As the first Sunday of the NFL season wound down, the financial fate for several Las Vegas sportsbooks sat squarely in the hands of a longtime nemesis: the New England Patriots.To avoid a losing day, the books needed the underdog, Tom Brady-less Patriots to cover the spread on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. An outright win would be an added bonus.Over the course of the week, as New England ruled out tight end Rob Gronkowski and other key players, the point spread grew from Arizona -5.5 to as high as -9.5 as kickoff approached Sunday night.The action was lopsided, and on the Cardinals. At MGMs sportsbooks, four times as much money was bet on Arizona as on New England. For every parlay card that included the Patriots, there were seven that had the Cardinals.At William Hill, nearly 80 percent of the money wagered on the game was on Arizona, and sportsbook operator CG Technology was staring at six figures worth of parlay and teaser liability on the Cardinals.New England, of course, won 23-21 on a go-ahead field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 3:44 to play.Rooting for the Patriots was an odd feeling for some longtime bookmakers, who have become accustomed to seeing the betting public flock to New England.I cant remember needing the Patriots on a night game, Westgate SuperBook vice president Jay Kornegay told ESPN. This might be the last time we need New England the rest of the year.Since upsetting the St. Louis Rams as 14-point underdogs in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots have covered the spread in 57.4 percent of their games, the best record against the number in the NFL during that time span.The Patriots were one of six underdogs to cover the spread Sunday, including the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, who produced two of the books largest wins of the afternoon games.The Dolphins covered as 10.5-point underdogs in a 12-10 loss at Seattle, and the Jaguars covered the majority of bets as consensus 3.5-point home underdogs in a 27-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers.The Jaguars were targeted by respected bettors at several sportsbooks, causing the line to drop from Green Bay -5 to -3.5 on game day, even though the public had overwhelmingly sided with the Packers.We were taking big late money on the Jaguars, mid-five-figure bets, said Jay Rood, vice president of MGM race and sports. Fortunately, a lot of big money pushed at four.Rood also reported taking early sharp action on the underdog Detroit Lions, who knocked off the Indianapolis Colts 39-35 on the road, and on the Washington Redskins in the Monday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.The sharps made a big move on the Redskins, early before [Sundays] kickoffs, Rood said Sunday night. We took a few limit plays [on Washington] from the sharps. They were driving that number down.The Steelers were bet down from 3- to 2.5-point favorites over Washington at most books by Monday morning.The Houston Texans were responsible for the biggest loss for Caesars Palace and MGMs books, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upending the Atlanta Falcons was the biggest loss for Station Casinos sportsbooks.Overall, thanks to the Patriots, the opening Sunday of the NFL season went to the books.Well make enough money to pay for the lights, the comp drinks and a little bit of salary, Rood joked.The wild Central Michigan-Oklahoma State endingThe largest money-line bet William Hill took on Oklahoma State to beat Central Michigan straight-up was $6,000 at -1,200 odds. If Central Michigan wouldnt have erroneously been granted an untimed down and if the underdog Chippewas hadnt successfully used that play to throw a Hail Mary, hook-and-lateral for the winning touchdown with no time remaining, the bettor would have won $500.Instead, he lost $6,000 on an improbable ending that had customers calling the sportsbooks asking what happens now. We had so many people calling the book asking if it was the right decision; were they going to overturn it, Westgate SuperBook assistant manager Ed Salmons said. We had a lot of money-line parlays that started the day with Oklahoma State.Central Michigan was granted the untimed down after Oklahoma State was called for intentional grounding while attempting to kill the final four seconds on the clock by lobbing a deep, high pass on fourth down. Because there was not a receiver in the area of the pass, officials made the intentional grounding call and mistakenly awarded the Chippewas an untimed down. Games are not allowed to be extended if the foul is by the team in possession and the statement of the penalty includes loss of down.The Big 12 has a rule prohibiting a result being overturned, and most sportsbook house rules also do not recognize overturned results.Some bettors did benefit from the ruling. CG Technology sportsbook operator Jason Simbal said his shop took two $500 money-line bets on Central Michigan at +850, each producing $4,250 net wins. William Hill had six money-line tickets on the Chippewas, the largest a $100 at +750.Heisman updateA 100-1 long shot to start the season, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is now 8-1 to win the Heisman Trophy at the Westgate SuperBook.The sophomore has vaulted up the board to become a top-five Heisman favorite after accounting for 13 touchdowns in his first two