Las Vegas Gambling: Drama Around Raiders’ DE Crosby
The NFL Raiders' decision to bench Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby for tomorrow's pivotal game at Allegiant Stadium against the New York Giants due to a knee injury is the biggest development on the Las Vegas professional sports club betting front.
According to Jay Glazer's first report, Crosby "vehemently disagreed" with the Raiders' decision to shut him down and departed the team's facility. Who finishes last in the NFL this season will probably be decided by tomorrow's game. In the NFL Draft this spring, that team would have the top choice.
Gambling in Las Vegas: The Battle for the Bottom
Everyone who has watched the Raiders this season is aware that they need a quarterback, and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is waiting to be selected at number one.
"[Crosby] has been fighting it so hard for so long, fighting this thing for nine weeks, and each week he has done everything you could possibly imagine a guy could do to play and he's been able to, and they've worked with them to get through it," Raiders head coach Pete Carroll told the media yesterday. However, following an assessment that we completed on Monday or Tuesday, it simply appears to be too poor.
"He’d have been out there if we let him, and he would not have hesitated. He’s been fighting his ass off the whole time. But he knows that he’s banged up, so [he said] I would like to get out of here. And I said, yeah, get out of here. The competitor that he is … we’ve been talking about it for a couple days. It was exactly like you would think he would do, and he should do. And I agree with him 1,000% on how he responded. I get it. So hopefully we came to the right conclusion for his long-term betterment.”
Carroll insisted that there wouldn't be any issues with the team's connection with the player, and he didn't rule him out for the Raiders' final game of the season against Kansas City.With 73 tackles and 10 sacks this season, Crosby, who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders, is a five-time Pro Bowler.In March, he agreed to a $106.5 million, three-year contract extension with the Raiders.
Giants' slight favorites in betting
With Crosby's decision to put the Raiders in a stronger position to get the top overall pick, rumors began to circulate.That and the inevitable speculation about Crosby's future with the Raiders.This story suggested the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears as possible destinations.
"Yeah, I don’t give a s— about the pick. I don’t play for that,” said Crosby earlier this week. “My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. That’s what I focus on every day, and being a great leader and being an influence. That’s [the front office’s] job. But that’s got nothing to do with me.”
Tomorrow's game between the Giants (2-13) and Raiders (2-13) will begin at 4:05 p.m. EST. Betting lines: Giants -142 and Raiders +120 are DraftKings' money lines. Giants are -2.5 (-112) while Raiders are +2.5 (-108). The ML is Raiders -148, Raiders +126 at FanDuel. Giants -115 (53% of bets, 62% of handle) and Raiders -105 are the current ML at BetMGM.
Report on Injuries
Apart from Crosby, TE Brock Bowers is still on injured reserve due to a knee injury, and OT Kolton Miller is out due to an ankle injury. The Raiders have designated WR Jack Bech (back) and RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) as questionable.
DL DJ Davidson (neck), OL Evan Neal (neck), S Tyler Nubin (neck), T Andrew Thomas (hamstring), and WR Beaux Collins (neck) are all out for the Giants. DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle), OL Joshua Ezeudu (calf), CB Cordale Flott (knee), and C John Michael Schmitz (finger) are all listed as questionable for tomorrow.
The Golden Knights will face the Avalanche in town
As teams return from the Christmas break, the NHL's top-tier Colorado Avalanche will play the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena tonight. The Golden Knights are +120 at BetMGM, while the Avalanche, who have won six straight games, are -145 favorites.
The Avalanche lead the Central with a record of 27-2-7. Vegas is ranked first in the Pacific at 17-8-10.
Gambling in Las Vegas: Injury Report
Neither team has any listed. Colorado's overall record is 27-2-7 while its road record is 12-2-5. Vegas' home game record is 8-4-5. Over the last ten games for Vegas, former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner has four goals and nine assists.
Vegas has a 6-2-2 record over the past ten games, averaging 3.3 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.8 penalties, and 6.4 penalty minutes while allowing 2.5 goals per contest. The Avalanche, who are 8-1-1, give up 2.2 goals per game while averaging 3.6 goals, 6.8 assists, 3.2 penalties, and 6.7 penalty minutes.
