A square deal
Playing Super Bowl Squares might have been the first form of betting for many of us. I know it was for me in my halcyon days at Jack Benny Junior High School in Waukegan, Ill.
On Monday, Circa Sports released odds for its unique version of squares.
The big difference between normal squares and Circa Squares is that you aren’t subject to the luck of the draw. In Circa Squares, you can pick your own numbers for each quarter and the final score. So if you have a bad square, that’s on you.
Available in the five states where Circa is licensed, the minimum bet is $1 and the maximum win is $100,000.
Adam Burke offers a primer on regular and Circa Squares.
I was wondering how Circa came up with the idea for doing it – now in its sixth year – so I asked Circa/VSiN dual personality Mike Palm.
We were running so many boards at our different Super Bowl parties. I think one year we had 12 or 13 boards. Very labor intensive and with zero profit. Derek wanted to find a way to book through Circa Sports and monetize the interest in it and free up a lot of hands on Super Bowl Sunday.
To check out the Circa Square numbers and FAQs, go here.
Consider this prop angle
Las Vegas pro bettor Steve Fezzik had another informative and entertaining appearance with Gill Alexander on Monday’s A Numbers Game.
In particular, Steve highlighted a prop angle to consider when you are making your Super Bowl bets:
There has been a fundamental shift toward going for it on fourth down.
He pointed out that there were 10 successful fourth-down attempts between the two games on Sunday.
So what should you do? For one, if you see a prop on successful fourth-down attempts, you should consider the Over. But basic premise spills over (or rather Under) into other props: Fewer third downs made than in the past, fewer field goals and fewer punts.
Maybe the books have adjusted, but maybe they haven’t.
Spoiler alert: Steve says he likes the Eagles. Gill is already in on the Chiefs -1.5.
Where will the number go?
Although the Chiefs have closed as underdogs in the previous two Super Bowls, DraftKings Sportbook director John Avello says he doesn’t expect KC to move to the dog at any point over the next two weeks.
In his appearance on VSiN PrimeTime with Matt Youmans and Jonathan Von Tobel, John also said the Bills-Chiefs was DK’s biggest handle on any NFL game except for a Super Bowl. The late rush of Bills money made it a good result for the book.
Coming Thursday: We will publish the VSiN Super Bowl Betting Guide for VSiN Pro subscribers. Check here for the offer that makes the most sense for you.
Today in College Hoops
Greg Peterson has posted his Best Bets for today’s menu.
Listen now: Greg’s daily podcast handicapping every game on the menu every day.
Quick Hits
NHL: Look for Jonathan Davis‘ picks later today.
NBA: Zach Cohen will post his Best Bets by mid-morning.
College Baseball: Matt Grissom, friend of VSiN and frequent guest during the college baseball season, has released the College Baseball Insiders Preseason Guide. Download the 38-page PDF here. Follow Matt on X.
Congrats: Team VSiN edged Team 1/ST BET in the Pegasus Playoff Pick’em Challenge. Money Moves host Stormy Buonantony led all 9 competitors with 25 points, going 4-for-4 on the NFL picks. >>Grading the handicappers. We’ll have the real contest results by tomorrow, I hope.
This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Monday, January 27. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
