| That's the plight of the Pittsburgh Steelers | | | | Panthers have won four straight playoff games |
| and Carolina Panthers, who once more find | | | | on the road, two this season and another pair |
| themselves having to face hostile crowds in | | | | when they made their first Super Bowl |
| unfriendly environs as they play for NFL | | | | appearance in 2004."You can't keep going on |
| conference championships this weekend.The | | | | the road and winning indefinitely," Snyder |
| Broncos are a 3 to 3 1/2-point AFC favorite | | | | said."The Denver and Seattle players are |
| over the Steelers at Mile High Stadium in | | | | sleeping in their own beds and are just a |
| Denver while the NFC Seahawks are laying 4 1 | | | | short drive from the away from their |
| 2 points to the Panthers at Seattle's Qwest | | | | stadiums."The Steelers and Panthers are |
| Stadium.The total is 41 in the Rocky | | | | looking at long plane rides, checking in at |
| Mountains and 43 1/2 in America's Great | | | | hotels and sleeping in strange beds," Snyder |
| Northwest.Bookmakers contend the sides are so | | | | continued."Playing on the road is a big |
| evenly matched that the games are garnering | | | | thing."Nevertheless, Snyder said early |
| solid two-way action as the clock ticks | | | | betting was on the road teams "by almost a 2 |
| toward Sunday.'I don't have any predictions," | | | | 1 ratio.""It's weird," he observed. "They're |
| said Cyril Burger, the former Hilton | | | | betting the Steelers straight, but the |
| SuperBook chief who now runs the Flamingo bet | | | | Broncos in parlays."Likewise, the public is |
| shop. "These games are too close to call."I | | | | taking the Panthers."We opened at Seahawks |
| think they'll be tremendous games, | | | | minus 5 1/2 and it's now 4," Snyder noted.The |
| though."Not being at the hub (Caesars | | | | total on that game has gone from 43 to 44 at |
| Palace), it's kind of hard to tell how the | | | | Sam's Town, an East Las Vegas resort."They're |
| betting's going."Rich Baccellieri, the Palms' | | | | betting the over heavily in the Seattle game |
| race and sports director, couldn't forecast | | | | and the under on the Denver game. We've gone |
| much more than "a busy weekend for the | | | | from 43 to 41," Snyder declared.Eric St. |
| books.""The numbers seem to be right there | | | | Clair, a son-law of longtime Las Vegas |
| and we're getting good action both ways," | | | | oddsmaker Bob Martin who now operates books |
| Baccellieri said. "It's like a roll of the | | | | at The Cannery and Rampart Casino, agrees |
| dice."Baccellieri conceded, however, that the | | | | with Snyder's rationale and prefers the two |
| Seattle-Carolina game possibly would present | | | | home clubs."I don't think the Steelers will |
| a different scenario if the Panthers weren't | | | | win a third straight road game, not with that |
| so plagued with injuries.The heart of | | | | crowd at Mile High," he said."If Carolina was |
| Carolina's backfield will be watching from | | | | healthy, I'd choose the Panthers."St. Clair |
| the bench as running back DeShaun Foster is | | | | said wagering at the two northwest valley |
| out with a busted ankle, joining injured | | | | casinos was pretty even."The teaser action is |
| reservist Stephen Davis on the sidelines.Jake | | | | going to the dogs, though," he added.Most |
| Delhomme and the remainder of the Panthers' | | | | betting action will pass through the counters |
| offense instead will rely on Nick Goings, a | | | | on Saturday and Sunday, St. Clair |
| fifth year undrafted free agent who has | | | | observed."People will come in Saturday to bet |
| performed well under pressure in the | | | | basketball and they'll be making their NFL |
| past.Goings has averaged 4.4 yards a carry in | | | | selections then."Whichever teams advance to |
| the playoffs, but is not a breakaway | | | | Super Bowl XL at Detroit's Ford Field two |
| threat.The good news for Carolina Friday was | | | | weeks from Sunday, don't look for |
| that defensive end Julius Peppers was likely | | | | record-breaking betting numbers.Denver is the |
| to be in the lineup after suffering a | | | | only survivor that could be considered a |
| shoulder injury against Chicago last week. | | | | public team, dating back to the days of John |
| Peppers practiced Friday after resting | | | | Elway."The Super Bowl won't be as glamorous |
| earlier in the week."I think you'd see a | | | | as it would've been with Indianapolis in |
| different game with everyone healthy," | | | | there," Baccellieri observed. "These teams |
| Baccellieri said.The No. 1 priority for | | | | don't have the same kind of appeal as the |
| Carolina will be to get the ball to wideout | | | | Colts."It's obviously going to draw," |
| Steve Smith, who led the NFL with 103 | | | | Baccellieri said. "After all, it is the Super |
| receptions for 1,563 yards and guided the | | | | Bowl. Some of the flair will be missing, |
| attack against Chicago last week.Jack Snyder, | | | | though."Lynda Collins is a documented member |
| top assistant to Tony Paonessa at Sam's Town, | | | | of the Professional Handicappers |
| believes Carolina and Pittsburgh will wear | | | | |
| out before time runs out on Sunday.The | | | | League. |