“Ever since the day after Christmas it's been gang busters and nonstop action.” Nick Bogdanovich, manager at the CalNeva Sportsbook, says business has been good this bowl season. He says despite the recession, more people seem to be betting on their favorite teams this year.

Here in Reno football fans took a chance on fellow WAC team Boise State, but their motivation goes beyond conference pride. “The most popular bet today was Boise to win outright, which is the money line,” said Bogdanovich. “So $100 would win you $240.” Some did wager hundreds of dollars, but Bogdanovich says most people stick to a range between $10 and $20.

But it’s not just about the cash, some sports fans we talked to say they like the sports books for the atmosphere and friendly competition. Others say having money on the game adds a little extra excitement. The college bowl season winds down this week, but Bogdanovich says the real action is just on the horizon. The favorite of sports wagering events, the NFL playoffs, start next weekend, topped off with the super bowl in about a month.