games. He set an ACC record with 610 yards of offense in the Cardinals 62-28 blowout win over Syracuse on Friday.The Westgate SuperBook took more than dozen bets on Jackson, ranging from $5 to $200, at 100-1. If they win this week, hell probably be the favorite, unless [Stanford running back Christian] McCaffrey has some monster game, Salmons said.?Odds & ends? The Washington Huskies moved from 30-1 to 12-1 to win the national championship at the SuperBook, after a bettor backed the Huskies to win it all with a significant bet that would pay more than six figures, Salmons said.? Georgia, a 55-point favorite, was trailing Nicholls State in the third quarter Saturday. The Bulldogs were listed at -600,000 on the money line to win straight-up at offshore sportsbook 5Dimes. Georgia prevailed 26-24.? La Liga newcomers and massive underdogs Alaves stunned Barcelona 2-1 Saturday. Alaves could be found as high as 40-1 to win the match. The biggest bet on Alaves that William Hills U.K. book took was ￡14 at 28-1. William Hill also took a ￡1,616 bet on Barcelona at -1,600 odds, according to book spokesperson Joe Crilly.? Arkansas overtime win over TCU completed a seven-team, $50 parlay that paid $8,600 at CG Technology. The bettor also had Michigan -35.5, Nebraska -26, Wake Forest +6.5, Texas -31, Ohio State -28.5 and Wisconsin -23. Discount Football Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Stitched Jerseys From China . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. http://www.stitchedwholesalejerseys.com/ ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Nike NFL Jerseys China . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Chris Tillman was the difference Saturday night -- and it wouldnt be a stretch to say the right-hander has been the difference for the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East race so far this season.Tillman became the American Leagues second 13-game winner, backed by J.J. Hardys two-run homer, in Baltimores 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.The Orioles, who have won four straight overall, are 9-0 in Tillmans starts against their division rivals.Team wins are important, said Tillman, who has given up one run or fewer in his last three starts. All the personal stuff goes by the wayside when it comes to winning ballgames. Thats our approach and its good to be a part of it.Tillman (13-2) gave up one run and four hits and struck out three in seven innings. Only Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox has more wins (14) among major league pitchers.Brad Brach threw a perfect eighth and Zach Britton struck out two in the ninth for his 29th save as the Orioles maintained a two-game lead over the Boston Red Sox.Hardys fourth home run of the season came off Matt Moore (5-7) after Matt Wieters two-out double in the second.(Tillman) had good command. He had three walks, but it didnt feel like it, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. He was the difference. Its not very often that a two-run homer stands up, but it did.Logan Morrison scored Tampa Bays run after a leadoff triple in the fourth that was originally called a home run before being overturned by an umpire replay review. The ball was ruled to have hit the top of the wall in left field and back into play, and Morrison was given a triple. Steven Souza Jr. then drove in Morrison with a single, but it was the final hit of the game for the Rays, who have lost eight straight and 24 of 27.It stinks when you lose a ballgame onn one pitch, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.dddddddddddd That kind of sums it up how its been going for us.Moore, who has two of the Rays three wins since June 15, pitched 7 1/3 innings, his longest start of the season, giving up two runs on five hits.HARDY SHOULDERHardy hit his second home run in nine at-bats after hitting two in his first 155 at-bats, and stretched his personal hitting streak to nine games. It is a direct result of his healed left shoulder. Im not thinking of the shoulder at all, he said. I know I was a lot last year, but Im not thinking about it anymore. I think thats the biggest thing.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: OF Hyun Soo Kim (right hamstring) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. Showalter said it will determined after a workout Sunday if Kim will need to go on the disabled list. ... Showalter said RHP Darren ODay (strained right hamstring) looked crisp during a bullpen session and will take part in a simulated game Tuesday.Rays: INF Steve Pearce (strained right hamstring) started a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte. ... OF Desmond Jennings (strained left hamstring) continued taking batting practice and has started a running program.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (2-1) makes his first major league start in Sundays series finale. The fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft has thrown 38 innings in 22 relief appearances this season. He was limited to a combined 17 minor league games the previous two years after Tommy John surgery in 2013. First major league start for anybody is going to be exciting, Bundy said.Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-5), whose recent starts have been scouted by many playoff-contending teams, will go against Bundy. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '