New Frontier Race and Sports Director Tony Nevill viewed Boise State's 43-42 overtime upset of Oklahoma in Monday's Fiesta Bowl as fulfillment of the American dream as well as a perfect example of how the playing field in college football is being leveled.
"It reenforces everything that's good about college athletics and is indicative of the parity that has been achieved by limiting scholarships," said Nevill, who had "well balanced" action on the game and closed it at Sooners minus 7.
"Here you have this superpower getting beat by a small, mostly unknown school.
"It's an American story that keeps people, the public as well as those involved in programs throughout the country, excited about college football.
"I had a man tell me his wife doesn't know or care about college football, but she sure got into that game."
Vegas Valley books had mixed results with the Rose Bowl.
Many had Southern Cal favored at kickoff, while late money poured in on Michigan at others.
The Trojans won handily, 32-18.
"The Rose Bowl was a nice win for us," Nevill declared.
"We were at USC minus 1 1/2 at one point and it went to Michigan minus 2 1/2.
"The Christmas-New Year's bowl week overall was pretty good to us.
"In fact, other than early in the year, football was good in both the colleges and pros.
"We saw quite a few dogs prevail in the pros."
Bowl season has been like an extended rollercoaster ride for Eric St. Clair, race and sports director at The Cannery in North Las Vegas and Rampart Casino in Summerlin.
"Up and down," he said.
"We won most games early, but Jan 1 took away the profits.
"It wasn't like we got crushed, but we did lose.
"We got hit with some big parlays, one for $10,000 and another for $15,000."
Two things really hurt the pair of books: Michigan's late, but meaningless touchdown that put the Rose Bowl OVER the posted total and Boise State's upset, which gave the Broncos a money-line win as well as a straight-up victory versus the pointspread.
"That late Wolverine touchdown really hurt," St. Clair continued.
"And Boise State was a very public team.
"A lot of people watched on TV and it seemed like they all had money on the Broncos."
The Stratosphere Tower is one of the city's focal points on New Year's Eve as revelers flock to the north Strip casino to view its giant fireworks display.
Sports book supervisor Pat Rethore noted they must have partied hardy because Monday traffic was unusually slow for a New Year's Day.
"They must have been out all night and couldn't get out of bed," he said.
The Stratosphere has three properties under its wing -- Arizona Charlie's East and West in Las Vegas and another satellite book in Laughlin.
"Together, the four properties did OK," Rethore said Tuesday afternoon.
"They won and we lost.
"Laughlin had Michigan money, a lot of it; we had USC money and lost.
"We had Boise money, they had Oklahoma money.
"We haven't gotten much on the Tuesday night game (Orange Bowl).
"It's been like Louisville-Wake Forest ... that must be a basketball game.
"We've been getting a lot of action on Wednesday's game (Sugar Bowl), though, and it's coming in on Notre Dame.
"We're up (from LSU minus 7) to 8.
"I just took a couple of big bets."
About the Author
Lynda Collins is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of her articles at www.procappers.com/Lynda_Collins.htm | 
