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Several millennia ago, according to theological scholars, an event took place that has shaped mankind up to this very day. It seems one of the leaders of the people in that long ago time was summoned to the summit of a mountain where he was miraculously handed some tablets from an unknown source. There was no videotaping equipment in that day, nor other technologically advanced tools, to permanently record exactly how this all occurred and what exactly was on those tablets but there have been rumors that there may have been more than one set of what have been come to be known as the Ten Commandments. Though in the minority, some scholars do suggest that there may have been another less publicized tablet that contained thoughts directed at endeavors other than spiritual. Painstaking research has been conducted over many years and we have what we now believe to be the divine words and wisdom, preserved through countless generations, directed towards college football. We present the Ten Commandments for betting and beating the College Bowls.

I. Thou shalt look to pick the straight up winner of the game.

This may seem obvious but let's examine, for a moment, why this statement is so important. It's very common for handicappers and players to become overly preoccupied with the pointspread. But how often does the line matter? Actually, the line only matters when the Favorite wins the game but fails to cover the pointspread. The line does not matter when the Favorite wins and covers and when the Underdog wins outright. Since 1991, the team that won the game also covered the pointspread 73.5% of the time. That's almost 3 games in four over more than 5,200 games. But the percentage is even higher in Bowl games. Since the 1991 season almost 150 Bowl games have been played and the line has come into play barely 11% of the time. That is, in 88.7% of all Bowl games played over the past eight Bowl seasons, the winner of the game has also covered the pointspread. So your first objective is to not be obsessed by the line. Rather, look for the team you think will win the game straight up.

When playing an Underdog you should also consider the Money Line under certain conditions. Money Line wagers do not involve points but rather require your team to win the game straight up. When playing an Underdog on the Money Line you receive odds such as +140 or plus 2 to 1, etc. Here are some statistics to guide you. Double digit underdogs (those getting 10 points or more) win straight up only 25% of the time. Thus if you can get at least 3 to 1 on your double digit dog you are getting a fair shake. Keep in mind that the average line for Bowl Underdogs is roughly +6 so the number of double digit dogs is not great (about one Bowl game in six features a double digit line). Surprisingly Underdogs from + 7 to + 9 � win at about the same one in four rate and you occasionally will get 3-1 or better in that price range. About one Bowl in seven falls within this pointspread range. An acceptable Money Line range appears to be from + 3 � to + 6 �, or greater than a field goal but less than a touchdown. Underdogs in this range win about one game in three so getting at least 2-1 on these Underdogs can provide value. About one Bowl game in three falls within this pointspread range. Finally the small underdog, up to + 3. These puppies win only about two games in five so you would need at least 3-2 (+ 150) odds to consider these small Underdogs for a money line play. It is extremely important to shop around for money lines since prices can and do vary widely, much more so than straight pointspreads.

II. Thou shalt honor the Underdog in December, but favor the Favorite in the New Year.

A common misconception amongst many handicappers is that you can profit over the long term simply by blindly playing the Underdog. After all, when you play the Underdog three things can happen and two of them are good. The Underdog can win the game outright and obviously cover the pointspread or the Underdog can lose the game straight up but by less than the pointspread. As we saw in Commandment I, this has not occurred often during the past eight Bowl seasons. Of course the bad thing that happen is when the Underdog loses by more than the pointspread. Yet our research has uncovered a very interesting phenomenon during the past eight seasons. Underdogs have slightly outperformed Favorites in Bowl games played in December, compiling a mark of 54% Against the Spread (ATS). That produces only a very small profit but still beats betting the Favorite. Yet once the New Year is ushered in, Favorites have been awesome. Over the past eight seasons January Favorites have gone 41-22-1 ATS, or 65%. Usually these games are on New Year's Day and feature the best teams from the regular season just completed. In years past these have been referred to as the Major Bowl games (Rose, Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Fiesta) and the almost-major Bowls (such as the Gator and Citrus Bowls). In most cases the lines are very competitive and the teams will have generally won 8 or more games during the regular season, usually 9 or more. The teams are excited about playing on New Year's Day (or a day or two later) and are more likely to play true to form.

III. Thou shalt strongly consider Underdogs seeking redemption.

Bowl games afford a team an opportunity to share the national athletic spotlight for a few hours during the holiday season. Often, especially in the minor Bowls, football fans are tuned in to only one game. In the case of New Year's Day, the starting times of games are staggered so even then certain Bowls will have the spotlight to themselves for at least some period of time.

Teams like to make the best of their time in the spotlight - to put their best foot forward one might say. In the case of a team that lost the previous year in a Bowl game the opportunity to erase the bitter taste of a Bowl defeat that has lasted a year can be a powerful motivator for a good effort. Especially when the team seeking to reverse a defeat is made the Underdog. Historically, such teams have covered the spread at a 60% rate. Several teams meet this condition in 1999. Arkansas, BYU, Mississippi State, Oregon, Syracuse, Texas A&M and Washington are all Underdogs that lost in a Bowl game last year.

IV. Thou shalt respect the running game.

Despite the many changes in the game of football, the ability to control the line of scrimmage has always had a strong correlation to success both straight up and Against the Spread. Controlling the line of scrimmage is best evidenced by the ability to run the ball on offense and to stop the run on defense. Historically, teams that outrush their opponents cover the pointspread in excess of 60%. There are many reasons why such a strong correlation exists, including the obvious one that a team that has the lead is more likely to run the ball in the end stages of a game than to prolong the game by attempting passes.

There has been a tendency in recent years for Bowls to be high scoring, especially the minor Bowls. A part of the reason why this is so is because one or both teams lack a strong running game to be able to control the clock and protect leads late in games. Often that's the difference between a 9-2 record and a major Bowl bid and a 7-4 log and a minor Bowl appearance.

One indicator that has been successful over the long term has been simply average yards per rush on offense. The team having the better rushing average has covered over 55% of the time in all Bowl games dating back to the mid 1980s. In recent years the success rate has faltered a bit but it is still a good indicator of pointspread success in general, not just in Bowl games.

How important is the rushing game in Bowls? Consider that in the more than 140 Bowl games played since 1991 the team gaining more rushing yards in a Bowl game has covered at better than a 79% clip. Compare that to the 51% ATS success rate enjoyed by the team gaining more passing yards. The team that has the better average yards per rush in a Bowl game (not necessarily the same team that gains the most rushing yards) has covered at slightly under a 75% rate. THAT's how strong the rushing game is!

V. Thou shalt avoid the disinterested or disappointed favorite.

Not every team that goes to a Bowl is excited about the opportunity. Whereas in days gone by a trip to a Bowl game was a reward for a very successful season, times have changed. Years ago there were many less Bowl games. In order to be invited to a Bowl game a team pretty much needed to win a minimum of 7 and often 8 games. Nowadays it takes only a 6-5 record for a team to become "Bowl eligible." Mediocrity is hardly worth rewarding but with 23 Bowl games there are now 46 slots to fill. 40% of all Division I-A teams will be going to Bowl games this season. Interestingly, perennial powers Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA and USC are all staying home because of disappointing seasons. Yet there are always teams that do go Bowling that may not look upon the experience as a reward and often give a very lackluster effort. Such teams, especially when favored, present outstanding opportunities to play against. A pair of Bowls from last season serve to illustrate this point very well.

Kansas State, undefeated for most of the season and eyeing a BCS Bowl before losing in the Big 12 title game to Texas A&M was overlooked by the BCS and invited instead to the Alamo Bowl. This was clearly a snub after the Wildcats had played in the Fiesta and Cotton Bowls the two previous seasons. Their lack of interest was obviously ignored by the bettors who drove KSU from an 11 � point opening favorite to a 13 � point choice. Their opponent was Purdue, themselves perhaps disappointed by a repeat trip to the Alamo Bowl (which they had won the year before) accepted their fate as an 8-4 team and one that was just getting used to being in a Bowl (their Alamo Bowl visit the year before was the program's first Bowl game in over a decade). Purdue not only covered the generous double digits but won the game outright, 37-34.

USC was another team that was not enthused about playing in their Bowl game, even despite a two season absence from any Bowl. They were favored by 16 points over TCU, a program that had been to just two Bowl games in the past twenty years. The program was on the upswing under new coach Dennis Franchione and was excited to be in the Sun Bowl, even though it was being held in their home state. Of course, TCU pulled the upset, totally outplaying USC and winning 28-19.

Almost always these will be in the pre-January games, but every so often a New Year's Day participant might be disinterested. Perhaps this Bowl season the Florida Gators will not be enthused about playing Michigan State in the Gator Bowl. For most of the season the Gators were on track for a possible berth in the National Championship game. Losses to Florida State and Alabama (in the SEC title game) may have dampened their enthusiasm for playing in what they may well consider 'just another Bowl game.'

VI. Thou shalt recognize negative momentum.

Teams that go to Bowl games have generally had pretty good seasons. It can be argued that a 6-5 season is hardly 'pretty good' but such teams nevertheless are needed to fill Bowl berths. But what about teams that have ended their 'good' regular seasons on a sour note? Or two? Or more? Consider teams that have lost two or more consecutive games at the end of the regular season. Our research revealed some very interesting results that differed depending upon whether the team with that negative momentum was made the favorite or the underdog in their Bowl game.

It can be argued that a team that has lost two or more games can look at its Bowl game in one of two ways - either it's a chance to end the season on a positive note and make amends for a disappointing finish to what had been a very good season (after all, even a 6-5 team was 6-3 or better before their end of season losing streak). Or, such a team might not be interested in continuing what had been a promising season but which had turned sour down the stretch. Often such a team that is made the Underdog in this situation is a team that had overachieved during the regular season and looks upon this Bowl game as a reward and chance to show they really are an improved team. A Favorite in this spot is more apt to be a team that had higher aspirations but whose late season collapse relegated that team to a much lesser Bowl than had looked likely before the losing streak set in. The results over the past couple of decades seem to support these contentions.

Favorites entering their Bowl game off of two or more consecutive losses are a paltry 5-14 Against the Spread over the past 20+ years. That's just 26% ATS. Underdogs have fared better, although they've not excelled. Underdogs off of two or more straight losses have gone 20-15 ATS (57%) over the past 20+ years.

For the current Bowl season note that these Favorites have lost two or more consecutive games to end the regular season: Penn State, Texas and Florida and would qualify as 'Play Againsts' under this theory. These Underdogs have lost two or more straight games to end the regular season: BYU, Syracuse and Mississippi. That trio would be teams that have historically fared well when playing 'on' in their Bowl game. With six teams having lost two or more games prior to their Bowl game this season has the greatest number of Bowl teams with negative momentum in more than twenty years!

VII. Thou shalt honor the history of the opposing coaches

There are coaches and there are Big Game coaches and Bowl games are certainly Big Games. Penn State's Joe Paterno and Florida State's Bobby Bowden have fashioned outstanding Bowl game records over the years. Lou Holtz, while at Arkansas and Notre Dame, did likewise. On the other side of the ledger West Virginia's Don Nehlan and former Michigan State coach Nick Saban (now at LSU) have compiled poor Bowl records over the years. It is important to study the records of both a team and its head coach in recent Bowl appearances to perhaps uncover some edges not readily visible. Some coaches place great emphasis on winning a Bowl game once the bid is accepted. Other coaches look at a Bowl as an opportunity to prepare for next season, especially if it is a minor Bowl without any national ranking implications. Surfing the Internet during the four to five week period following the end of the regular season and the Bowl game can provide the insights into how a coach is approaching their upcoming Bowl. And don't assume that a coaching change following the end of the regular season is a negative. Recent history suggests otherwise. Often a new coach can use a Bowl game, often his first game as head coach, as a motivational and recruiting tool. What appears to be a disadvantage - a coaching staff in partial or full disarray - is often the opposite. Most coaches are aware, especially in the minor Bowls which are more spread out than the many Bowls all being played on New Year's Day, that their Bowl game is the center of attention in the athletic world for several hours. Every Bowl game is telecast on cable or network television. That's a powerful recruiting tool. But not all coaches see it that way. The preference is to look to back a team whose coach is more interested in winning THIS game than in using the game as an extra practice session for next fall.

VIII. Thou shalt consider Conference strength

Conference strength seems to go in cycles. Last Bowl season saw the Big Ten conference excel in Bowl games, winning all five Bowl games in which conference members participated. They covered in four of those games and had two upset wins by Underdogs (Purdue and Wisconsin). Perhaps that Bowl performance signaled the re-emergence of the Big Ten as college football's best conference. With 7 of their 11 teams headed to Bowls this season it's hard to argue the point. Three of those teams are Underdogs this Bowl season - Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State. Contrast the performance of the Big Ten to that of the Pac Ten. In last year's Bowl season Pac Ten teams were 1-4 both straight up and Against the Spread, including three straight up losses as Favorites (Oregon, UCLA and USC). Perhaps the conference's dismal Bowl showing was a foreshadowing of the significant decline in the Pac Ten's fortunes during the 1999 regular season in which the conference was abysmal. Amongst the lowlights in 1999 included several losses by Pac Ten teams to members of the WAC, Mountain West and Big West conferences. Pay attention to conference results in the early Bowl games as often they are accurate barometers of how the better teams will do in later Bowls. Also, make a note of strong or weak performances by a conference during the Bowls. Those results might give you an added edge next season when interconference play takes place in September.

IX. Thou shalt review games against common opponents

It's quite common for both teams in a given Bowl to have faced one or more foes during the regular season. By examining those games against a common foe, or foes, conclusions can be drawn as to whether or not the right team is favored. More than just the final score should be compared. Look closely at the rushing and passing statistics to see if one team struggled while the other team succeeded in the same aspect of the game against the same opponent. In the very first Bowl game, for example, the Las Vegas Bowl, both Utah and Fresno State faced Colorado State this season. Fresno State won at home 44-13 while Utah lost on the road 31-24. Fresno State managed just 11 first downs against CSU and was outgained by 39 yards but committed 5 turnovers to just 1 by CSU. Utah outgained Colorado State by over 100 yards in a game in which neither team lost a turnover. Fresno State was successful in running the ball against Colorado State. Utah was not. The offshore line has Utah favored by 6 � points. Perhaps that is a bit too many based upon their respective performances against their one common foe.

X. Thou shalt consider experience and other intangible factors

Experience is a positive factor when handicapping the Bowls for many of the reasons previously discussed. Especially having an edge in experience over your opponent. Historically, Underdogs with more recent Bowl experience than their favored opponents have cashed at better than 60%. Experience is often related to the current strength of a program. Additionally, experienced teams are better able to handle to off-the-field activities that surround Bowl games and are more likely to be able to 'get down to business' once the practice sessions begin and the game gets underway.

That's what makes this year's Sugar Bowl, the game for the mythical National Championship, so intriguing from a handicapping perspective. Virginia Tech has the edge in most of the key stats and has performed significantly better against the three foes both the Hokies and Florida State have faced - Clemson, Virginia and Miami. If Bowls were decided simply on the basis of stats then a strong argument can be made that Virginia Tech should be the Favorite. But the experience factor is clearly on the side of Florida State. The Seminoles have already won a National Championship this decade and lost to Tennessee in last year's National Championship game. Florida State is making their 18th consecutive Bowl appearance. They've won 14 of those games and tied another. They are 10-6-1 ATS in those games. But Florida State's two Bowl losses have come in the past three seasons. Virginia Tech has built a solid program during the 1990s but will be starting a freshman QB, Michael Vick. They are making their seventh straight Bowl appearance and have had mixed results when stepping up in class as they are here.

We've covered quite a bit of ground in deciphering these Commandments and there will be games in which there will be conflicts. There is still no hard and fast rule that covers sound judgement but if you pay attention to these Commandments, and heed their advice and warnings, you should have a profitable Bowl season.

