What was your biggest mistake in betting college football this year?

[buddy]

Handicapping?
Money Management?
Betting Strategies?

For me, far and away, it was betting strategies.

I slopped multi-team parlays and teasers all over the place. Hit 4 teasers and lost 404 (give or take 50). The parlay loss was incalculable.

Grade...F-

 

[wareagle]

Betting with my heart. memphis and my tigers..:nooo:

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Not a bad question, buddy

Not a bad question, buddy

I had a subpar year, about 50%, losing juice.

I've thought about it. I used 2 concepts that have worked in the past, but are starting to go the way of the dinosaur:

1) opposite surface factors. Not as much a factor as it was 10 yrs ago. Seems like many teams have been putting in the revolutionary FieldTurf (or facsimile thereof) the L5 yrs. FieldTurf plays like grass, as it's more of a soft turf rather than the hard concrete of old artificial turf. Just not as much variation as there was in the past, except for a handful of true artificial turf teams and dome teams.

2) class differential is shrinking. Games that I thought would be total mismatches just didn't materialize that way. The diff btw the best NCAA Div1 tm simply isn't as big now as it was 20 yrs ago. Look at TroySt vs Neb, and TroySt vs MiaFL. In addition to the obvious lack of motivation as 6TD favs, the talent gap simply isn't that huge. Everybody's big, everybody's fast, everybody hits the weights and everybody is on a structured running program and a structured diet.

Those are 2 areas where I'll pay more attention this time around. GL.

 

[Nolan Dalla]

Great question.

For me, it was relying too much on what I saw the previous week. Example, I see Nebraska shut down and dominate Oklahoma (which I viewed as the #1 team in the nation at the time), so I bet on the Huskers going into Colorado and they get their balls blown off. I noticed that I did that a number of times -- watching teams like Boston College nearly upset Miami, so I fade the 'Canes the next two games and get crushed. Big mistake to base perceptions on what you saw on TV the week before.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[PerpetualCzech]

buddy,

I would recommend to never EVER play teasers in college football. The variance in the winning margins are much higher than in prop football which makes the 6 points that you get on your side worth much less. You are much better off betting the games straight up.

 

[ndnfan]

I don't know if I made mistakes. I did lose money, not much, but I think it was one of those freak years, where the public actually made money. I've had friends who never win, come out ahead this past year. Just my opinion, or at least a good excuse! :shrug:

 

[lostinamerica]

By November of last year I was wagering more games with significant units than ever before. In previous years, with so many teams I was not really (i.e. not at all) following, I would always make far too many BAD plays and would be scared away. With the forums and boundless football resources available through MadJacks, the BAD plays were not a big issue, and I almost broke even.

My biggest mistake was KNOWING it was the play in the Fiesta Bowl, and failing to, "Unload on the Oregon Ducks." Not a cent. Damn, Damn, Damn!

Great Question.

 

[TJBELL]

the biggest mistake betting college football was..

the biggest mistake betting college football was..

STARTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nighthorse]

GREED - listening to Dan "The Man" Wilson

GREED - listening to Dan "The Man" Wilson

I listen to his radio show on Saturday mornings for kicks. I've never called him, used his service or contacted him in any way. Between him and his buddies, It sounds like the Sopranos talkin sports. I get a big kick out of it.

I paid attention when host Geno DiCarlo said that Dan was gonna give a superlock, super gauranteed free pick. In listening to the show for months, never ever ever did they ever give out a pick. So I thought this MUST be a sure thing.

After commercial, Wilson says Maryland alums made a big donation to the athletic dept. In his experience, the alums asked for a cover in order to recoup some of the donation. The coach almost always obiliges. Dan said take the points, you might put some on the moneyline, but definitely take the points. Wilson said he was going to be at the game and that he would streak on the field naked with, "I was wrong" written on his body if Maryland does not come through. "But that won't be necessary, because it ain't gonna happen"

WOW, that was quite a statement....only pick he's ever announced on the air before the game..it's a superlock. I bet about 20% of my stake with the points....you know the rest.

Did really well during CFB season, had a well below avg bowl season and then the Wilson episode. Left me a little below even and very disgusted.

 

[djv]

I go long with the over re-act to the week before. I know better but still fell in that trap more then a couple of times. More like 20 or 25 times. I also tried a few more parlays then I should have.
When I do that it screws up my money managing.
Good question Buddy. It's good to reflect on things you know you must correct.

 

[redsfann]

Great question, Buddy--

Great question, Buddy--

and for me it was trying to bet teams in conferences that I knew nothing about, such as the SEC, ACC and Pac-10. Now, we all see these teams on TV every week, but I didn't handicap these conferences. So when I did wager on a team, I was going on someone elses' play or I just expected Vanderbilt to get crushed by a conference power.

I did it in basketball, too-- and I have told myself that next college season, I'm sticking to the Big-10, MAC and the Big-12 in football and the Big-10, MAC and Horizon leagues in the baskets.

 

[He Hate Me]

blowing all my winnings on the NFL.

 

[buddy]

He Hate Me,

It's difficult for me to ignore the NFL because on Sunday, it's the only game in town. You know, the "action" thing.

But the smarter part of me says, "hey buddy, lots of payroll bandits in the NFL. "

So the questions become,

Why risk your money on a league where everyone is a millionaire?

Why risk your money on teams who have very little incentive to win?

Why risk your money on someone like Randy Moss who says, "I'll play when I feel like playing."

Randy Moss would probably steal the spotlight, but I've heard Kevin Green make similar, if not stronger, critical statements of linebackers and offensive linemen.

For me, you could add New Orlean Saints QB, Aaron Brooks, to the mix.

Green said that many of these guys have the attitude of "Why should I bust my ass? I get the big check every Tuesday whether I play well or not."

For us sportsbettors, I think the problem lies in having a bad day on Saturday, then trying to make it up on Sunday.

For me, that's like going from the frying pan into the fire.

 

[Tito]

1st Mistake:

Thinking the teams is the top 25 were as good as the pollsters said there were.........

2nd Mistake:

.....Then betting on them.............

 

[Bluemound Freak]

Betting on the Damn Crimson Tide! Man what A Loser I am!

 

[Simply In The Red]

Having a gut instinct on a team that I have seen play and I know that can show, then being talked into something else by a friend who supposedly knows the conference. :nono: .

Trying more to pick a team I can see on tv so I can watch and learn how they play instead of a team that I feel better about but will have a hard time getting updates on.