BetRivers is getting on “The Bus.”
Online sportsbook and casino BetRivers announced an exclusive content deal with Jerome Bettis on Friday. He will be a part of BetRivers.com “Bet with a Winner” campaign.
Bettis played ten years for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was a six-time Pro-Bowler, two-time first team All-Pro and rumbled his way to 3,479 yards which puts him eighth all-time. He retired in 2006 after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL. And in 2015, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
BetRivers rolls with Bettis
This partnership puts Bettis as an exclusive betting endorser of BetRivers, a brand of Rush Street Interactive, which just recently went public on the NYSE.
Known as “The Bus” for his style of running, he earned the memorable nickname well before he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
“They wrote an article saying something about how I looked like a bus or something like that and I was taking guys for a ride, and it just kind of stuck,”Bettis told The Times. “So the student body would chant, ‘Nobody stops the bus,’ when I was playing at Notre Dame.”
In 2015, Bettis told The Times in Pennsylvania that he was called “the Battering Ram” when he was with the Rams, but after being traded to Pittsburgh, “The Bus” made a return due to the city’s Notre Dame fans.
“I was a blue-collar guy, and Pittsburgh, a blue-collar town,” Bettis said. “And they loved the name, and it kind of just stuck with me. And I’ve been going with it ever since. I don’t have a problem with it.”
No word on whether Bettis’ face will be on BetRivers bus ads but he will serve as the company’s brand ambassador and spokesperson, engaging in upcoming promotions and events on BetRivers platforms. He will offer his insight on the NFL with the sportsbook’s users on BetRivers social media in addition to digital and traditional media platforms.
Bettis beloved in PA, MI, IN
In his final season, Bettis had a career low for rushing (368 yards) but still rushed for 9 TDs. He played the role of the veteran emotional leader for a Steelers team that entered the playoffs as the final Wild Card team. The Steelers went on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl LV. It was the franchise’s first championship in over twenty years.
Bettis is beloved in Pittsburgh and he is also a favorite son in Indiana and Michigan since he played three seasons at Notre Dame and hails from Detroit. In addition to PA, BetRivers is also live in Michigan and Indiana.
Richard Schwartz, President of RSI commented:
“No matter where he was, growing up in Detroit, playing at Notre Dame, or during his iconic career in Pittsburgh, Jerome Bettis made a positive impact on and off the field. We are thrilled for Jerome to bring his authenticity and winning ways to the passionate sports bettors on BetRivers.com.”
Steelers stellar start, ATS record
The Steelers were one of the best teams against the spread, had preseason odds of +340 to win the AFC North, and exceeded their over/under win total (9).
Pennsylvania online sportsbooks Steelers preseason odds:
- Super Bowl: +2500
- AFC Championship: +1300
- AFC North: +340
The Steelers’ last trip to the Super Bowl was in 2009 when they beat the Arizona Cardinals, 27–23. In 2020, the Steelers got off to franchise best 11-0 start and won the AFC North. Their current odds at BetRivers online sportsbook are:
- Super Bowl: +2000
- AFC Championship: +600
The Steelers (12-4) will host the Cleveland Browns (11-5) in a Wild Card game on Sunday night at 8:15 p.m.
PA sportsbooks opened with the Steelers as 4.5-point favorites. However, on Tuesday, the Browns announced that head coach Kevin Stefanski, two members of the coaching staff and two players have tested positive for COVID-19. The line moved to Steelers -6 with the total points line at 47.5.
Betting splits at BetRivers as of Friday morning:
- 89% of the money is is the Steelers (-6) to cover the spread
- 87% of the money is on the Steelers (-265) moneyline
- 66% of the money is on the OVER (47.5)
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Don Wright