Perhaps by reviewing these Commandments very carefully you will be on the right side of this year's National Championship game. Hopefully that game will cap a very successful Bowl season for you. At the very least you will be armed with some facts and concepts that should serve you well into the next millennium. For now, best wishes for a Happy Holiday season and a prosperous and enjoyable Bowl season. Let the Bowls begin!

Andrew Iskoe is a writer, handicapper, researcher and lecturer living in Las Vegas and also co-hosts a daily radio show dedicated to sports wagering. He is a frequent guest on many sports handicapping shows across the country and publishes weekly Football Newsletters and other handicapping resources and provides consulting services in all major sports.

Most sports bettors are well versed in the intricacies of betting on sides and totals before the game starts. But any bettor looking to maximize his or her profits needs to have the ability and flexibility to successfully navigate through the course of the entire game. Which means, of course, that halftime wagering is a key element of the successful handicappers arsenal. This includes both games that were bet on from the beginning as well as games that were not bet on before the game started. An astute halftime bettor can use a wager at the half to fulfill all kinds of useful functions. What follows is a brief primer on how the halftime bet can be used, how it can be extremely profitable, and what things to look for when making a halftime bet. Please put your thinking caps on for this one - this article is somewhat complicated, but understanding and using what is contained herein can increase your sports betting profits dramatically.

What a Halftime Line Is, and Why it exists

If you've gotten this far, you are familiar with the concept of pointspreads and betting lines, the standard basis for sports wagering around the world. Over the past five years, the popularity of additional wagering possibilities other than the standard side and total for the complete game have become increasingly popular, both among bettors and sportsbooks. One of these options is betting on games at halftime, after the first half has been played. The books offer a line based entirely on action that occurs in the 2nd half. Numerous examples will follow, but the reader should be able to understand the concept that halftime lines are not for the entire game -- only the action that occurs after halftime will count for their wager.

Books offer this betting opportunity to bettors for a number of different reasons. The primary reason, of course, is to get more action. Since bettors must lay 11-10 on standard halftime bets, much the same way they do on full game wagers, sportsbooks have a built in 4.5% advantage. The more action they can create, the better off that they are, because sportsbooks make most of their profit through sheer volume. Increasing volume is the goal of any sportsbook director. But that isn't the only factor that encourages books to post this halftime number for bettors to wager upon. Sportsbooks theoretically desire balanced action on games to ensure their profit. But in reality, most games don't have spilt action, with equal money on both sides so that the bookmakers profit is ensured. Rather, they have too much liability on one side or the other, meaning a nice profit if the bettors lose, but a big loss if the side the bettors have wins. So, sportsbooks use the halftime line as a way to hedge their own potential losses when they don't get balanced action.

Figuring Out what the Halftime Line Really Means - Adjusting the Line

Suppose the line for a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs is Spurs -8. Then suppose that the Mavs lead by 6 at the half, and the halftime line is Spurs -7. What this halftime line really means is that the Spurs are now laying only 1 for the game, instead of the 8 that they were laying before tip-off. This number is called " The Adjusted Halftime Line" as you look at the numbers to compare the halftime numbers with the original numbers. A second example. The Washington Redskins are playing the Dallas Cowboys, with a line of Washington -6 and a total of 38.5 The score at the half is Redskins 20, Cowboys 14. The halftime line comes out at pick 'em, with a total of 20. The adjusted halftime number for the side is no different from the original number of -6. But the adjusted halftime total is now 54, up from the original number of 38.5. And Over/Under selection at the half will be using 54 as a benchmark. With the score already 20-14, meaning 34 points have already been scored, an Over wager at the half will need more than 54 points to cash the ticket, while an Under bet requires less than 54 points for the game to be worth a darn. It's important to note the added value in an Under bet here. It's far better than a teaser that gives an additional 6 to 7 points while decreasing the resulting payback dramatically. In this case, you've got to watch the first half for free - you have an idea of how well or poorly these two teams are playing. Plus, instead of a measly six or seven points, with a wager on the Under at the half, you are getting an additional 15.5 points (between 38.5 and 54), all for the standard 11-10 ratio, not the lousy odds (12-10 on a two teamer) that you receive on teaser bets. Now that can be an extremely profitable difference!!

Hedging and Middling Opportunities

The single most useful function of halftime betting is the ability to hedge your initial bet with the possibility of winning both wagers. For those unfamiliar with the concepts involved, let's do some brief definition work here. To 'hedge' a bet means to take a position contrary to your initial wager in order to limit your risk and potentially maximize your profit. The function of this is to lock in some profit when the outcome of the game is still a question mark, or, if you don't like the direction that the game is headed, you can 'lay off' some or all of your bet while the game is already in progress. You can view hedging as a form of bettors insurance - it costs you something, but it increases 'Middling' opportunities -- to win with bets on both sides in the same game, with no risk involved whatsoever, a bookies nightmare. A middling opportunity minimizes risk while maximizing potential profit, what every bettor dreams of.

Let's use a concrete example to illustrate the point. Suppose you had bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home against the Detroit Lions for the game at -4. At the half, the Bucs are winning 20-3, and the halftime line comes Detroit -2.5. You are presented with some real options in this situation. If you don't necessarily like the Bucs chances despite their big lead, now is the time to come back with a bet on Detroit for the 2nd half. Should the Lions get pounded in the 2nd half, you'll push for the day, winning the original bet on Tampa, but losing the halftime bet on the Lions. Thus, you will have turned your original winning bet into a push, the worst possible scenario in this example. If the Lions are able to mount a comeback in the 2nd half and lose only, say 23-20, then your halftime wager will have served a very useful function. Instead of losing your original bet with no relief in sight, with a halftime bet, you'll end up pushing, losing only the juice on one of the two bets. The best scenario involves a fairly common occurrence. Tampa is up 20-3 at the half, but Detroit rallies back, only to lose by a TD, 28-21. Not only were you able to watch the 2nd half risk free; you were also able to win a bet on the Bucs and the Lions in the same game. Tampa covered the -4 for the game, while the Lions covered the -2.5 for the 2nd half. You had no risk, and you won bets on both sides in the same game. This coveted middle opportunity is the key to any halftime handicapping strategy.

Doubling Up on your Initial Wager

There are numerous other possibilities with a halftime wager besides simply hedging your original bet or looking for a middling opportunity. One such possibility is increasing or doubling up the size of your original wager. Let's say you have the Knicks -7 over the Nets and New York is winning 49-45 at the half, with the halftime line coming at New York -3. There are no middling possibilities here, that's for sure, because the adjusted halftime line is still -7. They are winning by 4, and the halftime line is -3, meaning the Knicks will have to win by 7 to cover the halftime bet, the same as the original line. But let's say that you were watching the game and you think that the Nets were extremely lucky to still be in it. After watching the first half, you still like the Knicks, perhaps even more than you did before tip-off. Now you can make an additional bet at the half on New York. You can increase the size of your bet, with the added knowledge of having seen the first half!!

Disadvantages and Pitfalls of Halftime Betting

Limited Time, line shopping, and the ability to think clearly while the game is in progress are three major difficulties bettors have to overcome when beginning to bet at halftime. There certainly isn't much time to think about it. In football, a 'capper can spend all week thinking about a particular game; in basketball, a 'capper usually spends much of the day making the decision about which sides and totals to back with a wager. But halftime lasts only fifteen minutes, and it generally takes the linesmakers a minute or two to set the line and make it available for the betting public. Which only gives the bettor a window of ten or twelve minutes to make a decision, shop for the best line and plunk down the cash for a wager. Clearly, bettors must think about halftime possibilities before the half ends. Also, bettors are often unable to think clearly when under the gun to make a decision. For those of you who do not have a clear head while the game is in progress, halftime betting is probably not a good option. And just as in regular wagering, it is crucial to search for the best line, as line variances can be dramatic from book to book. With only one half of the game to settle all bets, a half point here and there can take on even more importance than for a full game wager, because there's less time to make up the difference.

