Aug. 19, 2009
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sports books alter odds to reflect Favre's return
BOOKS ALTER ODDS TO REFLECT FAVRE'S RETURN

Las Vegas sports books are making minor adjustments on the Minnesota Vikings after the NFL team signed quarterback Brett Favre on Tuesday.

"It's a slight upgrade for the Vikings," Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "At first, we were not going to move anything. But we looked at it, and the Vikings were already a popular team, and Favre will make them more popular than ever. We made some subtle changes."

The Hilton changed the Vikings from 31/2- to 4-point road favorites over the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season opener. The Vikings' odds to win the NFC dropped from 8-1 to 7-1, and their odds to win the Super Bowl dropped from 18-1 to 15-1. Minnesota's regular-season win total moved from 9 (over minus-140) to 91/2 (over minus-120).

"In reality, I don't think Favre is going to make that much difference," Las Vegas Sports Consultants oddsmaker Jason Been said. "It's more just public perception instead of reality. I just don't believe Favre is healthy. He completely wore down in the second half of last season with the Jets."

MATT YOUMANS/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL