Concerns over an injury to Tom Brady's throwing hand are apparently very, very real. After the New England Patriots quarterback missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, the betting line for Sunday's AFC championship game against the underdog Jacksonville Jaguars dropped from favoring the defending Super Bowl champs by as much as 10 points against the Jags to about 7.5, Covers writes.
Lines don't swing that much and that swiftly by accident. Some oddsmakers and sharps were clearly worried that Brady might actually miss the game.
The line's move worried sportsbook Bookmaker.eu enough "to take the game off the board entirely, meaning they weren't accepting wagers on this matchup until receiving more clarity regarding the severity of Brady's injury," The Action Network writes. Super Bowl futures bets were also yanked.
Reactions from fans ranged from panic to yawns. After all, this isn't exactly the first time Brady's health has been in apparent jeopardy before an important game. "Remember Brady's 'flu-like' symptoms before the 2014 AFC championship game in Denver?" Sports Illustrated writes. "Or the boot he was spotted in before Super Bowl XLII? In January 2005, he had a 103-degree fever the night before the AFC title game."
By 10:15 a.m. ET, the Patriots-Jags game was back on the board at Bookmaker at -7 with an over/under of 46, The Action Network reports, although the Super Bowl futures "remain off the board." Brady is scheduled to speak to the media later Friday.