An intelligent bettor should be able to avoid the pitfalls with experience. For beginning halftime bettors, I would strongly recommend that you keep your wager size below that of your normal standard wager. There is a steep learning curve, and not much time to make decisions. Once you have become more proficient and you begin to win at halftime betting on a regular basis, you can increase the size of your bets. Some 'cappers are even willing to risk far more on a halftime bet than they would on a wager for the whole game! Try to keep these guidelines in mind as you get more involved with halftime wagering.

Ever since the Arena Football League�s debut in 1987, it has been widely viewed with skepticism by most NFL fans and football bettors in general. The game is played indoors on a field that is 85-feet wide and 50-yards long. Players, who are often too small or too slow to make it into the NFL, are required to play on both sides of the ball. Punting is not allowed.

The creators of the game wanted to create a high-scoring, offensive brand of football that would be attractive to fans that had grown tired of the defensive battles in the NFL. They haven�t had much success in capturing a wide audience, but that may be changing.

The league signed a deal with NBC in 2002 for the network to televise games. The contract, which gave NBC an equity stake in the league, provides the AFL with a real chance to survive and possibly even flourish during the winter-spring months when the NFL is in its off season.

Just as the AFL is increasing in popularity among fans across the country thanks to the NBC deal, it is also seeing an increase in handle at sportsbooks in Las Vegas and overseas. While many books have taken AFL action for years, some have recently experienced a small surge in handle on the sport and sportsbook managers believe that trend will increase in the future.

�We�re not getting a whole lot of action, but probably more than last year,� says Bob Scucci, race and sportsbook manager for the Stardust. �We are putting �totals� on every game, which is something we didn�t do last year. (It�s because of) the fact that they play during a real slow part of the (year), namely in February where you haven�t hit the peak of March Madness yet and it�s after the Super Bowl. There�s a month when people might crave something different. (The AFL) might just fill a void.�

Since arena football is a new phenomenon to many books and managers have higher-volume sports to worry about, bookies that take AFL action rely heavily on odds services like Las Vegas Sports Consultants for opening odds, line movements and injury updates. Ken White, the new owner of LVSC, has been handicapping the AFL for years and is considered an expert on the sport by many in the industry.

White�s oddsmaking strategy for the AFL is similar that of other sports, even though the game itself is much different. In developing power ratings, he assigns numerical values to players for each of the 19 teams in the league. Since most players play offense and defense, the process of developing these numbers is much different than that of the NFL.

�I have to try and find out what their true position was, if they were an offensive or defensive player in college or even in the NFL or NFL Europe,� says White. �I think they will be stronger on that side of the ball. So I will try and find out if (teams) have a mix of those guys. Because if they have all offensive players, they are going to be weak defensively and if they have all defensive players they are going to be weak offensively.�

Size and speed are evaluated differently in the AFL. White says that speed is not as big of a factor in arena football because the field is so much smaller. While offensive linemen in the NFL average around 330 pounds, a player in that position in the AFL would not be considered undersized at 280 pounds. �I would probably give (an offensive lineman) who is 280 pounds a pretty good size rating,� he says.

The AFL was designed as an offensive league, with most combined scores for a game nearing the century mark. According to White, the quarterback position is rated much differently than it would be in the NFL.

�Because (the quarterbacks) pass for so many more yards and so many more touchdowns, I have taken an average of the league and how the league does and I have changed my rating scales to how the AFL would come out in average quarterback (rating), it�s much different than an NFL guy,� adds White. �So the offensive ratings are a lot higher than the defensive ratings, that�s why you get higher totals in the games.�

As it is in the NFL, kicking is also a big factor in the AFL. However, field goals and extra points are done much differently in the arena game. In the AFL, the goal posts are nine-feet wide with a crossbar height of 15 feet (as opposed to NFL goal posts, which are 18 � feet wide with a crossbar height of 10 feet). One point is awarded for a normal post-touchdown conversion and two points are earned for a conversion by drop kick. A field goal counts for three points and a field goal by drop kick tallies four points. �It is good to have an accurate kicker (in the AFL),� says White. �A couple of the better teams have the better kickers.�

Since players play both offense and defense in the AFL, injuries are also a very important factor for oddsmakers and handicappers, maybe even more so than in the NFL. Arena teams have 19-man active rosters and eight players are on the field during play. Besides the kicker and quarterback, each team has one offensive specialist and two defensive specialists. All other players go both ways.

Home field advantage in the AFL counts for five points in the point spread, as opposed to the NFL where it counts for three, according to White. This is both because the games are higher scoring and that the crowds in the AFL are livelier and they are right on top of the action because of the way the fields are configured.

All these differences make the AFL tough to handicap for oddsmakers. White says that LVSC spends almost as much time on their arena numbers that they spend on setting lines for the major sports.

I feel the numbers are (solid), comments White. �We put a lot of work into them. We�ve seen huge differences so far between ourselves and the offshore (sportsbooks) because they put up different lines out there and its kind of a little competition we�ve got now, to see who makes the better number.

The tough part about it is that right now there isnt a lot of action out there besides wise guy action. Theres just not a lot of people going to the book to bet arena football. Somehow we want to change that and get more people involved. Since the games are on NBC now we can get some more people involved by watching and going down to the book to place a wager. We know that it is all sharp money coming in (on the AFL) so we have to be on our toes in this sport and make the best number we can.

Despite Whites assertion that the lines for the AFL are solid, Scucci says that his lines at the Stardust see a lot of movement, which gives bettors a wide range of options in terms of the numbers they can get on a particular game, especially with totals. As a result, the Stardust and most other books offer low limits on arena games.

(Totals) are a lot more volatile, he says. When you are talking about totals that are close to 100, you can be five or six points off and it wont make much of a difference. To see a five or 10 point move on a total wouldnt be out of the question. To see a (side) move from pick to four is not unusual at all. So that is just an indication that that the lines are not solid and there is going to be a great deal of trial and error before we really nail this down.

You can have a lot of exposure (on AFL games), even with low limits. It doesnt take long to lose a lot of money when you are four or five points off from where you should be. There is going to be a learning curve. We went through the same thing with NASCAR 10 years ago when we started booking it. When the bettors know a lot more about the sport than you do, it makes it difficult to put up solid lines.

One reason the AFL may eventually have widespread success in both the sports betting world and the business world is that, unlike the other sports leagues, the AFL has realized that embracing the sports betting industry may help them achieve their long-term goals.

(The AFL) is in favor of advertising point spreads and letting people know about the sport and who's favored,says Scucci.They are not fighting the casino industry to get our lines off the games. They realize that betting on the games can be a positive to the sport. As a result, the league has been very cooperative in giving information about injuries or anything we need to know. It helps when you have the cooperation of the league.

There is no "i" in team however it should be noted that there'sone very large reason the San Diego Chargers and Ladainian Tomlinsonare breaking off so many runs and having such a successful offenseseason. The answer is one if given 5 guesses you probably couldn'tanswer as well. Lorenzo Neal.

Neal, in his 13th season out of Fresno State is a batteringram. While not an threat on offense he works his magic in otherways by springing running backs for larger gainers by absolutelyleveling opposing linebackers. If you don't believe me just watchsome time. Neal always seems to get his helmet on somebody elsesand he is rarely the one to get knocked backwards.

Neal's story is an interesting one. This ageless wonder wasa rookie back in 1993 with the Saints and was actually the featuredback. In his second game of the season he busted his ankle andwas done for the season. Who knows what this guy would have turnedout to be as a tailback as his average through 2 games was 8.3yards per carry.

Oddly enough, the gentle giant claims that the ankle injurywas a blessing in disguise and that it actually moved him to aposition that extended his career. He said there's no way he'dhave lasted this long as a running back. Since his injury, hehasn't missed a game in 12 years.

