Love To Play Those Winning Angles?
There's A Bonanza of Books For 2001
By Howard Schwartz

If you�re the type of bettor who believes in streaks, in repeatable situations, for no other reason than �they happen,� then here�s a cluster of resources for you for the 2001 football season. Never mind power ratings, spreads, home field advantage, and injury evaluations including who�s quarterbacking this week�just show me the winner, you say. Okay, here�s what�s on the menu:

Trends Made Easy NFL from Davler Sports (64 pages, paperbound, $27.95). In this annual, in its 11th year of delivering angles with a minimum of 70 percent efficiency against the spread (there are almost 800 of them in this edition), you can find your plays by team or by date, keyed to the NFL schedule. Some examples: Play on Detroit at home off a straight up win (they are 14-2 since 1983 in this situation). Play Denver Under versus Kansas City (4-13-1 since 1991). There are 30 angles listed for Sept. 9 alone, including in the Seattle at Cleveland game, you�re advised to play Seattle Under on grass in September (the angle is 2-13-1 since 1990). The book contains complete NFL schedules by teams; tell you what surface each game will be played on, the coach�s record against the spread and the weather number should you care to check on the game day condition. (Note: A College version of the same book is expected to arrive in late August, same price, same format�by team, then by date of all games played that day).

The 2001 NFL Football Trend Notebook from Inside Sports View and Bob Frederick (111 pages, paperbound, $32.95). There are 238 winning trends in this volume, also with a minimum of 70 percent efficiency. This is the book�s 15th edition, and what makes this reference unique is that it shows you if a streak or angle is continuing or breaking down. An example would be the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. Since 1986 the Patriots and Saints have a tendency to go Over the Total. There are five Overs, no Unders. They�ll meet November 25th at New England. However, another angle, showing the Pittsburgh Steelers being 14-4-1 on Monday night games against the spread indicates although the Steelers have compiled an excellent record in this situation since 1990, the angle has actually failed in three of the last four situations the situation has presented itself, in 1999, 1998 and 1997, so it appears that angle is weakening a bit for some reason. On Oct. 29, Pittsburgh will host Tennessee on a Monday night.

NFL Teams and Situations by Andy Iskoe and Logical Approach (145 pages, 8x11 plastic spiralbound, $29.95) looks at the entire league and each team in dozens of situations, for one year, three years then six years. He�s saved bettors an enormous amount of time in summarizing how often a team wins at home, away; on grass vs. turf; as home dog, home favorite; road dog; road favorite; in a division, vs. conference teams; on Monday nights; in first four or last four games; in sandwich or reverse sandwich games. A few samples: San Diego is 7-3 on artificial turf against the spread for the past three years; the NY Jets are 10-1-1 against the spread in their second game of the season for the past three years. Looking ahead specifically to the Opening or Closing Game of the season? Iskoe shows you how they did vs. the line since 1978 in summary and what their current streak (Covered last one, No Cover last four are typical comments). Those analyzing NFL victory margins since 1981 will find it here by year, with Total (example, three points as margin of victory occurs 15 per cent of the time, with seven happening seven per cent of the time and 10 points almost six per cent of the time). Want a quick look at what team has the worst record on natural grass for the last six years (Cincy at 12-21 against the spread) or the last three years? (Vikings are 3-8-2). Best home dog in the past six years are Tampa Bay Bucs at 11-5 since 1995, with San Diego worst home dog in that span at 7-15-1. If you want to look up how every NFL team overall�that is, the whole NFL did in dozens of situations by year, by last three or six years, it�s at your fingertips. If someone is yelling �get a life� at you because you�re spending too much time digging all this stuff out�you�ve found salvation and a solution with this book.