By Bryan Mulroney
Vegas Junkie
Well folks, we all know the feeling, and if you don?t, you?re incredibly lucky ? that feeling of ?knowing? which games you should have bet (but didn?t), and of kicking yourself in the rear for ?knowing? Team X wouldn?t cover (but betting it anyway). Maybe you convince yourself that the reason you bet the game in the first place was just to have fun and make it more interesting. To give yourself a reason to root for the underdog? But if you analyze that statement and find that it is actually true, please stop betting now unless you have the superhuman ability to restrain yourself to $10 bets each and every time.
So with that premise out of the way, what?s the best way to recoup after stinking it up for a few weeks? Some would advocate doubling your bets to insure that your next win is big enough to cover previous losses. Others might advise to bet a parlay, or to ride the moneyline on a MAC team against the BigTen. Still others (your wife) might tell you to hang it up and call it a store bought lesson. But I will make the point, that the best way to insure you end the season on top is to continue to follow an intelligent and well reasoned plan.
If you did not begin a ?college football betting plan? at the onset of the season, fear not. You still should be able to raise yourself from the ashes with a small bit of planning now. What you?ll need to consider is you total bankroll for the season and how you will effectively manage that capital.
Now given, this is going to be a succinct lesson in cash management and handicapping, but further reading is available elsewhere on the Net and throughout this site. So to begin, let?s assume you have $1,000 as your bankroll for the remainder of the year. (Forget about the few hundred you might already be down?) With a figure like this, your bets will range from $10-50.
And first things first, we now kill all bets that are for fun. No more bets on Marshall because it?s the Thursday night game and you really ?want? them to beat VT. No more stupid bets on the winner of Florida Miami because you?re watching it later and you have to have something riding. All bets will be good bets ? bets you have researched, thought about, and thoroughly analyzed.
So, if you are now serious here?s what we have. You will take a look at the lines when they are released early in the week and note you 10 ?favorites.? Now you?ll head over to ESPN.com, or CNNSI.com, or the like and do a bit of research. How do the teams stack up? (Don?t read the columnists, unless you can maintain a critical eye? they spew more drivel than most folks.) Take a look at previous games and box scores. Does one team look good only because they put up 20 or 30 in a fourth quarter against 3rd string players? Does one team have a 150YPG running back and the other a terrible run D? Look for mismatches and do the requisite research necessary.
If you do this, then take a look back at your numbers and ?favorites.? Now they should begin to separate themselves from one another. Rank your favorites now from 1-5 units or as a ?No Play.? A five-unit bet is one that you feel is a ?lock? from your research. A 1 unit is a good game but you realize that if things go awry this may not be as winnable as a 5 unit.
Check back with your sportsbook and see if the line has moved. Depending on the movement, decide when you want to bet. (I also recommend having at least 3 individual books to pick up an the edge of an extra point or two here and there.) If your book runs any specials or promotions (5% juice on Friday bets, etc?) make sure to consider those as well. Place your bet wherever and whenever you get the most value. Your bets will coincide with your unit value ? a 1-unit bet is $10, and a 5 unit is $50. As you win or lose each week, you will add or subtract from the amount of the bet. So if after week one you are now at $1100, your 1 unit is $11 and your 5 is $55. Units = 1% of total bankroll.
Now stick with the program. It may be ?boring? to those of you who gamble for a thrill. But if you want to win long term, using some sort of system is paramount. Finally, if you do not have the time to do your own research, pony up a bit of cash for a reputable service newsletter and analysis. If you don?t know of any services, etc? get on some football message boards and ask around.
Vegas Junkie
Well folks, we all know the feeling, and if you don?t, you?re incredibly lucky ? that feeling of ?knowing? which games you should have bet (but didn?t), and of kicking yourself in the rear for ?knowing? Team X wouldn?t cover (but betting it anyway). Maybe you convince yourself that the reason you bet the game in the first place was just to have fun and make it more interesting. To give yourself a reason to root for the underdog? But if you analyze that statement and find that it is actually true, please stop betting now unless you have the superhuman ability to restrain yourself to $10 bets each and every time.
So with that premise out of the way, what?s the best way to recoup after stinking it up for a few weeks? Some would advocate doubling your bets to insure that your next win is big enough to cover previous losses. Others might advise to bet a parlay, or to ride the moneyline on a MAC team against the BigTen. Still others (your wife) might tell you to hang it up and call it a store bought lesson. But I will make the point, that the best way to insure you end the season on top is to continue to follow an intelligent and well reasoned plan.
If you did not begin a ?college football betting plan? at the onset of the season, fear not. You still should be able to raise yourself from the ashes with a small bit of planning now. What you?ll need to consider is you total bankroll for the season and how you will effectively manage that capital.
Now given, this is going to be a succinct lesson in cash management and handicapping, but further reading is available elsewhere on the Net and throughout this site. So to begin, let?s assume you have $1,000 as your bankroll for the remainder of the year. (Forget about the few hundred you might already be down?) With a figure like this, your bets will range from $10-50.
And first things first, we now kill all bets that are for fun. No more bets on Marshall because it?s the Thursday night game and you really ?want? them to beat VT. No more stupid bets on the winner of Florida Miami because you?re watching it later and you have to have something riding. All bets will be good bets ? bets you have researched, thought about, and thoroughly analyzed.
So, if you are now serious here?s what we have. You will take a look at the lines when they are released early in the week and note you 10 ?favorites.? Now you?ll head over to ESPN.com, or CNNSI.com, or the like and do a bit of research. How do the teams stack up? (Don?t read the columnists, unless you can maintain a critical eye? they spew more drivel than most folks.) Take a look at previous games and box scores. Does one team look good only because they put up 20 or 30 in a fourth quarter against 3rd string players? Does one team have a 150YPG running back and the other a terrible run D? Look for mismatches and do the requisite research necessary.
If you do this, then take a look back at your numbers and ?favorites.? Now they should begin to separate themselves from one another. Rank your favorites now from 1-5 units or as a ?No Play.? A five-unit bet is one that you feel is a ?lock? from your research. A 1 unit is a good game but you realize that if things go awry this may not be as winnable as a 5 unit.
Check back with your sportsbook and see if the line has moved. Depending on the movement, decide when you want to bet. (I also recommend having at least 3 individual books to pick up an the edge of an extra point or two here and there.) If your book runs any specials or promotions (5% juice on Friday bets, etc?) make sure to consider those as well. Place your bet wherever and whenever you get the most value. Your bets will coincide with your unit value ? a 1-unit bet is $10, and a 5 unit is $50. As you win or lose each week, you will add or subtract from the amount of the bet. So if after week one you are now at $1100, your 1 unit is $11 and your 5 is $55. Units = 1% of total bankroll.
Now stick with the program. It may be ?boring? to those of you who gamble for a thrill. But if you want to win long term, using some sort of system is paramount. Finally, if you do not have the time to do your own research, pony up a bit of cash for a reputable service newsletter and analysis. If you don?t know of any services, etc? get on some football message boards and ask around.