Speaking of lasting a long time, this guy is a closet workoutfreak which can also be attributed to his lengthy NFL careeer.

As a player, this guy does some great thingsthat simply don't show up in the boxscores, hence the reason forthis article (To alert you to check out teams fullbacks becausethey do indeed have quite a bit to do with a teams run game).Check out some of these feats:

He's blocked for big name RB's such as AdrianMurrell, Warrick Dunn, Mike Alstott, Eddie George and Corey Dillon.All had tremendous year's following Neal through the line. Since1997, all of his backs have rushed for 1000 yards or more! Itwould make one ask why teams let him go? The answer is ugly. Theydon't want to pay big bucks for the FB position. Pretty ridiculousconsidering that his results speak for themselves.

With that being said, Neal has taken the ultimatecompliment and moved on each time getting a better raise in pay.

His stats aren't going to wow anybody:

In 13 years he's averaged less than 1 carry pergame.
He's played for 6 different teams in 13 season.
He leaves a team and the running backs stats get WORSE.
He has 5 career rushing touchdowns.

With that being said, why this guy has only beento the NFL Pro Bowl 1 time in 13 years is beyond us. We can howeverconfidently say that we do believe San Diego realizes the valueof the big battering ram and we don't expect him to be going anywheresoon.

We'll leave you with this.... If your bettingon or against a team that has a strong run game, be sure to checkout the injury status of the teams fullback as well as how good/badthat fullback blocks for his tailback.

Disclaimer: A crappy offensive line makes thisall a moot point.

Until next time, good luck in your action!

For horseplayers to succeed, they must be decision makers. Movers and shakers. Doers. Not only must they solve the unique equation that leads to selecting the right horse(s) in a particular race but they also must choose the right wagering approach in order to maximize their profits.

That wasn't such a difficult thing in days gone by when Win-Place-Show were about the only options available. You just picked the best horse, waited for the right price and went to the window. In the modern era of handicapping, however, you not only have to pick the best horse but you then must consider how to play it--Win only, Win/Place, Exacta key, Daily Double key, Quinella key, Trifecta key, Triple key, Superfecta key, etc., etc., etc. About the only thing nobody considers any more is across-the-board which was a pretty popular play back in the 1960's.

Handicapping has become a "score" oriented game for the high rollers who can afford to put thousands through the wickets on any given day. They shoot for the Pick Six choosing to single their best play(s) of the day and go deep in the other races, particularly when there is a carryover involved. The reasoning being that they can turn a winning 5/1 shot into a six-digit payday in conjunction with some "contention" handicapping in the other events in the sequence. If they succeed three or four times a year, they win big. This is all well-and-good for the well-healed player who can suffer through the inevitable losing streaks without visiting Tap City. Most of us, however, are not in that category. We're just working stiffs who enjoy playing the races and are looking to supplement our income rather than retire. This look at the existing wagering menu is dedicated to us.

WIN BET
Wagering to win on legit contenders going off as overlays is the tried-and-true way to go. You don't have to (in fact, you shouldn't) restrict yourself to your top selection in any race but instead should be willing to back any true contender going off at healthy odds. Not too many bettors end up with a 10/1 shot on top in their handicapping very often but most everyone has second/third/fourth choices that run in and pay $20+ mutuels fairly regularly. Ultimate losers, however, refuse to get off their top choice as an 8/5 underlay in order to back their fourth choice at 17/1 because they prefer the safety of the crowd's thinking over their own. These people can't conceivably win long term which is the basis of 'value' handicapping. How much you bet should be determined by how much you like the horse's chances of winning. If you normally bet $20 on a top-choice overlay, you should probably bet $15 on your second choice and $10 on your 3rd or 4th. If you have more than four contenders in a race, that's an event that should probably be passed.

WIN/PLACE
Place betting is expensive insurance. You can never actually win with a Win/Place bet. If your horse runs 1st, you should have bet all your money to win. If your horse runs 3rd or worse, you lose. If your horse runs 2nd, you may have profited from the race, but you still have a right be unhappy since your horse didn't run 1st. Still, insurance companies do a healthy business in this country because of the safety net that is created for people who fear the worst and want to be prepared for disaster. Those making Win/Place bets consistently should do so only when backing horses at higher than 5/1 odds. Bets of this sort do reduce the risk of long, potentially-mind bending losing streaks and allow the player to keep a positive frame of mind by making more trips to the cashiers. If you're a good player, 'Win/Place' will cost you money over the long haul but the peace of mind may be worth it. That's your call. If you're a bad player, it doesn't really matter since you'll just be postponing the inevitable.

EXACTAS
Everybody still loves the Exacta but they have caused the expiration of many a player as they watched their 10/1 and 15/1 shots get split by the favorite. Essentially, handicapping Exactas requires a different approach to the game. It's necessary to consider horses that don't figure to win instead of just tossing them out. You know, the no-speed plodders, the 0/22's in a maiden race, the low-percentage jocks/trainers, etc. Then, of course, you're also betting on horses to do something their human connections aren't that interested in--finishing 2nd. Most trainers would rather run 3rd (or worse) if they can't win since the horse would figure to come back fresher and more enthusiastic for the next go-round. Nobody wants their stock beat up trying to run 2nd. It doesn't make any sense from the big picture. Exactas are best employed when you truly can't separate contenders on paper or on the toteboard.

EXACTA BOX
An exacta box is simply a quick way to make multiple exacta bets. The horses selected in a box must win and run second in either order. For instance, a $2.00 exacta box = $4.00 bet in which we are taking the two horses to come in 1-2 or 2-1.

QUINELLAS
The Quinella can be a nice replacement for the Win/Place bet. Take your top overlay to win and then play it in the Q with two or three good-priced contenders giving you a chance to win both wagers. In this situation, you actually have a chance to make a nice profit if your key runs 2nd, beaten by one of your pricey contenders. Instead of getting an $8 place price, you may catch a Q for $40 or $50 or more. Another positive Q situation is when you're dealing with a favorite that figures to run well at a mini-price and feel there are a couple of longshots in the race that look as good, or better, than the next few betting choices.

TRIFECTAS
All the reasons that make Exactas tough to play, make the Trifecta even tougher. I'll tell you what, nobody out there WANTS to run 3rd. There's enough craziness in a race to begin with before you try to figure out what horse is going to stumble into the show dough. If it's a favorite, it's not going to pay anything anyway and your money was better spent in the Win or Exacta pools. If it's a whacko horse, you better have the "all" box on the bottom and that gets expensive.

TRIPLE - PICK 3
Rolling Pick Three's are best capitalized on when you can find two out of three races in a sequence with suspect favorites or when you have a strong single that doesn't figures to be an overlay at post time. With a $1 minimum wager in many places, you can use two horses in each event for $8 or three horses for $27 which gives you a chance to make a nice score by beating the favorites. However, remember to also play your key horse(s) to win if the price is right in the first two legs because you don't want to blow a nice mutuel should things fall apart later on.

With small fields so prevalent locally these days, you can single your short-priced key horse with multiple horses in the other two legs (especially if the favorites are vulnerable) looking to turn an 8/5-shot into a 10/1+ payday. For example, instead of betting $40 to win at puny win odds, take two contenders from one heat and three from another and bet a $7 ticket ($42). If the key wins and you don't hit the Triple, you don't feel as stupid missing a $5.20 mutuel as you would a $22.20 screamer.

DAILY DOUBLE
Once very popular, the Daily Double(s) is pretty much forgotten these days. The "late" Double is more interesting than the early one since you may have a short-priced standout in one of those races and it's gives you an investment option that is better than backing it to win. Hollypark's rolling Doubles also provide a chance to employ that strategy when the other legs of the Pick Three feature a solid favorite or a race that borders on the impossible.

IN SUMMARY - JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!
Now while some of you have been betting the horses for a while and have a strategy that works for you, some of you are relatively new to it. To those who are new and are looking for a simple winning strategy, I'll share my thoughts on a very simple one that you can employ.

