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Lower College Football Betting Totals

The college football season is just a week away and some new rule changes are being implemented this year which may have a dramatic impact on lowering college football betting totals. It is believed that these changes will shorten games up to 15 plays, which could drastically change where totals are set and how bettors should play them.

The idea behind these new rule changes is to speed up the game, as five of the six major conferences average game times of over 3.5 hours. I feel this is a needed step and hope that they will continue to adopt more NFL-style rules pertaining to clock stoppage. This will make the game more enjoyable for fans, television viewers, and even network executives.

Here’s a look at the major rule changes:

Rule Change #1: The clock will start on kickoffs when the ball is kicked instead of when the receiving team touches the ball. This is not a big change and should have very little impact on the outcome of the game. But coaches will have to adjust and this could shave around three or four plays off each contest.

Rule Change #2: On changes of possession, the clock will start when the referee starts the 25-second play clock. This will have more of an impact on the games since 25 seconds will be able to run off the clock and teams will have to utilize their timeouts in a different fashion. Essentially, a team will be able to run the time off the clock four times during a set of downs instead of three. With teams being given only three timeouts each half, there will be one occasion where they will not be able to stop the clock.

Since there will be less plays, one may be smart to take a look at totals early in the season, before the oddsmakers have a chance to properly adjust them to the aforementioned rules. Often, traditional passing conferences such as the MAC or PAC-10 see totals near 70 points. I have to wonder if there will be enough plays for them to approach this number. Only time will tell, but my guess is no.

These rule changes had some coaches, such as Oregon’s Mike Bellotti, up in arms. I still believe he is overreacting the way only coaches can. They may have to implement some new strategies - such as taking five-yard penalties to save timeouts - but I feel this is a start of better things to come in the future.

If I had my way, I wish college football would adopt all of the NFL rules, which would shorten game times to a respectable three-plus hours. This includes shorting halftime to 15 minutes and not stopping the clock on first downs, which is too much of an advantage for the offensive team and allows them numerous built-in timeouts. The structure needs to be set so that offenses need to utilize the sidelines more, and also it needs to be set up so that keeping your timeouts takes priority over moving the ball haphazardly downfield.

I hope this is a start of many changes to come in the college football landscape. After watching numerous bowl games go four-plus hours, I feel something needed to be done. I hope you enjoy the 2006 season and together let’s have a great year!

Kent State College Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#114 – Kent State Golden Flashes 1-10 SU; 3-7 ATS

Fargo’s Take Last year was not pleasant for the Golden Flashes and things aren’t expected to be too much better in 2006. In order to win, teams must be able to run the football and that is something Kent St. was not able to do. It finished dead last in 1-A in rushing offense as it averaged only 45.9 ypg which was close to 30 yards less per game than the next closest team. The good news is that Michigan St. transfer Tony Howard is eligible so an improvement is likely. Consistency at quarterback is a must, another thing that was not on the field a season ago. Defensively, the Golden Flashes were near the bottom of the rankings in both scoring defense and rushing defense. A lack of experienced linebackers will certainly not help the latter. Last season, Kent St. won just one game and that came against 1-AA SE Missouri St. but if there was any good out of the 10 losses, it was that four of those came by a touchdown or less. Five winnable games dot the schedule but four of those are on the road.

Returning Starters on Offense – 9 While the running game was a disaster last season, it is not the biggest concern coming into 2006. Injuries to the top five backs did not help things and new talent is coming in this year to move things forward. The offensive line is going to improve thanks to a vigorous offseason program so it all comes down to quarterback Michael Machen. He was inconsistent last season with two 300-yard passing games but his 18 interceptions killed the offense. After scoring 30 or more points three times in its first six games, Kent St. managed only 40 points in its final five games combined. A lot of experience returns so improvement should be anticipated, a key thing to remember when making college football picks.

Returning Starters on Defense – 9 Because of the inconsistent play of the offense, the defense had it back against the wall much too often. Not only do nine starters return, but Pittsburgh transfer Damian Matuschek will be a big addition to the defensive line. The secondary allowed the 24th fewest amount of passing yards in the country last season but a lot of that can be attributed to teams not needing to throw the ball. Only seven seniors are part of the two-deep rotation showing just how young this team is so more growing pains are inevitable. Turning the ball over was a regular occurrence but taking the ball away was not as the Golden Flashes finished 109th in turnover margin.

Schedule The schedule does not get any easier this season even though the MAC slate is one of the easiest you could ask for. The problem is that the three easiest conference games are on the road along with non-conference games at Army and at Temple. Minnesota is the first Big Ten team ever to invade Dix Stadium and that happens to be the first game of the season. A trip to Virginia Tech is also on the schedule which is sandwiched between three games at the end of the season that can all be won. The problem is that Kent St. could be 1-7 heading into that stretch, meaning the fight will be gone.

You can bet on… No win is guaranteed this season like it was last year when SE Missouri St. was on the schedule. The Golden Flashes play five games that they have a chance of taking but the schedule sets up where four of those contests are on the road. However, those are the games to look for some value since they will likely be getting a fair amount of points yet will matching up well. Kent St. covered only three times last season so we should see some progress against the number even though it may not be reflected in the overall win-loss record.

