September 14, 2007
Copyright © RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Some the nation's top sports gamblers open the Money Talks football betting tournament today, each putting up $5,000 for a chance to win a winner-take-all purse of $160,000.

The head-to-head single-elimination tournament, where competitors pick seven college or pro football games on five different weekends, begins today at Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas and John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.

"You put up your $5,000 and go head-to-head with somebody," said Connie Weber, a Reno media buyer and consultant. "And at the end of the weekend, whoever wins the most moves on. The other guy loses his $5,000 and is out of it."

The tournament is sponsored by Leroy's Race and Sports Books, which has more than 60 outlets in Nevada, including at the Nugget.

"The bulk of these guys are professional gamblers," said Chris Andrews, vice president of Northern Nevada operations for Leroy's. "They will pick seven games, so you can be 6-1 and lose if your opponent is 7-0.

"The odds are against everybody," Andrews said of the 32-person field. "It is just survive and advance."

Live radio broadcasts, carried by stations in Reno, Las Vegas, Winnemucca and Ely, will announce the picks of many of the contestants. A live radio show will be part of the head-to-head showdown at the Nugget tonight when last year's champion, Erin Rynning of Las Vegas, picks against Ray Boldway of Frisco, Texas.

"We'll have a table and podium on each side," Andrews said of the showdown at the Nugget. "We'll make it look like a presidential debate."

Those paying attention to the picks will be able to get the gamblers' picks for free. Usually, those picks could only be had by subscribing to the gambler's tout sheets.

"One of the players is (former bookmaker) Nick Bogdanovich," Weber said. "I am on his mailing list, and he is constantly sending me mail saying, 'Buy my picks, buy my picks.' And for one week, I am going to get them for free," Weber said.

Yet, giving out the free picks may prove profitable for the gamblers' tout sheets in the long run, Andrews said.

"In a way, it is counterproductive for them because they don't get to sell those selections because certainly they want to put their best foot forward in the tournament," Andrews said. "However, it does a lot for their business overall. There will be 31 losers and one winner, so it is not realistic to expect to win this thing. But, if you have a couple of good showings and get deep in the tournament, it can help your business."

Many who follow football betting will follow this tournament, Weber said.

"This is huge," Weber said. "There are actually off-shore books who put up numbers on who is going to win this tournament.

"This is the third year that we have done this, and these people actually move the line," Weber said. "Bettors will listen to what they (handicapping tournament players) are doing, they will make bets and the line will move."

Today's opening head-to-head match will be broadcast live from Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas and will pit Bogdanovich against gaming writer Stephen Nover of www.covers.com.

The picks of Norver and Bogdanovich will be carried live in Reno on KPLY-AM 630 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday night's head-to-head match at the Nugget will be broadcast from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on KBZZ AM 1270 in Reno, KWNA AM 1400 in Winnemucca and KELY AM 1230 in Ely.