My semi-last-minute trip came together through a combination of changes in my work schedule, and a bunch of free Amex miles. In my continuing quest to eventually stay at every hotel in Vegas, I was at the Riviera. I expected it to be a dump, but really it was fine. And it gave me a chance to explore an area of the Strip I rarely visit, including meeting my old friend Neil for breakfast Sunday morning at the Peppermill/Fireside. (Highly recommended -- great omelettes, and you can watch the hookers and pimps finish their Saturday night with breakfast Sunday morning!)
I arrived around midnight Saturday night, and immediately went over to the Mecca of Veags sportsbooks, the Hilton, which is right behind the Riv, across Paradise Road. I had driven by this area of town before, but never been there on foot. It was cool to see their two big signs up close.
At midnight Saturday night, there wasn't much of a wait at the Hilton. It took me about an hour, however, to go through their massive list of props!
This was only HALF of the available props -- also available on a 25 page handout!
I placed about 30 bets, on everything from "heads" (even money), to "will there be a safety" (8:1). Most of my prop bets were small, in the $5 - $10 range. I liked the Packers, but I LOVED the over. I knew it would be a high-scoring game, so rather than risk a parlay, I just put $50 on the over. That allowed me to cheer everytime there was a score, no matter who scored! I spent the afternoon high-fiving both Steeler and Packer fans!
For the game itself, thanks to a hookup from my buddy Fitz, we went to a comped VIP party at the Hard Rock. I had been inside the Hard Rock once or twice, but hanging out there had also always been on my Vegas "bucket list". The free beer was flowing, and there was free tailgate food, so we were winners before the game even started (literally -- my "heads" bet came in!).
I ended up losing about $75 total on the game (despite my "over"), but we had a total blast. It was fun trying to keep track of all my props as the game was going on, and even more fun looking like a football savant to the people sitting near us. On a relatively routine third-down conversion in the third quarters, I jumped up and down because I had hit my "over 5.5" on Steelers third-down conversions bet! People were calling me the Prop Master!
All in all, the Super Bowl in Vegas was everything I hoped it would be, and I'm very glad I had the chance to do it. But I really coulda used that safety!
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