Football betting discussion thread

[Bigsmooth]

Took Fresno St and the UNDER tonight....not really sure why, actually.

[Pumpy Tudors]

What's the deal with people not betting on games in which their favorite team is playing?

[Bigsmooth]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

What's the deal with people not betting on games in which their favorite team is playing?

Yeah not sure I get it either. I like to bet on what I know best. I'm usually able to be objective and bet for/against my teams. For me, it's bitness.

[larrymcg421]

I don't want to 1) be happy if my team loses or 2) be upset if my team wins.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

What's the deal with people not betting on games in which their favorite team is playing?

I like to be able to watch the game without anything clouding my enjoyment.

[Lathum]

Took the over in the Boise game.

My folks are in town this weekend so I'm not sure how much action I'll be taking

[Nice Guy Eddie]

Tenn -7 vs. Houston


take it....or kick yourself later

[Lathum]

good start for the over

[Cuckoo]

I took Boise at the last minute in this one. Always makes me more interested in the game.

[lynchjm24]

Anyone looking to win just bet the opposite of this:

I have
Boston College +7
Duke +24.5
Toledo +21
Kentucky -14
Michigan State +300 m/l

[RainMaker]

Like two Big 10 teams as favorites

Michigan -24
Penn State -30.5

Considering taking Wofford and the points as they are actually a really strong FCS school and Wisconsin has looked real weak.

[Bigsmooth]

Went big on these games:
Auburn -7 (up to -7.5 all of a sudden)
Clemson -7 (now up to -8)

[Cuckoo]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

What's the deal with people not betting on games in which their favorite team is playing?

I bet my favorites quite a bit, though I won't bet against them, of course, even if I think they'll lose. For example, I don't think OU will cover the spread today against Tulsa. I think it'll be a close game, maybe a 2 TD OU win at most.

As was said earlier, I generally know my favorite teams the most thoroughly, so it only makes sense. Of course, I have been caught looking through homer eyes on occasion.

[Lathum]

Took a bunch of games today.

Texas Tech vs. (184) Texas Over 66
Cincinnati -2
Tulsa vs. (166) Oklahoma Over 58
Florida -30
Virginia Tech -6
California -14
Kansas -24
Penn St. -30½

[Bigsmooth]

Any idea why the Clemson/BC game is delayed right now?

[henry296]

Lightning at Clemson/BC.

[Bigsmooth]

Dang. Any idea if the game will be completed? Clemson was covering easy.

[henry296]

I think so, but the players are back on the field even though it is raining hard.

[henry296]

Playing again in Clemson.

[Neuqua]

Vandy -8.5
Iowa St -3
Navy +7.5

[Lathum]

I really don't like many of the NFL games today

Patriots -4
Packers -8.5
Vikings -10

[Neuqua]

Houston +7
Arizona +3
Philadelphia +2.5

[RainMaker]

3-1 today and want to take the Giants tonight. Bodog has been down for a few hours. Need a new book in the next 25 minutes, didn't know Bodog was amateur hour.

[Cuckoo]

Lost on the Pats and Steelers today but overall did okay with a pick on the Saints, a parlay on Minnesota and Denver and then the Bengals. I have no explanation for that last one. Just took the chance on a nice money line.

[Bigsmooth]

Had an awesome Saturday with Auburn (wow that was a miracle cover) and Clemson. Got better yesterday on a big 10 point teaser and another 6 point teaser with the Giants and OVER. Tonight I'm going with another 6 point teaser:

Miami +9
OVER 36

[Cuckoo]

Starting the weekend 0-1 with the "Miss" last night. I'm taking a couple of Big XII teams to cover, Missouri (-7) and Kansas (-13 1/2), and I'm surprised at the Washington/Stanford line. Might jump on Washington there. I also like Oregon State at home and might take a money line on TCU.

[Neuqua]

Nevada +7.5

[Bigsmooth]

Off to a good start after taking South Carolina and the UNDER last night. Have the following tonight:

Missouri -6.5 (bought 1 point)
UNDER 64 (bought 3 points)

Another 6-Point teaser:
Mizzou -1
Iowa +15.5
TCU +8.5

Also, took a small flier on UW winning the Pac 10 at +2000.

[CU Tiger]

Cahsed in nicely on SC last night

5 plays tomorrow
Misss St +12
Arkansas +17.5
Clemson TCU UNDER 41
Notre Dame -7
Texas Tech (pick 'em)

[Bigsmooth]

Threw down a fatty parlay on:
Cal (straight up)
Miami (straight up)
Oregon State (straight up)

[Lathum]

Early games

UM-IU +52
Buffallo +3.5

[RainMaker]

I have LSU -12.5 and will probably put something down on Notre Dame -7 for tonight.

[Lathum]

I love the over 56 in Cal-Oregon.

[Lathum]

I'm off florida State the rest of the year, they have fucked me every week and you never know which team will show up. Layed a total egg against a USF team without Grothe at home.

[Bigsmooth]

Wow. I swear it's time to go buy a lottery ticket. Had the following 10-point teaser (made the bet mostly because 2 of the games were being televised ha):

Michigan State +12.5 (lost by 8)
Indiana +29
Cincinnati -7 (won by 8)

The 'wow' part of this bet was the Michigan State cover. I pretty much wrote the bet off and changed the channel. Flipped the channel back just in time for a meaningless 90 yard TD pass by the Spartans. Gotta love the teasers.

