For years, the Circa Sports Book in Las Vegas has gone toe-to-toe with the sharp bettors, daring to set the line first and taking the earliest bets. For the last three years, Matt Metcalf has been on the other side of the table.
Because the Circa — in the model of their entrepreneurial owner Derek Stevens — prides itself on being first, like the bookmakers in old Las Vegas used to be, Metcalf, more than any other sportsbook director in the country, makes early moves based on who is actually placing the bets.
But Metcalf, who himself was a pro bettor from 2011-2018, can't figure out Monday night's College Football Playoff title game based on the whites of the eyes of the guys placing the bets.
"Every time I move the line to some version of Georgia -2.5 or -3, I think it's my last move to that particular number because of the respect I have for the person who just bet," Metcalf told The Action Network. "But then someone else makes me move it back."
Metcalf feels comfortable, but says he feels like he is in unfamiliar territory.
"I don't recall a game of this magnitude with this public of teams with this type of back and forth action in a college game," Metcalf said. "Obviously the 2.5 to 3 line has something to do with it, but it's really incredible to see. Normally at this point in the season, after seeing teams play all year, you don't have this much disagreement in sharp opinions from the pros. It's a great betting game overall as long as it doesn't land on three — knock on wood."
The interest is strong elsewhere in Las Vegas, too, as the SuperBook said handle had already surpassed last year's game as of Monday morning.
Despite being an underdog, the Crimson Tide have won seven straight meetings against Georgia. Bama has played in five of the previous seven CFP title games and won three of them. Georgia has only played in the CFP title game once, losing to Alabama in 2018.
