SBC caught up with IGT PlaySports Head of Sports Trading Tony DiTommaso to break down NFL and college football trends, as well as the end of the 2025 MLB season. DiTommaso discusses how he applies his decades of experience to help sportsbook operators navigate the many twists and turns of each season.
Each football season brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities for operators while they try to stay ahead of the general public to ensure a winning campaign for their sportsbooks. After more than 40 years of managing and advising sports traders, DiTommaso continues to leverage his vast experience in the industry to inform customers of the suitable paths to take throughout a volatile football season.
In a 17-game sample size, there are likely to be a few unexpected teams that emerge and fade quickly. The 2025 season is no different, with the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and, initially, the Indianapolis Colts making playoff pushes. The Colts’ hot start caught everyone’s attention because of their historic offensive pace.
Through the end of October, the Colts averaged 1.09 points per minute of possession — the highest mark ever recorded in the NFL — and were also on pace to set another NFL record, owning the best points per play mark in league history at .547.
DiTommaso explains the Colts required a distinct and swift adjustment due to their surprisingly potent offense, led by workhorse running back Jonathan Taylor and resurgent quarterback Daniel Jones. The proceeding late-season slump and season-ending injury to Jones swung their point totals back the other direction.
“The first time the Colts played the Titans in week three, they were less than a touchdown favorite,” he says. “They matched up again in week eight, and by then, the Colts were favored by 15.”
It was more than just homefield advantage in the second matchup that led to Indianapolis being over a two-touchdown favorite. At that point, this year’s Colts were even outpacing the legendary franchise-best offenses led by Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison.
“With scoring totals, weeks two to four, we were tracking matchups with the Colts at around 42 or 43,” DiTommaso continues. “As the season progressed, we saw their totals jump anywhere from 47-50, so the ‘experts’ have certainly caught up to their performance.
“They were also blessed with an easy path to start so we’ll see how they finish as they are in the middle of a tougher time schedule-wise with, now, a backup QB.”
While it may take a few weeks for operators to fully comprehend the evolving dynamics of a season in any sport, DiTommaso notes that he can spot national betting trends forming first at the regional level. That can inform how he and the rest of the IGT PlaySports Trading Advisory Team helps to guide its customers through uncertain situations.
Whether it’s a surprise Super Bowl contender or a World Series longshot making a run in the MLB playoffs, as was the case with the Seattle Mariners, IGT PlaySports is well- positioned to recommend the right moves to make operationally.
“There’s always the regional shift, we can spot patterns developing as they transcend to the jurisdiction first,” DiTommaso notes. “I got calls from some customers in October as we approached the MLB Playoffs about some significant liabilities on World Series winners.
“In that situation, I try to give them three or so scenarios about how it could play out to give our customers the information they need to make informed decisions.”
The Dodgers’ World Series repeat quelled any concerns about sportsbooks taking on any major losses, as they were priced as favorites the entire season. While it may have been tempting for operators to try to offset some liabilities by pricing teams differently based on the fluctuations and evolving storylines of a season, DiTommaso always recommends against allowing personal opinions to influence a market position shift.
“That’s one of the things that I’ve learned over my career, is to try to use my professional opinion and suggest to our customers to be at the high or the low end of the market based on what we’re seeing,” he concludes.
“That’s the value IGT PlaySports brings, understanding where the market is as a whole and translating that information to our customers while leaving feelings out of it.”