[Bigsmooth]

Christ, couldn't have been more wrong with Cal and Miami.

[lynchjm24]

I finally had a big win last night. Loved Rutgers -1.

[Bigsmooth]

Got absolutely torched on the NFL yesterday. Trying to get my mojo back with:
Panthers +11.5
OVER 45
Bought 3 points on each line.

[Lathum]

Took the Panthers straight up at +380

[RainMaker]

Was only able to get Carolina at +9. I usually take any dog over 7 points that is playing an average team at best.

[Cuckoo]

My homerism forced me to take the Cowboys. Thank you Newman...

[B & B]

Originally Posted by Bigsmooth

Got absolutely torched on the NFL yesterday. Trying to get my mojo back with:
Panthers +11.5
OVER 45
Bought 3 points on each line.

Buying points is a horrible idea. Think of it as taking the escalator to the noose.

Chasing bad Sundays with 2x Monday night action is another no-no.

Not a bash on you, just trying to pass on some advice.

[Bigsmooth]

Originally Posted by B & B

Buying points is a horrible idea. Think of it as taking the escalator to the noose.

Chasing bad Sundays with 2x Monday night action is another no-no.

Not a bash on you, just trying to pass on some advice.

Yeah, great advice. I tend to bet very little when going for a parlay, so not a big loss.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Given my success in picking games against the spread through the first 2 weeks, I considered jumping into the betting fray this week. Boy am I glad I didn't, as I would've been beat pretty considerably. The worst would have been the 49ers to win at +240, as I'd have gone from penthouse to outhouse in the blink of an eye.

Will probably lay some money down next week, however. I'm more of a pro football guy, but does anyone have suggestions regarding just betting individual games, doing small parlays, etc? Any and all advice would be great!

[B & B]

After talking to dozens of bettors, it seems that its almost as hard to weigh the strength of the wager as it is to find winners themselves. Meaning, far too many people take the time to come up with the bets while giving little to no analysis on how much each bet should be.

There are no locks. There are no sure things. Even getting a bad line only increases your chances to win, but there are no certainties.

I dont make bets for fun or action. Sometimes the best choice is to not make one. At the same time, dont put too much stock into one bet. Flat bets are the best way to go. Establish a normal betting amount and stick to it. Does not matter if its $20, $50 or $500. A good rule of thumb to find that number is to imagine if you lost 10 consecutive bets. I.E. If you think that you are a $100 bettor, than imagine losing 100 X 10= 1000, plus another 100 in juice, so $1100. Ask yourself if you are comfortable losing that kind of dough. If not, than you are betting too much per game. In the end, if you can pick 53% or better (vig) than you will make money.

Dont dick around with teasers or parlays. If you do, then I strongly encourage you to keep accurate records of those bets for a week or two. Most people will find that they are losing money on those specific types of bets, especially in the long run (say a month)

Oh and always follow rule #1. Dont bet more than you can afford to lose.

[lynchjm24]

Straight bets are the only way to not lose your shirt certainly.

I like Pitt -7 @ the 'Ville on Friday night.

[Cuckoo]

Yes, I am far too addicted to the parlays and know that I lose money overall on them. The problem is that every once in a while I hit a good one, so I keep betting them.

[Lathum]

Got the miracle cover last night with Colorado +17.

I try to never bet my teams, but ho the hell are the Giants only -9 against the
chiefs?

[Cuckoo]

Exact opposite for me last night. I had WVU and thought that I might just get it, despite 4 fumbles or something like that. Then they decide to let Colorado march the field and score a meaningless TD with 3 seconds left.

[TCY Junkie]

I used to bet a lot of 4 team parlays. My favorite number is 3 so I would bet 3 dollar 6 team parlays of my best picks just to see how I did for the week. I hit 2 of them over 6 years. For shit and giggles I made up a 8 team parlay, but for only a dollar, it paid decent.

It seems I would go 7-1 or 6-2 or 3-5 for the week so I would hit parlays in bunches, this was college, I about killed myself trying to break even in the nfl. I used to watch every game. Make my own lines Saturday night before other lines came out. It was taking all the fun out of it so I quit. I barely enjoy watching my favorite teams now in college or pro. I don't condone parlays because of the odds but whatever works for you, you don't change. Maybe I just liked parlays because it was more challenging, I won on them but not as much.

I loved betting and took an approach that if I lost my starting bankroll I wouldn't be able to bet the rest of the year. I always started the year with 200. Bet 5 dollars on games on TV games just so I would watch them, and then 20, 30, 50 on other games. Bankroll management is the key. I did bet more on two or 3 games a year, but never anything that would take away most my profits. I never bet more than 20 on favorites that were more than 3 points, except for when the steelers were rolling and 7 points favorites over the browns a couple years ago at the end of the season when they won the superbowl. I think the score was 42 0. I was glad the line wasn't 7 1/2 because I wouldn't have bet as much. Maybe others have luck betting big favorites, but I don't. I guess that's why I posted this and rambled.