With
just a small cluster of playoff games left before the NFL season
wraps up with the Super Bowl, a number of dyed-in-the-wool sports
bettors may have tough going with what's left before baseball begins
in April. What IS left is basketball and hockey where some wise
guys are profiting from the fact that few people really know how
to handicap the sports. Let me warn you then - if you're a novice,
you will need some help before you make your first wager.
Here are three books-two on baskets, one on hockey--to help you
prepare for the battle against the bet-takers:
BETTING
TO WIN ON HOOPS: A TEXTBOOK FOR THE BASKETBALL BETTOR by
Robert Ross (2l6 pages, 8x11 paperbound, $29.95). Published in 2001,
Ross' work covers both pro and college basketball, though he includes
a lot more coverage of the NBA. If you're unfamiliar with the art
of shopping for numbers and searching for value; whether to bet
early or late; betting totals; bankroll control (money management);
keeping accurate records; adjusting for tournament play, you'll
be enlightened with the help of this book. Ross, a Las Vegas writer-handicapper,
has covered a great amount of territory, answering questions anticipated
from beginners and the somewhat experienced player. He offers examples
of games and situations that smart trend seekers or technical handicappers
should be alert for.
THE
ODDS; ONE SEASON, THREE GAMBLERS AND THE DEATH OF THEIR LAS VEGAS
by Chad Millman (260 pages, $26). Published in 2001, this hardbound
book traces the everyday battles of three savvy basketball bettors
during the 1999-2000 season, as they bet basketball, day by day,
week by week, and what the face in regard to limits; the psychology
of sports wagering. Along the way, they bump into the sometimes
colorful characters who comprise the never-boring, always interesting
world of gambling in Nevada and offshore. A sort of "Diary
of a Fanatical Hoops Bettor," this book offers a look at what
goes on in the mind of the sports book operator; how power ratings
affect decisions; what some
real bad beats are and the what the worries about legal vs. illegal
wagering encompass.
BETTING
TO WIN ON HOCKEY; A TEXTBOOK FOR THE HOCKEY BETTOR by Robert
Ross (226 pages, 8x11 plastic spiralbound, $29.95). The only in-depth
book on betting this sport, this one explains how to make your own
line; how to keep accurate records and notes; the proper way to
evaluate statistics in box scores; how to factor in injuries; scheduling
and its
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