Apr 9, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Jim McIngvale smiles before throwing a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

‘Mattress Mack’ lays another $5M on Bengals

“Mattress Mack” wasn’t about to take a big financial hit lying down.

Houston furniture mogul Jim McIngvale placed his second huge bet on the Bengals to win the Super Bowl, laying $5 million on Friday on top of the $4.5 million he placed on Cincinnati a week earlier.

Both bets were placed at +170 odds on the money line (no point spread), meaning McIngvale would earn more than $16 million, in addition to getting back the $9.5 million he risked, if Cincinnati wins.

The latest bet wasn’t so much a hunch on the sporting merits of the Super Bowl teams as it was a shrewd business decision.

After putting his first big wager on the Bengals, McIngvale announced a promotion at his furniture stores that would give customers a $3,000 rebate on new purchases if Cincinnati beats the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

However, so many consumers flocked to his stores thanks to the promotion, McIngvale had to increase his bet on the Bengals.

McIngvale told ESPN on Friday, “Well, I sold through the profit on the first investment, so I had to make another.”

As he did the previous time, McIngvale drove over the Texas border into Louisiana, where mobile gambling is legal, and he placed the wager through the Caesars Sportbook app.

Caesars told ESPN that the $5 million bet was the largest it has ever booked on a Super Bowl, topping a $4.9 million wager on the St. Louis Rams to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. That bet in February 2002, placed at -900 odds on the money line, lost when the Patriots won 20-17 for Tom Brady’s first championship.

McIngvale celebrated his 71st birthday on Friday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros fan Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale watches batting practice prior to game five of the 2021 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

‘Mattress Mack’ bets $4.5M on Bengals to win Super Bowl

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is all in on the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Houston furniture mogul who has found fame as a massive sports bettor is putting his money — a lot of it — on the underdog to win the Super Bowl. McIngvale bet $4,53434,000 on the Bengals to beat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

The money-line wager was made at +170 odds, meaning McIngvale’s profit would be $7,707,800 if Cincinnati prevails.

McIngvale drove from Texas over the Louisiana border to place his bet using the Caesars Sportsbook app.

According to Caesars, it is the largest mobile sports bet ever placed. The sportsbook also said it was the second-largest Super Bowl bet it has accepted, following a $4.9 million wager on the St. Louis Rams to win Super Bowl XXXVI over the New England Patriots in February 2002. That gambler took -900 odds on the money line, but he lost when the Patriots won 20-17 for their first Super Bowl title.

In an interview with ESPN, McIngvale said, “I had to make like twenty $200,000 bets to make it work. But I want to thank Caesars for taking it.”

Caesars Sportsbook told CNBC, “We’re not at all afraid to take in a $4.5 million bet on the Super Bowl, and we embrace accepting the biggest bets on the biggest events.”

As McIngvale has done in the past when placing large bets on sporting events, he will reduce his risk by offering deals at his furniture stores that could offset his potential losses. Customers who make a large purchase prior to the Super Bowl will get $3,000 refunded if the Bengals beat the Rams.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) applauds as the team huddles before a play against Buffalo  during the first half of the preseason game  at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.

Lions to lead NFL in wins? $20 wager would fetch $30K

One proud bettor placed a $20 wager on the Detroit Lions to become king of the longshots this season.

A bettor with BetMGM took the Lions at +150000 odds to lead the NFL in wins in 2021.

If the Lions beat the odds and come through, the ticket would cash for $30,000.

BetMGM has taken more than 80 percent of total bets on team win totals on the Lions to exceed five victories in 17 regular-season games in 2021. As of Aug. 9, the Lions “over” on five wins was the most bet regular-season win total at BetMGM.

In head coach Dan Campbell’s first season with the Lions ahead, Detroit is attempting to snap a streak of three losing seasons in which the franchise posted a 14-33-1 record.

The Lions have only one season with as many as 12 wins (12-4 in 1991) since 1934.

Since the NFC Central became the NFC North in 2002, the Lions have finished fourth (last) nine times, including three consecutive seasons entering 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Jim McIngvale of Mattress Mack delivers the first pitch before game one of the 2017 ALDS playoff baseball series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

DraftKings takes $3.4M bet on Buccaneers +3.5

One of the largest single wagers in Super Bowl betting history, $3.4 million on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover the 3.5-point spread, was placed with DraftKings in Colorado on Wednesday night.

DraftKings said Thursday morning that Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale wagered $3.46 million on the Bucs to cover against the favored Kansas City Chiefs.

“Tampa Bay is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and led by the greatest football player of all time in Tom Brady, so I’m betting big on the Bucs who have overcome tough matchups throughout this postseason,” McIngvale said. “The NFL has only seen eight instances of back-to-back champions and none in the past 16 years, so I like my chances going into Super Bowl LV for this trend to continue. DraftKings has been amazing; providing a safe, legal and fantastic customer experience.”

The 69-year-old McIngvale owns and operates Gallery Furniture.

McIngvale flew into Colorado Springs and placed the wager via DraftKings mobile from the airport, the sportsbook said. He placed a $3.5 million bet on the Houston Astros to win the World Series in 2019.

“Mack has been a great customer and is someone we have history with after taking his sizeable wager on the Astros to win the World Series a couple seasons ago. For Super Bowl LV, Mack is handicapping the game out of pure belief that the Buccaneers can either win or at least cover the spread,” Johnny Avello, director of race and bookmaking at DraftKings said. “We are not strangers to taking significant action, particularly on one of the biggest sports events in the country. Looking at the way we have booked the Super Bowl so far, bettors are laying 3 on the Chiefs and taking the Buccaneers at +3.5 as fans try to get the best possible line.”

FanDuel moved the over-under from 56 to 55 on Wednesday as the Sunday evening forecast turned from sunshine to a 75 percent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

PointsBet revealed Thursday morning that more than 70 percent of all bets are being placed on the Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to head coach Bruce Arians before a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Bettor places $2.3M wager on Bucs to cover in SB LV

One bettor apparently is taking Bruce Arians’ “No risk it, no biscuit” mantra to heart.

A Nevada bettor placed a $2.3 million wager on Arians’ underdog Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover the 3.5-point spread against the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Nov. 7.

Darren Rovell of the Action Network reported that the wager was placed on the BetMGM mobile app. The unnamed bettor will pocket a $2 million profit should the Buccaneers cover in their “home” game against the Chiefs.

That sum of money eclipses the largest reported wager on last year’s Super Bowl, a $750,000 bet on the Chiefs.

“This was a bet we were very happy to receive,” Jason Scott, vice president of trading for BetMGM, told ESPN. “We had previously written several other six-figure bets, all on Kansas City, and the public is certainly behind Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.”

–Field Level Media