Investing in Sports

Some people think that investing in sports would be a dream job. These people do not realize that handicappers go through constant ups and downs throughout the season as they are grinding out season-ending profits.

Many gamblers and most fans, players, and coaches, offer causal explanations for long runs of good or bad sports performances. Financial analysts are quick to offer explanations for the up and down performance of the stock market and the investment they have bought into and have recommended to clients.

The records of professional bettors and public handicappers and stock market day traders and investment gurus show the same variable successes and failures. As does the performance of the teams and stocks they both back, for financial gain! Both investment opportunities show significant variables, and both to some extent can be considered decipherable, thus giving the investor an advantage!

If proper research and time is taken to consider all the pertinent facts of investing in particular stock or wagering position, than a long term profit is more than attainable over an extended or applicable period of time!

It may seem like I’m making comparisons between apples and oranges when talking about sports betting and investing in the stock market! But the truth of the matter is, both situations need the man behind the bet to have made an in depth study, of all of the key statistical data, company employees or team/player personal and their management and ownership and their past performances! Both must usually either show the ability for upward momentum, or show the ability as a whole to fulfill your belief in them as solid proposition at the price being asked!

However, betting on sports is a far safer vehicle for growing profits. It’s even better than the stock market, because the investor/bettor has much more control over his funds. You can take a short break, and almost always know your bankroll has not been untouched. Conversely, in the markets, you are leaving your 401K and other mutual investments in the hands of a volatile marketplace. In addition, you are being torched for huge handling fees by brokers on individual investments that would make sports books mangers drool.

I am not saying it is easy making a living from sports betting. However the two to three percent of the population that do consistently beat the books have a much better rate of return over the long haul than that of any market investor!

This is the outlook I have on every wager I place in the sports wagering markets. I take my portfolio very seriously and if you want to start investing in sports you will have to as well!

No stone is left unturned in Alex Smart’s quest to bring top selections to his customers! Alex understands that many of you are busy professionals or entrepreneurs who are looking for viable investment opportunity while enjoying your favorite sports and your success is important to him. Alex will begin posting his NFL and MLB Picks at Vegas Experts on Monday, August 21st!

Handicappers

If you find the right sports handicappers then you can make your life a lot easier.  It takes a lot of hard work to beat the odds on a nightly basis, but if you put the time in, have the right resources, and have experience in beating the lines then you can make money by betting on sports.  These are the top sports handicapping services in the world when it comes to beating the sportsbooks, so feel free to look around at each different guy to find the one that is the right fit for you.

Jimmy Boyd’s Locksmith Sports Picks has been known across the internet for years for their high quality gaming information.  Detailed analysis accompanies their high quality picks, give them a look today!

Free Sports Picks - Home of the true advisor to the original Wiseguys, the Widow prides himself on his Widow Wiseguy plays, historically hitting nearly 65% over his illustrious career in College Football!

Football, Basketball, & Baseball Picks- Larry Cook has been known as an industry insider for years, now cheif handicapper at InfoPlays.com, he takes his inside knowledge of the handicapping industry and turns it into profits for his clients.

NCAA, NBA, MLB, & NFL Picks - Picks that are worth their price can be found at Dave Price’s PricelessPicks.com.  Backed with thoughtful analysis and detailed trends, Mr. Price beleives in selectivity, so if you are looking for plays that win, you have found your man in Dave Price.

Sports Betting Picks - Since the mid-1980s Professional Handicapper John Martin has been behind one of the biggest professional sports betting syndicates in the United States.  Well known and respected by industry insiders, his syndicate has enough collective resources to defeat and move the Vegas and offshore lines at an amazing rate.

Guide

Sports betting is a game of skill. The challenge is to gather and analyze as much information as you can about a game, weigh the probabilities of each team winning, and subsequently compare your opinion to the oddsmaker’s. Make the right judgment and you win. It’s as simple as that.

While luck may be a deciding factor in the outcome of any single game, and will inevitably go against you on occasion, it will balance out in the long run. Being a consistent winner in sports betting is not about luck but whether you are prepared to invest the time and effort to become knowledgeable about the sports you bet on, whether you can weigh all the factors in a cool, objective fashion, and whether you adopt a consistent, disciplined, long-term approach to your betting. Do all these and you will come out a winner. Remember, it’s you against the oddsmaker, not the bookmaker.

The bookmaker is simply a middle-man who operates on a small profit margin and, ideally, likes to see half the money wagered on one team and half on the other, assuring him of a profit. If too much of the money goes on one team, the bookmaker will move the line or pointspread to encourage bets on the other team in an effort to balance his book. The person you are attempting to beat is the oddsmaker and his views on each team’s chances. Just by flipping a coin you will be right 50 percent of the time. At odds of 10/11 only 52.4 percent of your bets have to win for you to overcome the bookmaker’s profit and break even, so you only need a very small edge to become a winner. Do your homework, bet selectively and 55 percent winning bets is definitely achievable and 60-65 percent is a realistic target. At those levels you will have an extremely profitable, as well as enjoyable, hobby.

