A wild NFL free-agency period that has seen several big-name stars change teams drew mixed reaction from Las Vegas sportsbooks.
The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles saw their odds improve at multiple books, while the defending champion New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints took steps back.
The Colts, who added veterans Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, moved into the role of Super Bowl favorites at the MGM sportsbook. Indianapolis is 5-1 at the MGM, followed by the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers at 11-2, and the Patriots at 6-1.
New England lost both its starting corners, with Darrelle Revis going to the New York Jets and Brandon Browner going to the Saints, but remained in the top tier of favorites. The Seahawks and Patriots, at 6-1, remain co-Super Bowl favorites at the Westgate SuperBook. The Seahawks and Packers, at 6-1, are co-favorites at William Hill.
Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology, one of the only shops to have already posted NFL season win totals, adjusted the Colts' projected win total from 9.5 to 10. The book cut the 49ers' projected wins from 8.5 to 8. San Francisco, in addition to losing Gore and coach Jim Harbaugh, also had star linebacker Patrick Willis retire unexpectedly. The 49ers were listed at 25-1 to win the Super Bowl at the SuperBook and MGM.
The Eagles continued their offseason overhaul Thursday by landing last season's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, away from the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia traded away running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Nick Foles in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso and quarterback Sam Bradford, respectively. After initially holding steady on the Eagles, the Westgate SuperBook moved the Eagles from 20-1 to 16-1 to win the Super Bowl on Thursday following the Murray news.
The Saints, who traded away tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks, dropped from 25-1 to 30-1 to win the Super Bowl at the SuperBook.
After adding Revis and fellow cornerback Antonio Cromartie, receiver Brandon Marshall, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Jets' Super Bowl odds were on the move at the SuperBook, improving from 100-1 on Monday to 40-1 by Wednesday. But other shops weren't swayed. William Hill held steady with the Jets as 100-1 longshots. The MGM kept the Jets at 75-1.
William Hill elected not make any adjustments to its Super Bowl odds during this week's player movement. More money has been bet on the Packers to win the Super Bowl at William Hill, followed by the Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Cowboys and Denver Broncos.