6.5 -310
TENNESSEE TITANS 48.5 +260
10:00 AM
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 39 +180
MINNESOTA VIKINGS -3.5 -210
10:00 AM
MIAMI DOLPHINS 44.5 +240
HOUSTON TEXANS -6 -280
10:00 AM
ST. LOUIS RAMS 47 +425
DETROIT LIONS -9.5 -550
10:00 AM
ATLANTA FALCONS 42 -110
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PICK -110
1:15 PM
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 45 +250
GREEN BAY PACKERS -6.5 -300
1:15 PM
CAROLINA PANTHERS -2.5 -120 -150
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 47 +130
1:15 PM
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 42 +120
ARIZONA CARDINALS -2.5 -140
5:25 PM - NBC
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 45 +115
DENVER BRONCOS -2 -135
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
4:00 PM - ESPN
CINCINNATI BENGALS 40.5 +300
BALTIMORE RAVENS -7 -360
7:15 PM - ESPN
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 48 -110
OAKLAND RAIDERS PICK -110