Basic Types of Sports Wagering
Straights
The most common type of sports wager is on the result of a single game, known as a straight wager. One team is typically favored over another by a pointspread; the favorite gives the underdog points as a head start, for betting purposes only. The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign (-3) and the underdog by a plus sign (+3). The amount of points a customer must give or take is estimated to be the amount which will generate equal wagering on both the underdog and the favorite. For betting purposes, the result of the game is determined by taking the actual score and subtracting points from the favorite’s score or adding points to the underdog’s score. So, a favorite can win the game but lose it for betting purposes and an underdog can lose the game but win it for betting purposes.

In most straight bets which are set by a pointspread, the customer lays $11 for every $10 the customer wishes to win. For example, the Green Bay Packers may be favored by 7 points over the Chicago Bears. A customer who wishes to win $10 on Green Bay must give Chicago 7, if Green Bay wins by more than 7 points than the customer wins $10. If Green Bay wins by less than 7 points or loses outright, then the customer loses $11. On the other side in order for the Chicago bettor to win, Chicago must win the game outright or lose by less than 7 points.

Totals
A customer can also bet whether the combined number of points or goals scored by the two teams in the game will be over or under the total set by the oddsmaker. For example, if the total is 42 and you believe that the combined points scored by the two teams will exceed that number, you would bet over. You would bet under if you believe the total points score will be less than 42.

Money Line
A bet on a matchup between two teams may be set by a money line instead of a pointspread. If a matchup is determined by a money line, like Major League Baseball, then it will cost the customer more to wager on the favorite. For example, the Atlanta Braves are a -150 favorite over the Chicago Cubs. In this example, the customer must lay $150 in order to win $100. If Atlanta loses, the customer loses $150. However, the customer could bet on Chicago, in which case the customer would lay $100 in order to win $140 (10 cent line). If Chicago loses, the customer only loses $100, and if Chicago wins, the customer would win $140.

Exotic Sports Wagers
Parlay
A parlay is a bet on 2 or more teams or selections. The customer can combine different sports, pointspreads and money lines. In a parlay your original stake and winnings are re-invested on the next game and all selections must be correct - one loss and your parlay loses. In the event of a push (tie), game cancellation or a pitcher that you have specified not starting, the parlay reduces to the next lower number, e.g. a 4-team parlay becomes 3-teams. A winning parlay wager will pay many times more than the initial wager.

Football and Basketball Point Spread Parlay Odds
2 teams
13/5
3 teams
6/1
4 teams
10/1
5 teams
20/1
6 teams
40/1
7 teams
80/1
8 teams
100/1

Combination Baseball Playoffs

Decimal Conversion Chart
Because of the moneyline used in baseball, there are no set payoffs for tying a number of teams together in parlays.

Payoffs are determined by a simple formula that changes the money line into a decimal number and combines it with the other lines in the parlay.

The first step is to change the money line into its decimal value.
Use this chart for this purpose.
-1.05 = .95
-1.85 = .54
-1.10 = .91
-1.90 = .53
-1.15 = .87
-1.95 = .51
-1.20 = .83
-2.00 = .50
-125 = .80
-2.10 = .48
-1.30 = .77
-2.20 = .45
-1.35 = .74
-2.30 = .43
-1.40 = .71
-2.40 = .42
-1.45 = .69
-2.50 = .40
-1.50 = .66
-2.60 = .38
-1.55 = .64
-2.70 = .37
-1.60 = .62
-2.80 = .36
-1.65 = .61
-3.00 = .33
-1.70 = .59
-3.25 = .31
-1.75 = .57
-3.50 = .29
-1.80 = .55

Teasers
A Teaser is a bet on 2 or more teams or selections. The difference between a teaser and a parlay is that in a teaser you adjust (tease) the line in your favor. For example if New York Giants are favored by 7 points in one game and the Chicago Bears are favored by 10 points in a second game. A 6 point two team teaser would adjust the pointspread 6 points in the customers favor; i.e. New York would now be favored by 1 point (7- 6=1) and Chicago would now be favored by 4 points (10-6=4). You could make a 2 Team, 6 point teaser bet with Chicago and New York. In this example are betting that Chicago will win by more that 4 points (10-6=4) and New York will win by more than 1 point (7-6=1). In a case of a tie or push in a two team teaser, wager is refunded. In a case of a three to six team teaser a tie or push will reduce teaser to next lowest number of plays. Any loss in a teaser constitues a loss.

Futures
A future bet is a wager on an event or outcome that will be determined sometime in the future. For Example, it might be a bet made at the start of the season on Dallas Cowboys to win the Super Bowl. Futures odds change continuously throughout the season - YOU GET THE ODDS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME YOU BET. Futures bets often attract (high) odds to the bettor.
BACK TO TOP

If - Win
An If Win wager is an excellent choice for money management. You wager a fixed amount on one team if that team wins or the game is tied, then another fixed amount, up to the original amount shall be placed on a different team. Your first wager must win in order for you to have action on the remaining wagers. If the first wager loses, there is No Action thereafter. You cannot have duplicate teams in the same If Win wager.

