By Sebastian Noel
Enchantment Sports
If you’re a football fan who is intrigued by the raucous world of sports betting but aren’t quite sure how to place a wager, Enchantment Sports and Route 66’s The Book are helping guide you through the NFL playoffs, Super Bowl and college football title game.
Maybe you’re the type of fan who would love to bet the Vikings/Niners or Titans/Ravens games on Saturday, but aren’t quite sure the difference between a point spread or money line and feel a little shy about asking for help?
Or maybe you’d like to bet both games together, but don’t understand the difference between a parlay or a teaser and are a little intimidated going to the betting window while others are in line waiting?
Hey, it’s understandable. Everyone has to learn.
But you don’t have to learn on the fly.
On Saturday (Jan. 11), Enchantment Sports editor in chief Mark Smith will once again be on hand for a question-and-answer session to help you with the basic knowledge for placing sports wagers.
Smith, a long-time sports handicapper, is not there to make your picks. However, he is there to help you understand how to make yours — and how to get the best bang for your buck.
“I get it. The first time you walk up to a sports book, it can be intimidating,” Smith says. “There are numbers everywhere, and it can be a bit mesmerizing. The first time I ever went to a book in Vegas, I had a million questions but couldn’t find anyone to answer them.
“It’s cool that Route 66 wants to help anyone who has questions, and to help them feel comfortable and confident when they get to the window to make a bet. You really feel you’re a part of the game when you have action on it.”
Smith will be at Route 66’s The Book at Stadium 66 Sports Bar on Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m., prior to the NFL divisional playoff game between Minnesota and San Francisco, which is set for 2:30.
He will also be at Route 66 on the following days:
Jan. 13, college football national championship
Jan. 19, conference championships
Feb. 2, Super Bowl
It will be a laid-back atmosphere in which even the most novice sports fan can feel comfortable asking questions about the wild world of sports betting.
“I’ve always enjoyed listening to Mark’s ideas and philosophies regarding the gaming industry and his prognosis of the games themselves,” said Joe O’Neill, president of ESPN 101.7-FM The Team sports talk radio. “I’m sure it will be educational and fun at the same time.”
Even if you’re not a beginning bettor, you’re encouraged to spend a few minutes at the session, and there are giveaways for everyone who stops by.
There are also raffles throughout Saturday’s two playoff games, and again during Sunday’s two games; Houston/Kansas City (1 p.m.) and Seattle/Green Bay (4 p.m.) as well as Monday night’s college football national championship game between Clemson and LSU.
Stadium 66 is a Vegas-style sports bar with 74 television screens, a full service bar, local craft beers and fantastic food, including the best wood-stove pizzas in the state. The 13,000-square-foot, $3.4 million facility with two floors opened in September.
So spread the news folks — Route 66 and Stadium 66 is the best place in New Mexico to bet the games, and watch the games!
Sebastian Noel is a play-by-play announcer for ProView Networks and host of “Local Focus w/ Sebastian Noel,” airing weeknights at 10 p.m., on ProView.
Noel, also serves as the on-field reporter during the My50TV game of the week during the football season and is a frequent contributor to Enchantment Sports.
Enchantment Sports 