Betting Football

[Iceaxe]

This is interesting, and kind of addresses a question I've been meaning to ask for a while now:

My team is scheduled to play a really easy cupcake. I know they will win. I'd like to place some money down and make a few bucks. Please direct me as to how I should proceed...

Ice - you should start a thread about this very topic, because I'm sure there are others out there that are curious. That way, if we have a dedicated thread, dumb folks like me can ask questions along the way...like -- just how many thousands should I place on Wisconsin against BYU? Etc...

It doesn't really work like that as the sports book will "move the line" until there is even money bet on both sides. The book does this because they make $5 on every $100 bet and the only way they can be assured of making their percentage is to get the same amount of money bet on both sides.

Saturdays Utah BYU game is a good example. The opening line was BYU -2.5 (which means BYU was favored to win by 2.5 points). But after Utah played descent against ND and BYU's trainwreck against LSU and troubles against Portland State, folks noticed Utah was a good bet and money starts pouring in on the Utah side. The sports book doesn't want an unbalanced bet so they move the line to where Utah is favored by 1.5. So this causes folks to start betting BYU which will even out the money bet. The sports book will keep moving the line until the money bet on both sides is relatively even.

So if you want to make money betting you don't bet your heart or your favorite team, you bet when you see the sports book made a mistake when setting the initial line, which they did with the BYU Utah game. Which is why I bet $100 on Utah and I get 3 points (BYU must beat Utah by 4 for me to lose my bet).

The current money line on Utah BYU is currently Utah +125, BYU -105. This means Utah is favored. If you bet $125 on Utah and they win you receive $200. If you bet $105 on BYU and they win you receive $200. Notice the book is charging you $25 to bet Utah and $5 to bet BYU, and again they will move the line until the money bet on both sides is equal.

A couple other things to consider....

Seldom/never do you find a book taking bets when a power is playing a cupcake. They will post the odds, but it is "off the board", which mean they will not take bets on the game.

Home field in college is usually worth +3 points with the sports book. Which means if Utah was playing at home this weekend they would probably be favored by +4.5.

And to answer your initial question about BYU against Wisconsin, BYU is currently a 10 point underdog, so if you bet Wisconsin they must beat BYU by more then 10 points for you to collect your bet.

And just for fun, look at Ceasar's Palace on this page:
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...9-17/time/2215
And you can see where they moved the Utah BYU line three times yesterday (9/6) to get the money bet to even out.

[gholt]

Interesting, I'll follow, probably not bet, but learn


Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[rockgremlin]

I like this. I have more than a few dumb questions I'll be posted here along the way.

Wisconsin by ten points over BYU? I'll take that bet.

I'm assuming this is all done online, right? Is there any one sports book you prefer over another? And if so, why?

[Iceaxe]

I'll let you guys figure out the best way for you to bet. I have a way of placing bets in Wendover that is not available to you.

For the BYU Utah game I just placed the bet when I was in Wendover for Speedweek. I also bet Raiders would win the Superbowl :-)

Something else to know, is casinos don't all have the same point spread. If you have the option of multiple betting sites you can often get better odds by walking next door.

[Iceaxe]

how many thousands should I place on Wisconsin against BYU?

Wisconsin is currently a 16.5 point favorite over BYU. If you remember when this thread started Wisconsin was only a 10 point favorite, which means the sports books missed badly (again) in setting the BYU line. The Sport Books seldom miss this badly when setting a line. If you had of bet on Wisconsin when they were a 10 point favorite you would have a really strong bet.

[rockgremlin]

So did you bet when the line was at 10?

[Iceaxe]

Nope, I usually only bet games I'm excited to watch.

[Iceaxe]

Wisconsin 40
BUY 6

Wisconsin "covered the spread" which means they won by more then the points they were favored by. So if you bet your thousands on Wisconsin you are loving life today.

Actually the final line at game time dropped to 14. The line began with Wisconsin favored by 10, jumped to 16, and finished at 14. You get the odds that were in effect at the time you place your bet.

[Iceaxe]

Utah is favored by 27.5 over San Jose ST. There is no money line bet being offered. The over/under on the game is 59.5.

So where would you place your bets on this game?

[Iceaxe]

Utah is a 9.5 point favorite over Arizona. The over under is 53.5.

[Iceaxe]

Utah is a 9.5 point favorite over Arizona. The over under is 53.5.

Utah by 6, so if you bet on AZ you won the bet. 54 total points scored, so if you bet the over you won the bet.

[Iceaxe]

BYU is a 3.5 point favorite over Utah State.

I think I'll put $100 on Utah State as I think this is a good bet. I expect Utah State to win this game, getting 3.5 points is a bonus.

[rockgremlin]

I agree. I think the Cougars will get creamed by the Aggies this year. BYU is in disarray, and Utah State always gears up to play them. Not to mention...The Aggies are looking really good right now. They dropped a 60-burger on SJSU on the road.

[Iceaxe]

BYU is a 3.5 point favorite over Utah State.

I think I'll put $100 on Utah State as I think this is a good bet. I expect Utah State to win this game, getting 3.5 points is a bonus.

I keep betting against BYU covering the spread and I keep banking money. Sweet.....

[Iceaxe]

Stanford is a 6.5 point favorite over Utah. I'm thinking Utah and the points might be a good bet. Utah's D has a habit of keeping every game close and the Utes are at home where even if they lose it's usually close. If Huntley is healthy and plays this is a great bet. With Wilson and two weeks to get ready and a game plan tailored to him this could also be a good bet.

Boise is a 7 point favorite over BYU, the problem is Boise is not the Boise of old and the game is in Provo.

[rockgremlin]

You might lose your money if you're betting on Utah this week.

[Iceaxe]

You might lose your money if you're betting on Utah this week.

But do you think they will lose by more then a touchdown at home?

[rockgremlin]

But do you think they will lose by more then a touchdown at home?

I dunno. It'll be close. Stanford's two losses came on the road to USC and San Diego State. USC destroyed Stanford by three TDs. And San Diego State barely squeaked one out in Qualcom Stadium. In either case, Utah needs to focus on what those two teams did to limit Love's touches -- if that's possible. And you have to think that Arizona State and UCLA had that same game plan and they still got creamed. Of course, the D-Line over at Sun Devil stadium ain't nearly as stout as Utah's, and UCLA is just a train wreck this year, so go figure those two were probably easy targets for Stanford anyway.

Lots of variables. We'll see which strategy prevails this Saturday.

[rockgremlin]

USC a 13 point favorite over Utah. With Utah's offense in disarray, I'd take that bet. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Trojans blow Utah away by at least three TDs. After all, USC creamed Stanford by 20 points...and Stanford had Love to fall back on. Utah has nobody to fall back on. Last year we could lean on Joe Williams, but this year we've got no offensive weapons.

[rockgremlin]

So...Who do you bet on this weekend between Utah and Arizona state?

This should be an interesting game considering the Sun Devils shut down the #5 team in the country over the weekend...