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Columnist Jeff Haney: 'Super Teaser' Bettors Clobbered by Late Field Goal

If there's one thing the public likes more than betting the favorite, it's teasing the favorite down.

As far as possible.

And so it went Monday night at the Las Vegas Club, where bettors jumped all over the downtown sports book's special 14-point teaser -- and got burned when the victorious Cowboys nailed an otherwise meaningless field goal in the final two minutes.

Jonathan Jester, sports book director at the Las Vegas Club, said his customers were teasing the Redskins -- 10-point favorites -- with anyone and everyone.

"We were buried with Redskins teasers," Jester said. "With the 14 points, they had the 'Skins plus 4, so that last field goal (which made it 27-21) did make a difference. It was huge for us."

At the Rio hotel-casino, sports book director Roger Sims said his property was in good shape even before Monday's game started.

"We went into the game with great balance, which is very refreshing for a Monday night game," Sims said. "Usually you're looking at a lot of parlays still alive on both sides from Sunday's games. We didn't have that this week. We also had a late rush on the Redskins and closed the game at 11."

Sims said the Dolphins' 19-6 win over the Ravens on Sunday night was a key game at the Rio.

"We were virtually break-even going into the night game," Sims said. "If the Ravens won and covered, it would have been a disaster for us on the parlay cards. Miami's win allowed (the house) to eke out a small win on the day."

In early action this week, Sims said the Giants have been bet from a small underdog to a small favorite over the Redskins -- although he doesn't necessarily agree with the line move.

"If there's ever a game where the 'Skins need to make a statement, it's this one," Sims said. "I kind of like Washington as a small 'dog." Meanwhile, Jester said he was surprised to see UCLA settle in as an underdog of a couple of points this Saturday at Oregon. "We've taken some action on the Ducks," Jester said. "But UCLA is coming off a couple of big wins. I see them as a top 10 team."

'OLD' BUT GOOD: Heading into Monday night's game, more than a dozen entrants in Coast Resorts' weekly football contest had perfect tickets.

Of those, all but one had selected the Redskins to beat the Cowboys.

So when Dallas pulled the upset, it meant a $40,000 payoff for that one contestant: Sal DeFilippo Sr., 57, an airport shuttle driver for a rental car company.

DeFilippo is the father of Sun news editor Sal DeFilippo and Sun systems support technician Mark DeFilippo.

"Dallas was just a lucky pick," said the elder DeFilippo, known to family and friends simply as "Old."

Although Old could have locked in a smaller profit by making a money-line play on Washington, he decided to go for broke with the Cowboys.

"I thought about it," he said, "but I was working until 7 at night. I could have made a halftime (hedge) play, but by then the Cowboys were winning and I was so excited I wasn't thinking straight."

Handicapping the games is a family affair for the DeFilippos, but Old made it clear this was his week to pick, and therefore his 40 grand. He did graciously say he'd share the windfall with his partners. Well, some of it anyway.

"They're always giving me hell about my picks," he said. "I'd say they can't do that anymore."

MAYOR ONLINE: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was a guest Monday on America's Line Live, broadcast over the Internet with host Benjamin Lee Eckstein.

Goodman reiterated that Major League Soccer officials have continued to express interest in bringing a team to Las Vegas and building a stadium here.

"They say (soccer) could be the sport of the future, and maybe it is," Goodman said.

America's Line Live features a wide range of guests, from traditional Las Vegas handicappers to East Coast gamblers such as "New York Nick" and "the Latin from Manhattan." Tune in at www.eyada.com weekdays at 5 p.m.

HILTON PICKS: Tobin Hensgen, who is sharing his thoughts and opinions with the Sun as he competes in the Las Vegas Hilton "SuperContest" ($1,500 entry fee, $114,000 first prize), had his first losing week at 2-3. Contestants pick five pro football games against the spread.

Hensgen, whose contest alias is "The Game," has a record of 9-6 heading into Week 4, tied for 36th place with 19 others. Two players are tied for first at 12-3; 191 are entered.

Hensgen (www.thegame-nfl.com) thinks any "soft" pro football lines -- difficult to find in any case -- really begin to disappear after the first few weeks of the season.

"It gets tougher from here on out," he said.

Here are Hensgen's five selections for Week 4: Eagles plus 1 1/2; Ravens minus 11 1/2; Raiders minus 10 1/2; Jets plus 7; and Colts minus 3 1/2.

CONTEST UPDATES: In the Don Best Las Vegas Handicapping Championship, Steve Turner of Texas went 4-3 this past week to get by Philadelphia's Lenny Stevens (3-3-1). Stevens did cash his best bet on his hometown Temple Owls. This week's matchup airs 4 p.m. Thursday on KRLV 1340-AM and is hosted by Las Vegan Alex Shelton. ...

Five entrants went 15-2 and split the $15,000 weekly prize in the Stardust's free All-American Football Contest.

In the Stardust invitational, radio personality Papa Joe Chevalier went 4-3 to edge football Hall of Famer Randy White (3-4). At 9 p.m. Friday, Dave Cokin squares off against Wayne Root.

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