Reverses
A Reverse wager is the same as two if win Bets. If wager A wins, the bet goes to wager B. If B wins, the bet goes to wager A. If wager A loses, the bet does not go to wager B. If wager B loses, the bet does not go to wager A. If wager A wins, the bet goes to wager B and if wager B loses, the bet does not go to wager A. A standard reverse bets are Double Action; therefore in the event of a tie the bet is still active

Buying Points
You can move a pointspread up to three, one-half points, in your favor. You must pay an extra 10% for each half point that the line is moved. When buying points on or off the pointspread of 3, there is an additional 10% vigorish. Points cannot be bought on money lines or half time pointspreads.

European Odds
European odds are different from the North American style of odds. In North America money lines are used to determine the line. In North America a team that is +140 would be a 40 point underdog. This means that for every $100 wagered the bettor would win $140. For this to be true in an European style of betting the odds would be 2.40. Meaning that for $100 wagered the bettor would win $140. The 2.40 represents the entire amount wagered and won by the bettor.

Glossary

Action
Action means bets. Having action means having a bet.
Action has a special meaning for baseball bets: Its means the bet counts even even if there is a change in starting pitchers. If there is a pitcher change accompanied by an odds change, the action bettor will receive the new odds. The default is that the listed pitchers must start; to have action no matter who pitches, you must specify action when you make your bet.

Advantage Player
An advantage player is a bettor who is willing to make a bet only if the bet is perceived as yielding a positive EV.
Against the Spread
There are two common ways of betting sides: the moneyline and against the spread. To bet against the spread is to make a wager that will be decided by adding points to one team or the other after the game is played.

