A look back at this past weekend from a bettor?s point-of-view
By Jimmy Mason, Director of Sportsbook Operations, www.betcom.com
Once again our weekend revolved around the four NFL playoff games. We, along with the other BM?s (Bookmakers) I have spoken to this morning did exceptionally well again this past weekend due mostly to the players going against conventional handicapping wisdom. Last weekend in the Wild Card round when one traditionally bets all underdogs, our players overwhelmingly played the favorites. This weekend when traditional handicapping wisdom said play all the favorites, our players believed in the underdogs. Let?s take a look:
First up was the only underdog of the weekend to make a showing as the Jets beat Pittsburgh 20-17. After a strong showing against the Chargers the week before the majority of our players took the 8 ? points and the Jets figuring correctly that the Jets and Steelers would play a hard fought, low scoring game. We the house had more bets on the Jets side, but higher bet amounts on the Steelers so we made a small profit. Here?s the catch?. Even though we were showing a small win after grading the game we knew that every possible teaser combination with either side or total covered, so there were hundreds of potential winnings bets just waiting on the late game.
The late game was huge for the house as our players were all over the Rams +7, +6 ?, and +6. Atlanta running away with the victory 47-17 was beautiful for us as we easily won the game, but just as importantly we killed the bulk of those ?live? teasers that we knew were still out there after the early game. So, to recap we finished off Saturday with a big win on the point spread, plus we killed hundreds teasers all adding up to a great day for the book.
Our players bucked conventional wisdom again Sunday by burying us with Minnesota money. We took an unusually high amount of bets on the Vikings money line at +300 as well as the point spread which saw enough Minnesota action to move the line from -10 all the way down to -8 by game time. The well rested Eagles shut down Minnesota?s offense 27-14 and covered the spread for the house. As with Saturday we had done quite well with the game itself, but every possible teaser combination was still active and we would need help in the late afternoon game.
The late afternoon game was the mostly highly anticipated match up of the weekend and easily our highest volume game. We were absolutely buried on Peyton Manning and the Colts. By game time the line had swung from the home team Patriots a 2 ? point favorite down to a pick and we showed an astounding 4-1 ticket count on the Colts. It is an odd, yet refreshing situation as a bookmaker when you find yourself needing all the favorites to cover. In the end the Patriots were just too fundamentally sound and easily got the win and the cover, not even allowing a Peyton Manning and the Colts to score a touchdown! The lopsided 20-3 victory destroyed the bulk of the live teasers once again and ensured a big Sunday, and overall a huge weekend.
Until next Monday when we break it all down again?
Jimmy Mason
www.betcom.com
By Jimmy Mason, Director of Sportsbook Operations, www.betcom.com
Once again our weekend revolved around the four NFL playoff games. We, along with the other BM?s (Bookmakers) I have spoken to this morning did exceptionally well again this past weekend due mostly to the players going against conventional handicapping wisdom. Last weekend in the Wild Card round when one traditionally bets all underdogs, our players overwhelmingly played the favorites. This weekend when traditional handicapping wisdom said play all the favorites, our players believed in the underdogs. Let?s take a look:
First up was the only underdog of the weekend to make a showing as the Jets beat Pittsburgh 20-17. After a strong showing against the Chargers the week before the majority of our players took the 8 ? points and the Jets figuring correctly that the Jets and Steelers would play a hard fought, low scoring game. We the house had more bets on the Jets side, but higher bet amounts on the Steelers so we made a small profit. Here?s the catch?. Even though we were showing a small win after grading the game we knew that every possible teaser combination with either side or total covered, so there were hundreds of potential winnings bets just waiting on the late game.
The late game was huge for the house as our players were all over the Rams +7, +6 ?, and +6. Atlanta running away with the victory 47-17 was beautiful for us as we easily won the game, but just as importantly we killed the bulk of those ?live? teasers that we knew were still out there after the early game. So, to recap we finished off Saturday with a big win on the point spread, plus we killed hundreds teasers all adding up to a great day for the book.
Our players bucked conventional wisdom again Sunday by burying us with Minnesota money. We took an unusually high amount of bets on the Vikings money line at +300 as well as the point spread which saw enough Minnesota action to move the line from -10 all the way down to -8 by game time. The well rested Eagles shut down Minnesota?s offense 27-14 and covered the spread for the house. As with Saturday we had done quite well with the game itself, but every possible teaser combination was still active and we would need help in the late afternoon game.
The late afternoon game was the mostly highly anticipated match up of the weekend and easily our highest volume game. We were absolutely buried on Peyton Manning and the Colts. By game time the line had swung from the home team Patriots a 2 ? point favorite down to a pick and we showed an astounding 4-1 ticket count on the Colts. It is an odd, yet refreshing situation as a bookmaker when you find yourself needing all the favorites to cover. In the end the Patriots were just too fundamentally sound and easily got the win and the cover, not even allowing a Peyton Manning and the Colts to score a touchdown! The lopsided 20-3 victory destroyed the bulk of the live teasers once again and ensured a big Sunday, and overall a huge weekend.
Until next Monday when we break it all down again?
Jimmy Mason
www.betcom.com
