Adams: Imagine betting legally on SEC football all over United States

Knoxville

This upcoming football season could be more intriguing than usual. How intriguing?

That’s up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our most esteemed legal experts have agreed to rule on New Jersey’s bid for legalized sports gambling in their next session, which begins in October. Louisiana and Mississippi are among the states in New Jersey’s corner.

After all, why should Las Vegas have all the fun? Why shouldn’t New Jersey or the Mississippi Gulf Coast be able to capitalize on the futility of fans trying to predict the outcome of sporting events?

My best guess: Widespread legalized sports betting is coming. It’s just a matter of when, not if.

Supreme Court decision to take on sports gambling issue might force NCAA to accept Las Vegas

There’s too much interest in it to think otherwise. An estimated $150 billion is bet illegally on sporting events each year.

Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not suggesting that every town with a river and a casino would have a sports book. That wouldn’t be feasible. But in Mississippi gambling towns like Biloxi and Tunica, why not? Or maybe even in Cherokee, N.C., the nearest outlet for Knoxville risk takers.

The possible impact in the Southeast would be fascinating. Think how many college football fans are willing to stray outside the law to make a bet. Then think how many more college football fans would eagerly join the pursuit for seemingly easy money if it were a legal venture.

Imagine how that would impact SEC football. Fans have been known to kill one another over the outcome of a game just out of sheer passion for their favorite team. Combine hard-earned cash with heartfelt loyalty and the combustible mix would be downright scary.

I can see SEC coaches squirming already. As if the pressure of winning isn’t great enough, coaches would have to endure the pressure of covering, too. They could win a game but lose the day on the same Saturday.

You sometimes can sense an undercurrent of fourth-quarter disgust coursing through an SEC stadium when the local favorite has comfortably put away its opponent but left the point spread dangling perilously in doubt.

That undercurrent would rise to a roar if legalized gambling swelled the betting pool. The new contingent of legally approved betting fans wouldn’t hesitate to boo vociferously if the team they entrusted with their devotion and dollars was conservatively protecting the final minutes of a 27-point lead when the betting line was a point higher.

The media would have to adjust, too. No longer would coach and team records against the spread be limited to tout services, which empower bettors with their “locks of the week” - for a price, of course. Instead, mainstream media would be compelled to provide their readers or listeners with records against the spread, too.

A “safe lead” would take on new meaning. Safe from whom?

Your opponent or your betting fans?

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at @johnadamskns.