Las Vegas was built around whispers — especially ones that involve a college football quarterback. Once word spread that Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt returned to practice Monday, betting screens lit up and numbers started shifting. Positive reports have only accelerated the move.
🎙 Vegas Voices
“It was a lower-body injury against TCU,” one source told me Tuesday afternoon. “My understanding was that [Kenny] Dillingham sat Leavitt because of the weather in Salt Lake City. He didn’t want to make it worse in the thunderstorms.”
“The plan was always to play him against Texas Tech.”
Las Vegas bookmaker Ed Salmons wrote Sun Devil bets early this week and knew something was up. It doesn’t take much to connect dots behind the counter. I texted Salmons when the market was sitting Texas Tech -9.
“It should close 7.5 if reports remain positive,” he said.
A few shops are sitting Texas Tech -7.
Speaking of quarterbacks, professionals whacked SMU Thursday morning and moved the line from +9.5 to +5.5. It sounds like Clemson QB Cade Klubnik isn’t playing.
☘️ Irish Knockout?
Westgate SuperBook VP John Murray was on “Bet Sweats” Thursday morning with a warning for the audience about two public underdogs: USC and Ole Miss.
“This a big step up in class for USC,” Murray said. “I have my doubts about them stopping Notre Dame from scoring. Ole Miss is another popular underdog play.”
One former bookmaker loves Notre Dame.
“My numbers have the Irish as the third-best team in the country,” he told me. “The offense is elite because C.J. Carr has allowed it to take the next step. It’s so much better than last year’s group with Riley Leonard because Carr is a first-round passer.
“The Irish need to impress the committee, too. Can’t leave any doubt.”
VSIN’s Tim Murray offered up his prediction: 38-21 Irish.
📊 Sharp Report
Arizona State +11.5 —> +7
SMU +9.5 —> +5.5
Notre Dame -7 —> -9.5
Central Michigan +6 —> +3.5
Georgia -6.5 —> -7.5
Arizona +2.5 —> -1
Syracuse-Pitt U57 —> 54.5
Lions -4 —> -5.5
MIA-CLE U40.5 —> 37
🔭 FCS Watch
Here we go. #VegasRick is eyeing another FCS total this Saturday morning. Be on the lookout for a move on the Eastern Washington “Over” 58.5.
🥃 Fade the Bartender
The Bartender lost his two-unit NFL play on the Colts -7.5 against Arizona. Time will tell what bet(s) he’ll fire this weekend. Find out first this Saturday on X.
🐔 Chicken Picks
Here are the plays for this weekend.
Notre Dame -9.5
Rutgers +17.5
Purdue-NU U47
Maryland +3
Tennessee +8.5 -115
Eagles -1.5
Saints +5
L/W: 2-3-1, -1.3 units
YTD: 16-21-2, -6.9 units
Let’s eat.
Follow Sam!
Bet Sweats | Bear Bets
Chicken Dinner | FOX Sports
“My numbers have the Irish as the third-best team in the country. The offense is elite because C.J. Carr has allowed it to take the next step.”