While some small money can be made by betting horses to win, place and show, I think the most can be made instead by going with exactas and/or trifectas. That's where the real big payouts lie. Unless you have a big bankroll and can "afford" big swings and dry periods, lay off the trifectas. When they hit they are huge but they can get expensive and there can be very long dry spells between hits (it's REALLY hard to pick the top three in order). Wait on the trifectas until you are more experienced and have a big bankroll.

For now, focus on exactas. Take 3 or 4 horses for a race and box them in all combinations. For 3 horses, that would equate to 6 exacta bets (1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2). At, say $5 per bet, that's $30 on a race. Now let's say an exacta hits that pays $60 for a $2 bet. Since we bet $5, we've won $150 ($60 x 2.5). We invested $30 so we've netted $120 in winnings. That's a return on investment of 4-to-1 ($120/30). Hope this helps.

1. Establish your bankroll. This should be "investment" capital and not money that is needed to sustain your daily lifestyle. Don't under-capitalize yourself but, on the other hand, don't go crazy either. Your bankroll should be an amount your comfortable with. Determine the percentage of your bankroll you are willing to invest on any particular race. Two percent is a reasonable amount. This is the cornerstone to any successful horse racing system.

2. Assess the favorite. In your initial overview of a race, attempt to determine whether the favorite is "solid", "vulnerable" or "false". Don't waste time on races where the favorite looks tough and concentrate on those events where the chalk can be erased. Try to limit yourself to six-to-eight truly-playable races on a typical day if investigating both the northern and southern circuits. Three-to-five is a good number if concentrating on one track but this number can go up or down based on the opportunities available.

3. Pick your contenters. Employing whatever handicapping methods you prefer, establish the order of preference for your contenders. Make a "value" line to help in your ultimate on-track decisions.

4. Use your imagination. Attempt to visualize how a race will be run and don't be afraid to go against the flow. If you can't get a clear picture of what's going to happen beforehand, you probably don't have a good idea on which horses to bet on.

5. Plan your day. Eliminate the un-playable races and sketch out a battle plan on paper with potential win bets, singles, exotic wagers, etc. In other words, have an idea of what you are going to do before you go to the track. Let your horse racing system guide you.

6. Don't waffle. Once you're in the thick of the action, stick to your guns. Let the toteboard determine your final moves and not the guy at the bar who heard from his trainer that such-and-such a trainer really likes his horse in the 5th. It's your money and you should make it or lose it on the basis of your own opinions.

7. Apply disciplines money management. Don't press when you lose or increase your wagers when you win. Protect your bankroll and don't be overly aggressive. Remember that there will be plenty more opportunities the next day and the day after and the day after that. Winning or losing on one individual day really doesn't mean a thing. Only the long term matters.

8. Adjust when it makes sense. Be willing to change your thinking if evidence warrants. Perhaps a strong bias has appeared. Maybe your top selection is grossly overbet. Be prepared to move on to your second or third choices if that's where the 'value' happens to be. If your top choice is simply 'overbet' in the win pool and you have no strong secondary options, look for ways to exploit the short-priced horse in the exotics.

9. Have fun. Keep your composure and keep your sense of humor. Both are weapons that can help you overcome adversity and succeed at a game that is difficult, but not impossible, to beat. This is the most important component of any horse racing system!

Should you play the NFL money line? How profitable can it be? How is the money-line used in baseball? Some answers below..

While seasoned gamblers understand the money-line, many sports bettors do not understand this betting option and the huge potential benefits associated with using it. This article will describe the money-line and how it can be used to risk a little and win a lot in the NFL.

What is the Money-Line?

Playing the money-line is equivalent to picking a team (favorite or underdog) to win the game straight-up. For this bet, there is no spread. If the team you pick wins the game outright, you win your bet. If the team loses, you lose the bet. And there is no juice or vig (although the odds you get have casino profit built in).

I know what you're thinking - just pick the favorite each time and laugh all the way to the bank! Well, it's not that simple. If this bet paid even money, you would simply pick the favorites each week, win more than 50% of your bets, and retire young. That's why, of course, this bet doesn't pay even money. If you select a favorite to win straight up, you need to put down more than you can win. If you select an underdog, you need to put down less money than you can win. Let's look at a couple of examples:

Example 1: Miami Dolphins -3 over Minnesota Vikings

For this game, the sports book has set the Money Line at -180 for Miami and +150 for Minnesota . That means that if you want to bet Miami to win straight up, you would need to lay $180 to win $100. If you want to take Minnesota to win straight-up, you would lay $100 to win $150.

Example 2: Buffalo Bills +6.5 over Green Bay Packers

For the second game, the bookmaker has set the money at -300 for the Pack and +230 for Buffalo . The larger numbers reflect the larger spread. If you can pick a 6.5 point underdog to win straight-up, you would win $230 for a mere $100 bet.

Moneyline Underdogs: Risking a Little to Win a Lot

What you may have noticed is that if you can successfully pick underdogs to win straight-up, you can win a lot of money without risking nearly as much. I like this fact about the money line. And, if you combine money-line picks into parlays, you can really hit the jackpot with a small investment. For example, if we parlayed Minnesota and Buffalo with the money-line in the above example, a $100 bet would yield $725 in winnings. Throw in a third team (say, the Giants at +4.5) and a $100 bet would win $2,169.

Obviously, it is harder to pick underdogs to win straight-up, right? Yes, but maybe not as hard as you initially think. The spread only comes into play about 84% of the time in the NFL. In other words, the team that wins the game doesn't cover the spread only 16% of the time.
Also, since you win more than you bet when picking dogs with the money line, you have to win a much smaller percentage of your games to break even. The particular percentage depends on the spread in the games you pick (the higher the spreads, the fewer games you need to win since the money line pays more for higher spread dogs).

For example, let's imagine over the course of the season you were to pick 100 three-point underdogs to win straight-up at a money line of +150. In this scenario, you would only need to win 40% of those games to break even. On the 60 losses, you would of course lose 60 units (there is no juice on money line bets). On the 40 winners you would win 60 units (1.5 x 40).

If you were to pick one hundred 6.5-point underdogs to win straight-up at a money line of +230, you would only need to win about 31% of your bets to break-even.

So, there is an opportunity to do well with the money-line if you can select enough dogs that win straight-up.

What it All Means

This season, consider using the money-line to your advantage. If you like an underdog and think they have a shot at winning the game outright, you might be better off putting that $100 on money-line for your team. If they win straight-up, you'll rake in a lot more profits than if you had just bet them to cover the spread. If you aren't sure, split your bets and put $50 on the dog to win straight-up and $50 to cover the spread. If the team covers the spread but doesn't win the game, you break-even. If they win the game, you win both bets!

The Money Line in Baseball
Kansas City +135 vs. Detroit
NY Yankees -250 vs. Colorado

What do these numbers mean? They represent the "money-line" and they are used as a way to take into account that some teams are better than others. If both teams in a contest were exactly evenly matched, then you could simply bet $100 on either team, and if they won, you'd get paid $100. If they lost, you'd lose your $100.

But, as you know, in each contest there is usually a "favorite" (think Yankees) and an "underdog." If it were always a $100 for $100 proposition, you'd simply bet the favorite all of the time and rake in the cash. So, to account for this, the lines-makers set a moneyline. It usually ranges from between +300 to -300. Let's take an example:

New York Yankess (-250) vs. Colorado Rockies

In this case, NY is a favorite and Colorado is an underdog. If you want to bet with the Yankees, you need to bet (risk) $250 to win $100. So, if you bet $250 on the Yankess to win the game, you'd win $100 if they actually won and you'd lose your $250 if they lost.

On the other hand, if you liked the Rockies to win, you'd bet $100 to win $250. If you lost, you'd lose your $100 but if you won, you'd win $250 for your $100 bet.

Because of these numbers, many bettors don't like to bet big favorites and prefer to stay with low-priced favorites or underdogs.

