Notable Bets: How a text resulted in a big bet
FAU beat UTSA 106-66 that night. Three weeks later, as the NCAA tournament was getting underway, Menashe scrolled through DraftKings’ odds to win everything, seeking to bet a top-tier competitor and one long shot to win the competition. He wound up with $500 on Gonzaga at 17-2 and, after recalling his text exchange, $500 on Florida Atlantic at 200-1. His bet is among the really few on FAU and the largest that had actually been reported to start the week.
“It’s only unusual because gamblers do not normally play that much on a dog of that size,” Johnny Avello, sportsbook director at DraftKings, said.But Menashe bets just nickels, and this time arrived on a group that’s authoring one of the greatest Cinderella runs in tournament history.A couple of notes
on Florida Atlantic’s run:
– Florida Atlantic went into the competition as long as 500-1 to win it all at some sportsbooks. The Owls were so far off the radar that some sportsbooks didn’t include them in their national championship odds up until January.
– According to ESPN Statistics & Details, if the Owls pull it off, they ‘d be the most significant long shot to ever win the NCAA competition considering that seeding began in 1979.
– Just 0.07% of the more than 20 million entries into ESPN’s Competition Difficulty had FAU in the Final Four, the lowest percentage of any single-digit seed.
– Sportsbook WynnBet said it took simply one bet on the Owls prior to the competition, a $10 wager at 500-1. Sportsbook PointsBet stated it took only 4 bets on the Owls before the competition. At BetMGM, the Owls drew in just 0.1% of the money bet on odds to win the national championship getting in March Madness.
– The Owls were listed as 2,500-1 long shots to win the champion in December at Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars reported taking 3 $100 bets on FAU at 2,500-1 from a bettor in Illinois and another $100 bet on the Owls after moving them to 500-1. The bets were positioned in December. and integrated would pay a net $800,000 if FAU shocks the world.BetMGM sportsbook
vice president Jason Scott informed ESPN that the Owls are a best-case circumstance for his shop.Same for Menashe, whose
$500 bet on the Owls with DraftKings would pay an internet of$100,000, the biggest score of his betting career.Menashe chose not to hedge his bet on Florida Atlantic’s game against Kansas State. His contrarian instincts convinced him that the underdog Owls were the best side. Instead, he went to Carmine & Sons, a pizzeria in Brooklyn, to enjoy the game Saturday night. “I’m superstitious, and I’m 6-0 at Carmine’s, “Menashe said.Over tequila and chicken fingers, he
experienced an emotional roller coaster as FAU rallied from behind to beat Kansas State and earn a spot in the Final Four.” I didn’t keep it together at all,”Menashe informed ESPN with a laugh.”We were so loud that Carmine, the owner, came
over and said,’I hope you have some big cash on this to be continuing this much.’I told him how much and he was like,’OK, go crazy.’It was remarkable, and I’m not going to lie, I’m not a cool, collected man that simply kicks back and watches.”FAU will deal with San Diego State in the Final 4. The Aztecs opened as small favorites over the Owls. Menashe says this time he’s hedging and plans to make the largest deposit he’s ever made with his sportsbook accounts today, enough money to place around a$25,000 money-line wager on San Diego State. If FAU wins, he’ll be down the $25,000 from the money-line bet on San Diego State, however still have $75,000 of space to hedge and secure a huge payday on the national championship game.”It’s absolutely amazing,” Menashe said.”I have a close group of friends, and we’ll commemorate.”Last Four lines(by means of Caesars Sportsbook, as
of Sunday)Florida Atlantic Owls vs. San Diego State Aztecs(-1.5, 131) Miami Hurricanes vs. UConn Huskies(-5, 149)