Air Move
When a sportsbook changes the line on a game in response to other books’ changing the line, that line change is described as an air move. The opposite of an air move is changing the line in response to bets received.
Angle
An angle is a decision rule for making bets, Unfortunately, most published angles are the result of data mining, and fail to predict results of future games.
Arbitrage
To arbitrage is to make a combination of bets such that if one bet loses another wins. There is an implication of having an edge, at no or low risk. Arbitrage can also be used as a noun. Hedge has a similar meaning, but does not carry the implication of having an edge.
ATS
ATS is the acronym for against the spread.
Bar
To be barred from betting at a sportsbook is to be told that no more bets will be accepted from you.
Bases
Bases means baseball. An alternative to saying you are betting on baseball games is to say you are betting bases.
Baskets
Baskets means basketball. An alternative to saying you are betting on basketball games is to say you are betting baskets. An alternate expression is hoops.
Beard
A beard is a person who makes sports bets for someone else; that someone else is usually a skillful handicapper.
Betting Exchange
A betting exchange is a form of betting available on the internet. You and another person can bet on anything you wish at whatever odds you agree upon. The winner will pay a commission to the internet sportsbook.
Bettor
A bettor is an individual who makes bets. This text assumes that bettors will be making a sports bets against a book.
Board
A board is the list of bets available in a sportsbook. In the old days, all books had actual boards on which clerks would write the latest odds. Nowadays most suck boards have been replaced by electronic displays that are updated by computer, but they are still called “boards.”
Bonus Hustler
To offshore sportsbooks, a bonus hustler is someone who has opened an account for the express purpose of obtaining bonuses, and who does no intend to gamble.
Book, Bookmaker
A book or bookmaker is a person or company that accepts bets against the lines created by linesmakers.
Bookie
The dictionary says bookie is the same thing as bookmaker, but Nevado’s legal sportsbooks don’t call themselves bookies. Bookies carries the implication of illegality.
Buck
To a sports bettor, a buck is a bet size. For a bet on a dog, a buck is $100. for a bet on a favorite, a buck is whatever amount of money must be risked to win $100.
Chalk
To bet chalk is to bet the favorite
Cherrypick
To cherrypick is to bet only those games on which you think you have an edge.
Circled
When a game is circled, the maximum bet on that game is lower than normal. The circling generally is due to uncertainty of some sort, perhaps the weather or an injury to a key player.
Correlated, Correlation
Correlation is the degree to which the results of two bets are related. Zero correlation means the results are not related at all. Correlated is the adjective form, and correlation is a noun. An example of two bets that are correlated is the Giants to lead at the half and the Giants to win the game. Sportsbooks do not like to write correlated parlays.
Cover
To cover is to beat the spread. For example, if Detroit is favored by 7 and wins the game by more than 7, Detroit is said to have “covered.” If Detroit losed that game or wins by less than 7, it failed to cover.If the underdog wins, or loses the game but by less than the spread, the dog is said to have covered.
CTR
CTR is the acronym for Currency Transaction Report. This is a form the US government requires be filled out whenever a financial institution (which includes casionos and sportsbooks) has a transaction (or series of transactions with one individual within a 24-hour period of time) involving over $10,000 in cash.
Data Mining
Data mining is derogatory. It means sorting through a huge volume of data, extracting decision rules that seem to favor one team over another, but without regard to whether or not there is any cause-and-effect relationship. Data mining is the sports-betting equivalent of sitting a huge number of monkeys down at keyboards, and then reporting on the monkeys who happened to type actual words.
Dime
A dime is a bet to win $1000.
Dog
Dog is short for “underdog.” If the better team wins the game, the dog is the team that loses. The opposite of the dog is the favorite.
Dollar
A dollar is a bet to win $100.
Early line
The early line is the first line posted for a game.
Edge
Having an edge means having the best of it. If you make only bets on which you have an edge, you will win and you will lose but in the long haul your winnings will overwhelm your losses.
Even money
Even money means you risk a dollar to win a dollar. Even money is also expressed as EV or as PK. It could be, but is not, expressed as -100 or +100.
Exotic
Exotic bets are the same thing as prop bets.
Fade
To fade a bet is to accept it, as in the sportsbook fades your action.
Fan
A fan is somebody who bets on a team because he likes the team. To a fan, the spread is an umimportant detail.
Favorite
The favorite is the team that is more likely to win. If there are a large number of contestants, suck as in a golf tournament, the top few contestants can all be referred to as favorites. The opposite of the favorite is dog.
Field
Betting on golf tournaments and other sports events that have a large number of entrants often allows for a bet on the field. The field is the group of all the entrants not listed with their own odds. The field can contain a large number of entrants, but typically each entrant has only a tiny chance of actually winning the event. If an entrant had a good chance of winning, he or she would not be lumped into the field.
Final Margin
The final margin is the final score of the favorite and the the final score of the dog. If the dog won, the final margin is negative. The final margin can be compared to the line to see which team won for betting purposes.
Final Score
The final score of the game is the actual results as determined on the field, court, diamond, etc.
Final Total
The final total is the sum of the two final scores in a game. If San Francisco wins 35-14, then the final total is 49.
Foots
Foots means football. An alternative to saying you are betting on football games is to say you are betting foots.
Front running
Front running is watching betting lines via computer, and betting in the direction of line moves at a sportsbook that shows the old number
Futures
Futures are bets that will be decided by multiple contests, or by a contest that is more than about a week away. An example of a futures bet is a wager on wether the Yankees will win more than 92 games in the upcoming season.
Good Bet
To an advantage player, a good bet is a bet theat offers a positive EV.
Handicap
To handicap is to assign a probability to the likelihood of winning a contest or series of contests. A person who handicaps is a handicapper.
Handle
Handle is a word used by bookmakers to describe the total amount of money wagered. Handle usually refers to total bets over multiple games, whereas action usually refers to total bets on one game.
Hang
When managers of sportsbooks speak of hanging a line, they mean posting it for all to see and bet into.
Hedge
To hedge is to make a combination of bets such that if one bet loses another wins. Hedging is usually done fore defensive purposes, such as betting to lock in a profit after winning the first eleven games on a twelve-team parlay. Hedge can be used as a noun or a verb. Hedge does not carry the implication of having and edge.
Hook
When a line on a football or basketball game includes a half point, the half point is called a hook.
Hoops
Hoops means basketball. An alternative to saying you are betting on basketball games is to say you are betting hoops. An alternate expression is baskets.
House Edge
The house edge is another name for the vig.
Juice
Juice is another word for vig.
Laying