Win and Place Bets

Bet the top selection to win if the odds are 7-5 or higher. If a top selection goes off at 7-2 or higher, it is suggested you make a win and place bet.
Exactas

Most of the time we make three selections in each race given out. It is suggested that you should box the three horses. A $1.00 exacta box of the three selections costs $6.00. Of course you can wager more on the exacta box - bet your bankroll.

The next move is to take the top selection and "key" this horse with the other two selections and reverse the second and third selections with the top horse for less money.

An example is as follows. Say you want to bet $26.00 into the race. Let's also assume our selections are horses #1, #2, #3 and we like #1 the most, then #2 and #3.

The first wager is a $2.00 exacta box of the three horses which costs $12.00. The bets are:

1-2 for $2
2-1 for $2
1-3 for $2
3-1 for $2
2-3 for $2
3-2 for $2

Then take the top selection with the other two for $4.00 each (equal). This would look like this:

1-2 for $4
1-3 for $4

The last wager is to take the second and third selections and place them over the top pick for $3.00 exactas each, like this:

2-1 for $3
3-1 for $3

So in the end, we have ten bets equaling $26.00, the same amount as we were planning to bet on the race. Obviously you can bet less or more, but use these guidelines the best you can to wager as suggested.

Best Bets

We give out one best bet each day. This is the horse we feel is the strongest play of the races given that day. This race should be the one on which you wager the most. The same format exists as the wagering strategies suggested above.
Summary

To be a winner in this game, it is important that you learn how to bet. There is no doubt that in the short run, it may seem a bit difficult. But, it will get easier over time, especially if you follow our guidelines. Remember to wager within your comfort level. The cardinal rule to follow is to wager more when you are winning and cutting your bets down when you are losing.

You are betting too much on each game! How can I say that without even knowing you? Because I've been doing this for a long time and have spent a lot of time understanding money management. 99% of sports bettors are betting too much. Think not? Think again.

Would you "bet" 25% of your entire retirement account on a single stock that had a 40% chance of going to $0 tomorrow? Of course not. Then why are so many sports bettors willing to risk 20%+ of their bankroll on a single game? It's easy to risk too much without knowing it. Please read on to see why...

A Simple Proposition - Would you take it?
If I offered you a 10% advantage in a game of chance (55% for you vs. 45%) for 500 bets, would you take that bet? Of course you would. Over the long haul (500 bets), the law of large numbers dictates that you would end up very close to 55% winners (275 winners vs. 225 losers). If we were betting $100 per bet, you'd be up about $5,000 in the end. Easy money.

Now let's say that I had one constraint. I told you you could start with no more than $500 (your bankroll) and if you ran out of money, you couldn't re-load. In essence, I was forcing you to bet 20% of your bankroll on each bet. Would you still take it? Think you could still take me for $5,000?

You had better not! You are virtually guaranteed to go bankrupt in this situation. Over the long haul, you will come close to 55% winners - it's a mathematical certainty. But, over the short term, you are guaranteed nothing. Strange streaks will happen. They always do. Over 500 bets, you could easily go 5 or 10 bets in a row (or even more) without winning. You could go 2-18 during a 500 bet session. If I forced you to bet 20% of your bankroll, you'd be crazy to do it because I would take your money like taking candy from a baby.

Yet, in sports betting, most bettors routinely do the equivalent of taking this bet! Almost every sports bettor bets too much per game relative to the size of their bankroll. They don't think twice about laying half of their entire remaining bankroll on one week's NFL games. The conclusion is this...

Why The House Wins
Based on my nearly two decades of sports betting experience, I view this as the most valuable "secret" there is:

THE HOUSE WINS BECAUSE YOU BET TOO MUCH PER GAME.

You run out of money before you have a chance to let the laws of large numbers work for you. They are banking on your lack of discipline. That's the main reason (not bad picking) that most sports bettors lose and why The House laughs to the bank.

Check out this story as an illustration...


A Tale of Two Sports Bettors

Risky John and Conservative Bob each started the season with $1000 - their bankroll. They both decided to play the same games throughout the season but they couldn't agree on how much to place on each game. John was more of a risk taker than Bob so John decided to bet about $200 per game (20% of his bankroll). Bob was more conservative and decided to risk about $50 per game (5% of his bankroll). Risky John figured that if he bet more, he could win more. And he was right. In week one, their picks went 4-2. John was up $360 while Conservative Bob only won $90. John was very pleased with himself.

Week 2 produced the exact same result. Risky John now had a $1720 bankroll while Conservative Bob was up to just $1180. John was very happy. He encouraged Bob to bet more but Bob wasn't so sure about that strategy. What if their luck started to turn? Risky John preferred to think positively. Besides, they were 8-4 and they knew what they were doing! The first two weeks had proved that.

But then came weeks 3 and 4 in which they went 2-4, 1-3. A bad run for sure, but not uncommon during a 16-week season. In fact, losing streaks are inevitable and guaranteed during a season. Conservative Bob lost $235 while Risky John gave back $940. John now had a lower bankroll than Bob! John was now down to $780. Risky John felt the losing couldn't possibly continue so he stuck with his bet size of $200 per game. The next two weeks they went 2-2 and 1-3.

Guess what? Risky John was now virtually wiped out - down to $280. Bob, meanwhile lost $360 on the terrible four week run but still had $820 left over. One of them was virtually out of money, the other had over 80% of his original bankroll left.

What happened next? Well, John quit. And, the unfortunate four-week run was followed by a great 3-week run where Conservative Bob went 10-3 and another 8 weeks of hitting a very respectable 56% on average. Bob ended up the season at over $1300 - an increase of 30% on his initial bankroll.

The morale of this story is obvious but very few sports bettors practice it. Don't overextend yourself:

Don't bet too much for your bankroll!

It is very tempting to put down a lot on each game, especially when you are winning. It is relatively boring to put down a little. But, you need to work within your bankroll, whatever that is. There will be bad streaks and good streaks in sports betting. It is inevitable if you do it for any extended period of time. Do yourself the favor of allowing yourself to "stay in the game." Don't miss out on that late-season run of luck because you are out of the game too early.

If your bankroll (amount you have set aside to bet with) is $10,000 and your average bet is more than $300, you are betting too much. If you have $1,000 to bet with and your average bet size is $30, you are betting too much. If your bankroll is $500 and you bet more than $15 per game, you are betting too much.

The silver lining in all of this is that YOU CONTROL THE SINGLE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT TO LOSING. Let me say that again - regardless of how you pick games or whether someone helps you, you have the ability to erase the single biggest reason you may lose. All you need to do is practice safe money management.

So, how much you should you lay per game?
It depends, of course, on your bankroll (how much you are willing and able to lose over the course of the season). But there is a simple rule that applies regardless of whether you are a ten-dollar per game bettor or a one-thousand-dollar per game bettor: Bet around 2-3% of your bankroll and don't ever bet more than 5% of your bankroll on any given game on which you have even or close to even odds. On rare occassions where you are sure your chance of winning the game is extremely high (i.e. moneyline favoritees), a higher % of bankroll is sometimes warranted. But, for most bets in which you have even odds, 5% is your upper max. There are no locks. Let me repeat that - there is no such thing as a sure thing. Any bet can lose. Losing streaks can and do happen. Even in a season where you hit 60% overall, you'll have weeks where you hit 40%. It's an absolute certainty.

Can you make money with this strategy? Absolutely. In fact, its required to make money. Without this strategy, you will consistently lose regardless of how well you pick games. If you hit 54-58% (what you should expect), you will lose a lot of money (and maybe even deplete your entire bakroll) if you are betting more than 5% of your bankroll per game!

If you are winning and on a great roll, your bets can increase and you can win even more. How? You can simply use a percentage of your remaining bankroll. As your bankroll increases, your bet size increases. As your bankroll decreases, your bets decrease. A nice side benefit of this is that, by definition, you can never get wiped out. It is mathematically impossible to lose your entire bankroll if you are always betting a small percentage of it.

