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Ah, it's that
time of the year where "armchair quarterbacks" (living room fans);
"bookies" (those who accept wagers, legally or illegally) and "wise
guys" (informed, knowledgeable handicappers or bettors) are particularly
perky, active, reading, listening. Much like the robins of springtime-but
this is football betting season, that special six-month period when
the divorce rate increases along with beer, hotdog and potato chip
consumption.
Football bettors
are most anxious to learn what the "line" on pro and college football
games will be. A "line" is the number, assigned to a team designating
it a favorite or underdog ("dog")-also known as the "pointspread"
for a particular game.
For example,
bookmakers or linemakers have determined already that the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers should be a 2 � -point favorite when they visit the
New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 3, which is the first week
of the regular pro football season. Should the Tampa Bay team win
by three points or more, they will have "covered the spread" (also
known as "the line") and will have rewarded investors kindly. However,
should the Patriots win, or perhaps only lose by two points, then
bettors taking the favored Tampa Bay visitors will be saddened by
the outcome money-wise.
Bettors may
also choose to bet the over-under wager, also known as the "total."
This is not a breakfast cereal. It simply means the bettor has let
us say, made a decision, the game will so many combined points between
the two teams. A sample might be the Patriots and Buccaneers, where
the bookmaker has established 37 points as the "total." Now is the
final score is 20-14 in favor of the Pats, or 20-14 in favor of
Tampa Bay, that would mean 34 points were scored by both teams,
making the bettors who bet under the 37 total most happy. Should
the teams combine for more than 37 points, let's say a 39-3 "blowout"
(a lopsided victory), then the bettors who liked the over would
have joy. Aha-but what if the final score were 20-17 for either
team-the exact total-landing "right on the number." This would be
a tie or "push" and no one would win-it would get the bettor his
or her money returned. That is why many totals are offered "the
hook" which is an added half-point, creating a situation where a
tie or "push" would not be possible. A 37 � total means to win,
your two teams would have to score 38 points if you bet over and
37 points to be an under.
If a team is
playing on "turf" it means artificial turf. "Grass" refers to the
natural grass field many teams are used to playing on.
Should you hear
someone say "I've got a lock on this game" or this is a "natural
lock," pity that person. There has never been and never will be
a "lock" (or sure thing) in football. The game is unpredictable-as
are players and the ability of the officials to "whistle back" (call
a penalty) on an apparent touchdown or big play because of some
infraction.
Bettors must
wager $11 to win $10. The difference in the amount bet and the amount
to hopefully be won is called
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"vigorish" or "juice" (and in this case, it relates to nothing found
in abottle, can or vegetable section of the supermarket). This is
the edge the bookmaker has in every wager and it amounts to 4.5
percent It is the fraction of money that is bet that the bookmaker
is entitled to keep for himself.
The dream
of all bettors is to win a "middle." This means to win both sides
of the same betting proposition-that is betting the favorite,
let us say at -1 1/2 with one bookmaker, then taking 2 � with
another bookmaker. If the game ends with the favorite winning
by exactly 2, you will have "middled" the game. This is very rare-some
say it is more than a 20-1 shot for the situation to occur, but
it has happened and will continue to happen. That is why the Internet
and other forms of speedy electronic methods have alerted bookmakers
to radical line changes, which would make them vulnerable to being
"middled."
In recent
days, the Tennessee Titans opened up as a two-point favorite against
the Philadelphia Eagles. Information indicated the Titans would
rest most of the important players and allow others to showcase
their skills in an unimportant exhibition contest after a win
against the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams. The public then
began to bet the-then underdog Eagles and eventually made THEM
the favorite by three points. This was a radical swing in the
spread or the line, offering quick moving bettors a chance to
"middle" the bookie, since a five-point line move is very rare.
Finally, if
you hear of someone being called "a beard," it doesn't refer to
age or attitude. It means someone is utilizing a "proxie" or unknown
(to the bookies) stranger to place large wagers. This helps to
disguise "big money" bet legally or illegally so the bookmaker
does not change the line or odds on an event. Often, large sports
betting syndicates will employ little old ladies to place wagers
all over Las Vegas sportsbooks, thus delaying or disguising the
"action" (betting being done) which might jeopardize the sportsbooks'
profits.
There you
have-some of the colorful, unique language of sports betting,
particularly football betting. There's much more and if you want
to have the answers to dozens of other questions about betting,
you might want to order a fine reference, titled Sports Betting
101 by Arne Lang (192 pages, paperbound, $19.95 plus $5.50 postage)
from Gambler's Book Shop, 630 South 11th St., Las Vegas, NV 89101.
You can send a check or money order or order using MasterCard,
VISA or Discover card via toll-free number: 1-800-522-1777 from
9 to 5 Pacific time, Mon.-Sat. Or view the store's website at
www.gamblersbook.com
anytime. The store also offers a free 80-page catalog. Ask for
it by phone or mail. It will be sent the next working day. The
store has been in business 37 years serving players, management
and researchers in this country and internationally.
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