Giants Installed as 7 1/2-Point Favorites Over Denver by Las Vegas Oddsmakers

The New York Giants, winners of 11 straight games and the NFC title, were installed Sunday as 7 1/2-point favorites over the AFC champion Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI by Las Vegas oddsmakers.

The final gun in the Giants’ win over Washington Sunday signaled the beginning of the biggest two-week betting spree of the year in Las Vegas. This year, state gaming officials say between $35 million and $45 million will be wagered on the game. Only the Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvin Hagler fight will likely generate as much action as the Giant-Bronco matchup.

However, the bulk of Super Bowl betting will be done illegally outside the state of Nevada with corner bookies, in office pools or between individuals.

Sonny Reizner, the oddsmaker at the Castaways Sports book, said he felt early betting would be heavily influenced by New York’s impressive 17-0 victory over the Redskins in Sunday’s NFC championship game.

“The early money will probably all be on the Giants after their display today,” Reizner said. “I’m going to open tomorrow with the Giants as a seven-and-a-half point favorite.”

The Castaways oddsmaker said the early betting will likely drive up the line. “The numbers may eventually go to 8 or 8 1/2,” he said. “That is very high. Usually the numbers have been around 3 and 3 1/2.”

Last year, the Chicago Bears were initially favored by 8 1/2 to 10 points over the New England Patriots.