saintfan

Seriously people. Beuller? Beuller? Anyone?

GumboBC

This section on sports betting shall focus mainly on the NFL. First lets start with the basics and learn how to read an odds sheet. Here is a section from the Suncoast for the NFL on Nov 30, 2003




Let\'s look at each column one at a time.

The first column of numbers is the bet number. When you make a bet the writers prefer you list the bet number but it is not required.

The second column is the teams playing. Generally the team listed on top is the visiting team and the team listed on bottom is the home team.

The third column is the time of the game. In Las Vegas it is based on Pacific time but Internet sportbooks use Eastern time.

The fourth column is very important. Almost always one team will be favored to win over the other. The favored team will have a negative number in the same row, called the point spread. This is how much the favored team is expected to win by. In this example the Giants are favored to beat the Bills by 3.5 points. So, if you wish to bet on the Giants against the spread then the giants must win by 4 or more points for the bet to win. If you bet on Buffalo against the spread then the bet will win if Buffalo wins the game or loses by 3 or less points. Thus the expression, \"It isn\'t whether you win or lose, it\'s whether you cover the spread.\" This also explains why fans are sometimes still very emotional in a lopsided game, because the outcome against the spread can still go either way. In the event the two teams are evenly matched there will be a \"P\" or \"PK\", meaning \"Pick\" or that you can pick who will win without a point spread. The other number is the over/under line. You may bet whether the total points in the game will go over or under this number. In both point spread and total bets the probability of winning is about 50% so the bettor must usually lay $110 to win $100, or any proportion therin. For example if I bet $22 my winnings would be $20. So try to keep these bets in increments of $11.

The fifth column is the money line. If you wish to bet on who will win without any point spread then the money line is for you. To make it fair you must lay odds if betting on the favorite and you get odds if betting on the underdog. In the above example the money line on Buffalo the underdog is +145. That means a $100 bet will win $145, or any proportion therein. A money line on New York the favorite is -165, meaning that you must bet $165 to win $100.
(So, it can be done. But, it is hardly a \"straight-up\" bet. And the money line changes depending on how much of an underdog that team is. And they CAN call off all bets on the money line. These guys aren\'t stupid and they will NOT allow you to cash in on a sure thing.)


The sixth column shows the bet numbers if you wish to bet on the half time outcome.
The seventh column shows the point spread and over/under line for the outcome at half time. In this case New York is a 1.5 point favorite and the total points is 17.5.





[Edited on 5/6/2004 by GumboBC]

saintfan

I knew I should have finished college.

WhoDat

Thanks Billy - for once you beat me to the punch about something accurate!!

There is almost nothing that you cannot bet on. Hey Saintfan, you want the opportunity, come up to Chicago and I\'ll introduce you to some Traders I know who bet hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on one thing or another on every single trip up and down a basketball court in a game.

saintfan

Those folks obviously make too much money!

:P

WhoDat

And they don\'t have a clue what to do with it.

GumboBC

WhoDat --

I\'m not letting you off the hook that easily....

As I stated way back in this thread.....There is NO such thing as betting straight up on football in Vegas. Now, you wanted to argue that point. And I have seen NO evidence that you have provided??

You talk about the \"Vegas Experts\" being so great about picking winners. But, isn\'t the truth they make their money on the odds by incorperating a \"spread\" in the picks?

And when betting on a game without using the \"spread\" isn\'t it true that they make the \"beter\" assume a LARGE risk by incorperating a \"money line\" that THEY set and it changes depending on how much of an underdog a team is? And isn\'t it also true that they can call off ALL bets on certain games if they feel it to be neccessary?

And don\'t they do all of that because if they didn\'t they would probably go belly up?

Just admit I\'m right. I just need to hear it once, man. Just one damn time...LMAO

Give me my just due.......LOLOLOL :P :P :P


[Edited on 5/6/2004 by GumboBC]

canucksaint

I just wanted to thank Billy for that explanation (being serious). I knew what most of those colums meant, but not all. I have now learned my one thing for the day. Thanks.

WhoDat

LMAO - OK, yes Billy you\'re right. The BILLIONAIRES out in Vegas who make millions upon millions of dollars every year by betting on football clearly know nothing about football. Nor do the \"experts\" who are generally former players or people who are paid highly and who spend their entire lives doing nothing but following football and reporting about it. All of these people know nothing about the game. CLEARLY, we should all listen to you. In fact, whatever Billy says this team will go this season - take it to the bank. That 12-4 or 13-3 number last season was pure gold. Six games into the season and the Saints already eclipsed the losses he said they would have on the season. WOW. Yes Billy, you are right. LMAO.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"

GumboBC

Is it just me or does no one else notice WhoDat avoids the issues and then instead of admiting he\'s wrong; he contiues to make false statements. Like this one for example:

WhoDat admits the guys that pick the games in Vegas are usually ex-football players. Now, if they are so great at picking winners and beating the system in Vegas then surly some of these ex-players are making \"billions\" by beating the system themselves.

WhoDat - Name me ONE player that is beating the system?? Just ONE?? What about Montana? Elway? Just name me ONE ex-player that is making billions or even millions?

It ain\'t no beating the system WhoDat. Because that\'s EXACTLY what it is. It\'s a SYSTEM designed to stack the odds against ANYONE. It has NOTHING to do with picking the WINNER. It has to do with them stacking the odds against you by using a point spread. Or, a \"money line.\"

You are as hard headed as the day is long.

I can lead a horse to water..............Now step up and take a drink damn it... :P









[Edited on 5/6/2004 by GumboBC]