You are said to be laying odds if the amount of money you are risking is more than what you will win if the game goes your way. You are said to be laying points if the spread takes points away from your team. If you are laying points or laying odds, you are betting the favorite. The opposite of laying is taking.
Leach
A leach is someone who watches a computer for line moves, and when he sees one he quickly bets the appropriate team at an offshore sportsbook that has not yet moved the line. That activity is called front running.
Line
The line is the spread and terms of a bet. If the terms are standard, e.g. -110, then the line is the spread.
Linesmaker
A linesmaker is a person who creates lines and totals for bookmakers.
Maverick line
When a sportsbook creates its own line on a game and that line is different from the line carried by other sportsbooks, that independent line is called a maverick line.
Middle
To have a middle is to have bets on competing teams and for there to be at least one possible outcome that results in winning both bets, Middle applies to bets on totals as well bets on sides.
Money line
When you bet the money line, the winner of the game is the winner of th bet. Betting the money line is one of two common ways of betting on a side to win; the other common method of betting a side is against the spread.
Nickel
A nickel is a bet to win $500. A big nickel is a bet to win $5000.
Off
If a game if off, the sportsbook is no longer writing bets on it. Perhaps the game has already started, or perhaps there is major uncertainty as to the weather conditions or an injury to a key player.
Off the board
To make parlay or teaser bets on games listed on the board is called betting off the board. Sometimes you have two ways to bet the same combination of teams: off the board and on parlay cards. Before betting one of them, check to see if the other offers better odds or a better spread.
Opening line
The opening line is the earliest line posted for a given sports event.
Originator
When a syndicate bets so much money on one game that the line moves, the originator is the first person to bet that game for that syndicate.
Over
To bet over is to bet that the final total will exceed the total posted for betting purposes.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet involving two or more events. You can also use the word as a verb; to parlay is to use the proceeds from one bet as the wager on another bet. You can parlay sides and totals. You can mix sports in a single parlay. All you teams must win for your parlay to win. One loser and the parlay is lost. A push on one game generally causes your parlay to convert to a parlay with one fewer game; for example a three-team parlay with two wins and a push would be paid as a two-team parlay.
Parlay card
A parlay card is a set of sides, totals, and prop bets printed on a special card. The numbers on the parlay card apply only to bets on the card, and might be different from bets listed on the board. Typically you must select at least three items if you want to make a bet on a parlay card.
Pick
A pick is a bet recommended by a handicapper.
Pick ‘em
Pick ‘em can mean two things. It can mean the same thing as even money. It also can mean the spread is zero, as in “Giants is pick ‘em against the Ravens this weekend.”
PK
PK is an abbreviation for pick ‘em.
Player
If an employee of a sportsbooks calls you a player, the implication is that you are a big bettor. Being called a player is not a compliment, but its not as derogatory as being called a sucker.
Points, point spread
Points and point spread are alternate terms for spread.
Power ratings
Power ratings are numbers that handicappers assign to teams to estimate how likely one team is to beat the other or by how many points.
Prop bet
When a major sporting events come along, some linesmakers let their imaginations run wild as they offer an interesting menu of bets, such as which player will score first.
Public
A public means unsophisticated bettors. Their bets are call public money. The public includes fans and squares and people who make a bet just to make a game more exciting.
Puck line
The ice hockey version of betting against the spread is the puck line. On games in which one team is a big favorite, the puck line typically adds 1.5 goals to one or subtracts 1.5 goals from the other team.
Punter
A punter is a bettor, specifically a bettor who takes on sportsbooks or racebooks. The term can be but is rarely used to refer to participants in casino games.
Push
A push is a tie against the spread. Generally you get your money back on pushes.
Reverse teaser
A reverse teaser is a parlay in which each team gives up points compared to the normal spread.
ROI
ROI is the acronym for return on investment.
Run line
The baseball version of betting against the spread is the run line. On games in which one team is a big favorite, the run line typically adds 1.5 runs to one team or subtracts 1.5 runs from the other team.
Scalp
This word has several meanings. One use is to bet both sides on the money line in such a way as to guarantee profit. For example, if New York is playing Chicago and you bet New York -140 and Chicago +155, you have a 15 cent scalp. Another use of scalp is to describe what a bookie might do if he thinks a line is going to move. Suppose a bookie takes a bet on Dallas -6 from a sharp, and predicts that other bookie soon will be calling to also place bets on Dallas. If the bookie immediately bets Dallas -6 with other bookies and simultaneously changes the line at which he accepts bets to Dallas -7, he is said to be scalping.
Sharp, sharpie
A sharp is what sportsbooks call an advantage player. Sharp can also be used as an adjective. If someone calls you a sharp bettor, smile; you have received a compliment.
Side
To bet a side is to bet on one team against the spread. Another meaning of side is to have bets on both opposing teams such that there is at least one score that will give you a win on one bet and a push on the other.
Smart money
Smart money is money wagered by shaprs.
Soft
When a line is called soft, the implication is that not many sharp bettors have looked at it. Sharp bettors making big bets tend to move lines to the point where it is difficult for other bettors to make a bet with an advantage.
Sportsbook
Sportsbook is another word for book.
Spread
A spread is a number set by a sportsbook to allow betting at 10:11 on each of two teams. The spread is also called the line or the points.
Square
A square is a sucker who has read the sports sectin of the local newspaper. The implication is of being informed, but using the same information in the same way as everybody else does.
Straight up
Since bets against the spread are common, you need two ways to describe which team won a game. You need to distinguish between which team actually won the game and which team won against the spread. Sometimes they are the same team and sometimes they are not. Winning straight up means winning without regards to the spread.
Sucker
A sucker is a bettor who will make bad-EV bets without realizing how bad the bets are.
Syndicate
A syndicate is a group of people making a joint effort to win money betting sports.
Total
The total is a number set by a sportsbook for total points to be scored by both teams during a game. You can bet that the final total will exceed the total 9called the “over”) or that the final total will be less than the total (called the “under”). Betting overs or unders is referred to as betting totals.
Tout
A tout is someone who sells picks. The connotation is of someone who has no ability to pick winners but sells that ability anyway.
Under
To bet the under is to bet that the final total will fall short of the total.
Vig or vigorish
Sportsbook generally don’t give suckers a positive expectation bet, or even a break-even bet. The vig or vigorish is the sportsbook built-in edge over bettors. The vig is what you must overcome if you are going to win money betting on sports.
Wiseguy
A wiseguy is a successful and well established sports bettor.

