|
Two books by
Marc Lawrence are among late arrivals at Gambler's Book Shop, and
each should appeal to a different breed of football handicapper.
The books are the Playbook Stat and Log Book (369
pages, 8x11 spiralbound, $34.95) and Marc Lawrence's Black
Book, 2001 edition (104 pages, 8x11 paperbound, $29.95).
 The
Stat and Log Book is just that-room to keep records on every
pro and almost every major college team. For the colleges, you'll
be able to isolate which games are designed as "homecoming events"
which according to some handicappers, make the event more intensive
for the home team-perhaps they play a bit harder before alumni and
relatives goes the logic. For each pro and college team you'll see
the last 10 years of scores and spreads (there are Totals for every
pro game played and post-season scores and spreads. For the colleges,
bowl games are listed with spreads and scores.
There is room
to keep records for each game to be played this season (eight areas
including totals, score, whether a team covered the spread and any
additional notes). You'll be able to immediately see the type of
surface a team plays on at home; the weather phone; number of returnees
and lettermen and key players returning.
Those who believe
in the "revenge factor" will find a three-year chart (keyed to the
eyes of the seniors) for the colleges.
For the pros,
there's a breakdown in summary form how teams have done since 1991
against the spread, against divisional and non-divisional opponents.
Throughout the book, Lawrence has liberally sprinkled charts, tables
and betting angles relating to team performance for the NFL in the
following areas: How a team performed after a week's rest; on Monday
nights; in Over-Under situations (for one year, three or five-year
increments); how teams do after score or allowing 14 or 28 points
the previous game since 1990 straight up and against the spread.
 Then
to colleges, Lawrence provides the results of a massive study on
how coaches do after a loss or in a revenge situation (the "bounce
back factor"); then provides results and spreads of past bowl games.
Those interested
in isolating playoff results from 1982 to 2000 will find it easily
with the special page devoted to that area. You can see poor Seattle
has had but three playoff games, losing all three and failing to
cover each time, for example.
Lawrence's Black
Book is a massive compilation of situations, angles, trends, plus
a bonus update, which involves 10 systems with some detailed rationale
or justification for its ability to repeat on a consistent level.
The book is a mixture of potentially lucrative plays for betting
both the pros and colleges, and you can find an angle quickly since
the book is set up in alpha order.
For those who
seek absolute perfection, Lawrence has trends that are 100 percent.
A few samples: (All angles are since 1990) The NY Giants are 5-0
against the spread after meeting the Arizona Cardinals and after
a Monday
|
