From NY Post:
THE HOTLINE to Las Vegas takes you inside the opening weekend of the NFL season, telling you what direction the lines are moving, and by how much.
JETS-TEXANS
TEXANS -41⁄2: The line was briefly bet down to 4 but quickly recovered. "If it continues to be bet, I only see it going to 5," said Sean Van Patten of the Las Vegas Sports Consultants. "I don't think you're gonna get too much Jet money here."
You take the points if you believe Mark Sanchez is this year's Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. "In the past, it was always a given that a rookie quarterback starting his first game on the road was a play [against]," said Las Vegas Hilton Sports Book Executive Director Jay Kornegay. But the Texans are not the '85 Bears on defense. "He is a rookie quarterback making his first start on the road, however, there's one thing in his favor: They're playing the Texans," Kornegay said.
REDSKINS-GIANTS
Giants -61⁄2: Vegas believes Eli Manning and the Giants will miss Plaxico Burress. "When Plaxico went down, we saw the team we're gonna see this year," Van Patten said. Kornegay agreed. "They're gonna miss Plaxico, there's no doubt," Kornegay said. "They're gonna have to run the ball consistently to open up that short passing game. I don't think it's gonna be a long passing game. One of those guys is gonna have to step up ... but no matter what, they're gonna miss Plaxico. He's such a big target ... he's a chain mover."
The line opened at 51⁄2. "Washington, I don't think, is gonna be able to score," Van Patten said. Osi Umenyiora is back to help Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka hound Jason Campbell. "I wouldn't want to be reviewing game film right now," Kornegay said, and chuckled.
EAGLES-PANTHERS
Eagles -1: The line opened at Carolina minus-11⁄2 to minus-21⁄2. "To me this is total public perception of the Eagles being Super Bowl contenders," Van Patten said. "I happen to think Carolina's pretty good, but they always have the Jake Delhomme Factor." Michael Vick's reinstatement will have little influence on the Week 3 line. "We don't know how much he's gonna play," Kornegay said.
VIKING-BROWNS
Vikings -4: The line was 2 before Brett Favre unretired (again). "I think it's a joke," Van Patten said. "To me, they would have been just as good with Sage Rosenfels." The Vikings traditionally have loyal bettors, and Favre has always had his supporters. "I think he's been overvalued the last three, four years," Van Patten said. Kornegay expects the line to rise. "I think that thing might approach 6," he said.
Vegas doesn't care as much as Eric Mangini does, whether it's Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson at quarterback. "They're all trying to be little Belichicks or something," Kornegay said.
SUNDAY NIGHT
BEARS-PACKERS
Packers -31⁄2: Aaron Rodgers' scintillating summer, combined with the arrival of Jay Cutler in the Windy City and a banged-up Bears secondary has the over/under at 461⁄2. "You would never see a Bears total of 461⁄2 two years ago," Van Patten said.
MONDAY NIGHT
BILLS-PATRIOTS
Patriots -11: The line opened at 10, and the over/under has risen from 461⁄2 to 471⁄2. "[Tom] Brady wants to come out and show that he's healthy," Van Patten said. "There are a few coaches in the league who don't mind running up the score, and Belichick is one of them."
Kornegay hasn't hopped aboard the Patriots' Super Bowl bandwagon. "I still think they have some questions about their football team, that have yet to be answered," Kornegay said. "Brady's knee for one: Is he gonna be favoring it?" If Terrell Owens wasn't a Bill, the line might have been 13.
CHARGERS-RAIDERS
Chargers -91⁄2: Vegas expects a big game from LaDainian Tomlinson. "Tomlinson is definitely poised for one good run here," Kornegay said, "and I think this is gonna be the year." Shawne Merriman's arrest involving Tila Tequila was a distraction. "We're calling him the leading tackler of the league so far," Kornegay said, chuckling. But JaMarcus Russell & Co. are no threat.