Florida International College Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#115 – Florida International Golden Panthers 5-6 SU; 5-4 ATS

Fargo’s Take The Golden Panthers seemed to have a successful season last year but the five victories to their credit were nothing to brag about. Two of those wins came against 1-AA teams Florida A&M and Western Kentucky while two other Sun Belt wins were by a combined six points. The five wins can certainly give the team some confidence but the schedule is much more difficult and matching those five wins just isn’t going to happen. The offense should be slightly better in 2006 as it caught fire near the end of the season and Florida International returns 2nd Team SBC quarterback Josh Padrick, who led the conference in passing yards per game. The big question mark is the defense, where six players are returning but it could not make a difference. Reason being is that the secondary will likely not be improved and it was a horrible unit last year. With any other Sun Belt team, there is a reason for optimism because any improvement could mean a conference title and a bowl game but this team is only in its fifth year of 1-A so there are still plenty of depth issues.

Returning Starters on Offense – 5 Padrick is the heart and soul of this offense and the team will only go as far as he can take them. His numbers were excellent last season and they improved as the season went along meaning he will be coming into 2006 with a ton of confidence. He gets his leading catchman back along with tight end Samuel Smith, another 2nd team SBC player. The running game is adequate meaning that the offense has the chance to be a real solid unit and put up plenty of points. They will likely need to win a lot of games via shootout since the defense is not going to be holding many teams to a few number of points remember that when going with totals for your NCAA football picks.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 If somehow the secondary does a 180 and turns into a good unit, the Golden Panthers could very well win the conference. The problem is that it isn’t going to happen. Two starters return in the defensive backfield which based on last season’s 67 percent completion rate allowed, that isn’t a good thing. The defensive line and linebackers are stocked with returnees and some decent depth but it isn’t good enough to make up for the secondary. The defense allowed 29.4 ppg last season and that was with two games against teams from a lower class. With a much more difficult schedule, that average is sure to rise this year.

Schedule The Golden Panthers went the route a lot of smaller conference teams do and that is to play the big boys, get crushed but collect a huge paycheck from it. Florida International got rid of the patsies and signed on Miami (Fla.), Alabama, South Florida, Maryland and Bowling Green. The game against the Falcons is the only one not on the road and it’s a likely guarantee that it walks away 0-5 from that non-conference slate. Four of the Golden Panthers seven conference games are at home including frontrunners UL-Lafayette and Troy. A road win here or there could mean possible contention late in the season.

You can bet on… As promising as some aspects look on this team, this is still a young team that does not have the overall talent to compete for a conference title. The non-conference slate is extremely difficult and those losses could do some serious damage because they will be so large. The Golden Panthers did finish with a positive record against the number last year but that will be tough to match given the much more difficult schedule. They will be getting a ton of points and while the offense can keep the back door cover a possibility, the defense can just as easily keep the front door open for the opposition as well.

Florida Atlantic Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on handicapping the 2006 sports picks this season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#118 – Florida Atlantic Owls 2-9 SU; 3-8 ATS

Fargo’s Take Another Owl team rounds out the bottom two in college football and this one is from the south. Florida Atlantic hung around in a few games and actually won two of them in its first full season in the SBC. The problem last season was that the offense was stagnant and likely won’t be better with the loss of the Owls best player and leader, quarterback Danny Embick. This team averaged just 13.5 ppg last season and the biggest question is where the points will come from. The defense wasn’t much better, allowing 30.8 ppg but it did improve once conference action got under way. The most optimistic aspect is that Florida Atlantic is part of the Sun Belt and with it being the quirkiest and most unpredictable conference in the nation, anything can happen. How this team reacts when conference action begins will be the thing to watch since this team is going to start out 0-4 and a very bad 0-4 for that matter.

Returning Starters on Offense – 8 The loss of Embick means there is hardly any experience at quarterback to control the offense. The Owls were one of only 13 teams that averaged fewer than 300 yards of total offense and finished 116th in scoring average. Even with Embick at quarterback, Florida Atlantic finished 95th in passing offense so the inexperience might not be a huge problem after all. The running game is where the most experience returns as the Owls lost no one and will count on Charles Pierre and the versatile D’Ivory Edgecomb to carry the load until the new signal caller gets familiar with the offense.

Returning Starters on Defense – 7 The defense was extremely inconsistent last season and that needs to change for this team to improve. The Owls held Oklahoma St. to 23 points and Sun Belt champion Arkansas St. to 10 points but also allowed 52 points to fellow basement dweller Florida International. Florida Atlantic yielded just under 400 ypg which was rather respectable but considering it was part of the worst conference in the country, it was pretty below average. The unit returns seven starters from last season so there is definitely a chance for improvement. It all revolves around stopping the run where they allowed 218.1 ypg and 4.9 ypc, 116th and 111th respectively.

Schedule Playing in the SBC means a relatively easy slate however the non-conference schedule for the Owls is impossible. They start out with four straight road games and they are not against average teams. Clemson, Kansas St., Oklahoma St. and South Carolina are four sure losses and while these tough games can prepare them for conference play, it could totally deflate the confidence early on. The fifth game is also on the road in their SBC opener at ULM. Four of the final six games are at home and that could mean a couple wins to close out the season.

You can bet on… The brutal start to the season can work for or against the Owls and I’m guessing it will do good. The team didn’t quit last season after a tough non-conference schedule and won’t do so again and that is due to the experienced coaching staff led by legend Howard Schnellenberger. The pivotal game is the fifth road game against ULM since it is the first game against an equal foe and the first of the second season. The Owls have covered only six of their 17 lined games in their history of 1-A and the going will be tough starting out once again this season. Expect to see some huge lines in the first four games and some possible covers.

Fantasy Baseball Handicapping

There are a lot of fantasy baseball leagues and players around the country. Drafting and analyzing players on a day to day basis is an excellent tool for handicapping baseball games. The fantasy players need to examine each player’s stats and injury status to see whether they should be in the lineup or not. Players go into slumps, get hurt, or don’t necessarily match up well against a particular opponent on a given day, therefore they can be left out of the lineup by the fantasy manager.

