A look back at this past weekend from a bettor?s point-of-view
By Jimmy Mason, Director of Sportsbook Operations, www.betcom.com
Monday, Nov 1
Recount in Florida anyone? When was the last time the big three of Miami Fla., Florida U. and Florida St. all lost on the same day? There?s no way to sugar coat it: these teams helped the ?book? have a monster Saturday! NFL Sunday saw an uneventful end of the Patriots run, and a runaway Chargers blowout that so many of you cashed in on!
The house drew first blood Saturday when North Carolina beat Miami Fla. outright. Miami opened as a 21-point favorite, and closed at -23 ?, with the bulk of the money coming from recreational players. Rule number one in college sports betting is: take the home dog. But many couldn?t resist the allure the Hurricanes. This left many a player in disbelief that they had lost their ?sure thing? money line bet on Miami at -2700. Round one was a resounding victory for the house.
Round two saw a rare ?move? by the wise guys on Florida St. early in the week. The ?move? was rare since (as previously touched upon) wise guys normally won?t play road favorites in the NCAA. They must have seen something they liked though as many laid the -10 ? points straight up, and many others bought it down to the key number of -10. The public soon followed suit, playing the ?Noles all the way up to -13 1/2. Again the home dog came through for the house, and again the house raked it in big time!
The third Florida team to lose outright was the only cloud on a day full of sunshine for the house. The Gators were getting 7 points from Georgia, so this was no upset. It was, however a tough spot for the house, as the majority of players used our ?Free ? point Friday? promotion to move the line up to +7 ?, or down to -6 ?. The final score was 31-24 as the game fell ?On the number.? The game ?falling on the number? or being decided by exactly 7 points meant we had to pay both sides as winners, and either side of teaser cashed as well. It was a bad game for the house.
The early session Sunday saw us ?chop it up? and collect the juice, but give it all back on the afternoon games. Everyone I have spoke to is surprised that the Steelers actually knocking off New England wasn?t a bigger win for us. It was actually a very evenly bet game as our ticket count showed about 15% more tickets written on the Patriots, but a slightly higher money amount bet on Pittsburgh. The sharpies were on the Steelers early at +3 (-110), and while that move was not strong enough for us to move the number off the 3, we did adjust the juice to +3 (-125) to entice New England money.
Cha-ching! That?s the sound of you guys cashing your tickets on this Sunday afternoon?s fiasco. The Chargers opened -4 ?, and the wise guys moved it across the ?dead numbers? of -5, and -5 ? (Dead numbers are numbers that have no value to a bookmaker or the bettor, as so few games are decided by 5 points that you rarely see the number offered and many times you will see the bookmaker move directly from -4 ? to 6). After the wise guys hammered it, the handicapping services ?released? it. And then to complete the trifecta, 80% of our everyday players liked the side as well. Drew Brees had a career day, and neither the Raiders, nor the house ever had a chance.
Well, that?s it for this past weekend. Till next week?.
Get in on the action: www.betcom.com
By Jimmy Mason, Director of Sportsbook Operations, www.betcom.com
Monday, Nov 1
Recount in Florida anyone? When was the last time the big three of Miami Fla., Florida U. and Florida St. all lost on the same day? There?s no way to sugar coat it: these teams helped the ?book? have a monster Saturday! NFL Sunday saw an uneventful end of the Patriots run, and a runaway Chargers blowout that so many of you cashed in on!
The house drew first blood Saturday when North Carolina beat Miami Fla. outright. Miami opened as a 21-point favorite, and closed at -23 ?, with the bulk of the money coming from recreational players. Rule number one in college sports betting is: take the home dog. But many couldn?t resist the allure the Hurricanes. This left many a player in disbelief that they had lost their ?sure thing? money line bet on Miami at -2700. Round one was a resounding victory for the house.
Round two saw a rare ?move? by the wise guys on Florida St. early in the week. The ?move? was rare since (as previously touched upon) wise guys normally won?t play road favorites in the NCAA. They must have seen something they liked though as many laid the -10 ? points straight up, and many others bought it down to the key number of -10. The public soon followed suit, playing the ?Noles all the way up to -13 1/2. Again the home dog came through for the house, and again the house raked it in big time!
The third Florida team to lose outright was the only cloud on a day full of sunshine for the house. The Gators were getting 7 points from Georgia, so this was no upset. It was, however a tough spot for the house, as the majority of players used our ?Free ? point Friday? promotion to move the line up to +7 ?, or down to -6 ?. The final score was 31-24 as the game fell ?On the number.? The game ?falling on the number? or being decided by exactly 7 points meant we had to pay both sides as winners, and either side of teaser cashed as well. It was a bad game for the house.
The early session Sunday saw us ?chop it up? and collect the juice, but give it all back on the afternoon games. Everyone I have spoke to is surprised that the Steelers actually knocking off New England wasn?t a bigger win for us. It was actually a very evenly bet game as our ticket count showed about 15% more tickets written on the Patriots, but a slightly higher money amount bet on Pittsburgh. The sharpies were on the Steelers early at +3 (-110), and while that move was not strong enough for us to move the number off the 3, we did adjust the juice to +3 (-125) to entice New England money.
Cha-ching! That?s the sound of you guys cashing your tickets on this Sunday afternoon?s fiasco. The Chargers opened -4 ?, and the wise guys moved it across the ?dead numbers? of -5, and -5 ? (Dead numbers are numbers that have no value to a bookmaker or the bettor, as so few games are decided by 5 points that you rarely see the number offered and many times you will see the bookmaker move directly from -4 ? to 6). After the wise guys hammered it, the handicapping services ?released? it. And then to complete the trifecta, 80% of our everyday players liked the side as well. Drew Brees had a career day, and neither the Raiders, nor the house ever had a chance.
Well, that?s it for this past weekend. Till next week?.
Get in on the action: www.betcom.com