Keeping up on players for fantasy leagues provides the manager with an excellent knowledge of individual players and how to best utilize them. A player like Johnny Damon, for instance, has switched teams, going from Boston to New York. Notice that Damon hasn’t lost any of his offensive prowess on the young season, hitting .400. Simply put he still appears to be a catalyst atop the order. Damon’ s teammate, Bernie Williams, on the other hand has picked up right where he left off last season: Playing poorly! Williams is hitting .154 on the young season, with a poor .214 on-base percentage.

The fantasy player keeps daily tabs on the performance of players, but that can carry over and help you in your daily handicapping. If a player has a nagging injury, like a hamstring pull, the fantasy player would often know about that because they are tracking their small circle of players. Then it could be time for the manager to rest that player and bring in someone normally on the bench. Again, this helps the fantasy manager in handicapping because it better explains the reasons why a particular player is slumping or ineffective.

Therefore when you examine games from a handicapping perspective, you can better understand why a team is in a slump. If a great leadoff hitter like Damon is hurting, maybe the Yankees offense slows down for a few games, going 3 straight under the total, for example. Or if a pitching staff is forced to go with relievers of Triple AAA pitchers as starters because of a double-header, anyone tracking those players in a fantasy league would have a leg up on most handicappers.

Another area where this can come into play is the ballpark. With so many new stadiums in baseball the last few years, it’s imperative to keep a daily count of how hitters and pitchers fare in these parks. We’ve seen new stadiums in Seattle and San Diego with large outfields that have become excellent pitcher’s parks. When fantasy offensive players go into those parks for 3 games, for instance, their offensive production may tail off. Or, a pitcher making the jump from a good pitcher’s park to a home-run friendly field, like the Ballpark In Arlington, Coors Field, or the new parks in Cincy and Philly, would likely fare very differently.

For example, Randy Johnson a year ago went from the NL to the AL, and his production diminished considerably the first half of the 2005 season. The time spent in fantasy leagues can be very productive for handicapping purposes, as long as you now what to look for and how to use it.

EasternMichigan College Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#110 – Eastern Michigan Eagles 4-7 SU; 7-4 ATS

Fargo’s Take It was an up and down season for the Eagles last year as they started the season at 3-2 only to lose five straight games before closing the season with a win at Buffalo. The final three losses were by a combined 10 points and all three could have gone Eastern Michigan’s way but it simply could not close the deal and cost few bettors with their sports picks. Things should not get much worse if the offense comes together but it doesn’t look like things will get much better either. The lack of a quarterback and a running game are the biggest issues heading into the fall and those two areas need to be corrected in a hurry for the Eagles to have any chance of improving on their four wins. The defense was not great last season but it was decent enough to hold six teams to 24 or fewer points. The secondary is the biggest concern on that side of the ball as the rest of the unit should once again be effective. Eastern Michigan has one of the best place kickers in the country in Andrew Wellock but he had some struggles last season after being a 2004 Lou Groza finalist. He could very be an X-factor this year.

Returning Starters on Offense – 6 The loss of quarterback Matt Bohnet hurts the offense right out of the gate and Eastern Michigan is likely going to struggle early on in the season to find its rhythm. A running game can make up for breaking in a new quarterback but unfortunately for the Eagles, they have no running game to speak of. Their leading returning rusher is Tyler Jones who gained just 267 yards last season. The return of Pierre Walker, who missed last season with an injury, could help matters if he is back to full strength. The biggest weapon is receiver Eric Deslauriers who finished with 874 receiving yards last year but matching that total could be difficult if a formidable quarterback cannot be found.

Returning Starters on Defense – 7 Eastern Michigan finished 67th in the country in scoring defense last season which is pretty respectable coming out of the MAC. The strength was its passing defense which was 46th in the nation but unfortunately, that will be the weakness this season as three sophomores and three freshmen are part of the eight-player two-deep chart. A strong defensive line and deep linebackers will help make up for some of the backfield deficiencies but not all. It is up to the defense to keep the Eagles in games early in the season so the offense can find its identity but that will be a tough task to take on. Many other MAC teams will be breaking in new offenses so that will definitely be of assistance.

Schedule The first half of the season is a nightmare for the Eagles, so much so it is almost unfair. Five of their first six games are on the road including back-to-back Big Ten games at Michigan St. and Northwestern. The lone home game in that stretch is a conference game against Central Michigan. Because of the early traveling, four of the final six games are at home but three of those are against Toledo, Northern Illinois and Navy, all potential bowl teams. The only good that comes out of the whole schedule is that the Eagles’ four MAC road games are against teams that are all in rebuilding seasons, including Western Michigan and Bowling Green so a win on he road somewhere is not out of the question.

You can bet on… A third straight four-win season is likely out of the question for Eastern Michigan as too much experience has left the program. When the best player on the team is a receiver, it does not equate toward much success. There is potential here overall but being unproven, this team cannot be ranked very high. The Eagles were a solid money-maker last season, cashing in seven of their 11 games. However, without a quick strike offense, trying to close that back door will be difficult. The first game of the season is at Ball St., a team that is slowly improving so coming out of the opener with a win could do wonders for the young Eagles.

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