The bottom line: Remember, bet 2% - 5% of your bankroll on any given game (more often on the low end of that range). A good rule of thumb is about 3% per game. If you aren't as sure on a game, drop it to 1% or 2% and if you feel very good about a game, take it up to 4%. For those rare games that you absolutely love, go with 5% but never more.

I rate my picks as 1 to 5 units and I recommend you risk 1% of your bankroll per unit. So, you are always risking between 1% and 5% of your bankroll and now more. Most picks are 2-3 units.

This article addresses the Return on Investment (ROI) a player can expect at various winning percentages. Ever wonder how to calculate your return on investment? What can you realistically expect at various winning percentages? Read on...

The “investment” we are speaking of is the money laid to win a bet (for example $110 to win $100) and, if applicable, the cost of a sports service. The “return” is the net winnings or losses based on that investment. We can look at historical average returns for common stocks as a reasonable benchmark. Over the past 75 years stocks have returned around 10% per year.

Now what about sports betting? ROI is calculated simply by taking the net winnings or losses and dividing by the amount risked (invested). So, if you put up $110 to win $100 and win the bet, your ROI on that single bet is 90.9% ($100 / $110). So, if you have 100% win rate, your ROI is 90.9% - not too shabby!

But, as we know, a more realistic expected win rate over the course of a season is probably in the 50%-60% range. With a 10% vigorish, you need to hit 52.38% to break exactly even – an ROI of 0%. Here’s the ROI at various win rates assuming a 110 risk to win 100:

50%: -4.55%
52%: -0.73%
54%: 3.09%
56%: 6.91%
58%: 10.73%
60%: 14.55%
62%: 18.36%
64%: 22.18%
66%: 26.00%
68%: 29.82%
70%: 33.64%

Now, let's quickly talk about timeframe here. When we refer to the stock market returning 10%, that means 10% per year - or 5% for six months. Since most sporting event seasons are about six months, our benchmark, to do as well as the stockmarket, is really just a 5% return. So if we use stocks as a benchmark, you need to hit around 55% to match the benchmark return for stocks. A 57.6% winning percentage nets you exactly a 10% return - or double what you could expect from the stock market. Not bad!

You probably detected a pattern there as well. Basically, for every 1% increase in win percentage, you can expect a 1.9% increase in ROI.

Now, as one of my subscribers (A. Gordon) astutely pointed out last week, most analyses of ROI don’t ever calculate in the cost of a service. The above analysis assumes you invest $110 to win $100. What if you pay for a service as a way to increase your winning percentage? You need to add the cost of the service into the “investment” portion of the ROI calculation. Here’s an example:

Let’s assume you play $100 games and invest $750 for a season subscription to a sports service. Let’s also assume you play about five games/week (120 games over the course of a season). Your investment per game has now increased $6.25 per game ($500/120 games). So you are now investing $116.25 to win $100 on each game. To break even now, you need a 53.76% winning percentage (versus 52.38% without a service) and a 59.1% rate to earn a 10% return (versus 57.6%).

These calculations vary depending on the amount bet, number of games, and amount of the service. But as you can see, at these levels, if you believe a sports service can increase your winning percentage 2-3%, it makes financial sense to invest in the service. For example, if you paid $750 for a sports service that helped you go from 56% to 59%, the $750 investment in the service would result in additional winnings of $450. If the service helped you go from 56% to 62%, the $500 investment would result in $1,225 additional winnings. And, if a sports service could help you turn a losing season (50%) into a winning one (60%), the sports service investment would net you $1620 in winnings versus a $600 loss on your own ($2,220 difference). The less the sports service costs relative to the amount you bet, the better these numbers become and vice versa.

Step 1 - Do you need professional help?
Not everyone should hire a football handicapping service. Some people are adept at handicapping their own football games. If you have the time (and skill) to dig in on your own to analyze games and situations, and you do well on your own (55%+), then it may not makes sense for you to spend the money to purchase football picks from someone else.

Others don't have that kind of time or energy to invest (pro services spend 50 hours + per week analyzing games). But, a service may still not make sense. If you are betting small amounts, then it may not make financial sense to hire a handicapping service. You need to consider the ROI you expect to get and factor in the cost of a service. Generally, if you are betting $20 per game or less, it may not make sense to purchase picks unless you are losing a lot on your own. Remember you have to cover the cost of the service through your winnnings.

But, if you are losing on your own, due to lack of time to invest in handicapping or just lack of skill, a football handicapping service can help you lose less or actually start winning. The best services can even help winners win more.

Step 2 - How to compare football handicapping services
Let's say you have decided you want professional help. How do you compare services? How do you choose which service on which to spend you hard earned money? Here's a checklist to consider:

1. How long have they been around? Generally, you want to look for a service that has been around for at least a few years. Sure, there are probably some decent ones that have just started. But, why risk it? If a service has been around for 5+ years, they have proven that what they sell is good enough to sustain a business. They are doing something right.
2. Do they have a good reputation? Do some research. Talk to other bettors. Read information or ask questions on the Internet at a sports handicapping forum. There are some real scammers out there that need to be avoided. While these guys are slowly going the way of the dinosaur as information becomes more widely available, there are still some servies out there that lie about their records or that give out both sides of a pick. Make sure the service you are considering is not one of the scammers. If a service is promising 20,000 star locks of the cedntury, you can bet they are not for real. There are no locks. Trust your gut. Trust services that make information on records transparent.
3. Are they high-pressure? Will they harass you? Related to their reputation is their business style. Some of these services desparately try to get your phone number and then they call you and harass you constantly. They sell your information to others who call and harass you. If they MUST have your phone number, be very wary. Also consider whether you really want one of these "in-your-face" high-pressure guys who is going to promise the world. Really, their performance should sell them, not a high-pressure sales guy. Be wary of high-pressure services.
4. What's their handicapping philosophy? Do they bet on underdogs or favorites? Does their style of handicapping match yours. It's hard for you to follow advice that goes against your grain. So, get a feel for how they pick football games and then see how it aligns with yours. Read articles on their website. View their free picks. Then decide.
5. Do they post their records or hide them? Most services won't answer a very basic question: How have you done? Very few sites post their records for everyone to see. Very few post all their picks for all to read. If they won't tell you how they've done, and don't post their records, be very wary. (note: Wunderdog Sports posts all previous picks and records on this site for all to see - the good, bad and ugly).
6. Do they provide reasoning and analysis with each pick? If a service can't take the time to provide a detailed and well-reasoned written analysis with each selection, is that service really worth your money?
7. Do they offer any types of guarantees? While no one can win all the time (if someone says they can, run away!), reputable services back up their picks with some sort of guarantee. They stand behind what they sell because they believe in themselves.
8. How much does it cost? Service costs can vary quite a bit. While the most expensive are probably over-charging you, be equally wary of very cheap services. Remember the old axiom - you get what you pay for. In the end, you want value which means that you get something that is worth what you pay. If a service wins for you, or helps you lose a lot less than you would on your own, it is likely worth the price you paid.
9. Can I try before I buy? Try out the service's free picks. While most services reserve their best/top picks for paying customers (makes sense), getting free picks will give you an idea of how they think, how their writeups and analyses are, and how much they win.
10. How is their customer support? Do they have a toll-free number? Do they respond to emails quickly? While you may never need to use it, you should be wary of a service that has poor customer service - it's a reflection on the quality of the business and if they can't take care of their customers, why should you trust them to offer good picks?

Step 3 - Have realistic expectations
Services do not have godlike power. They cannot buck the realities of sports betting - it's hard to win. They cannot win at rates of 70% or 80%. What they can do, however, is put in a lot of time and energy and expertise to help you win at realistic rates (55%-60%). At those rates, you can do very, very well. Impatient gamblers lose. Gamblers with poor money management lose. Set realistic expectations and manage your money well and you will be setting yourself up for success.

Don't like to lose? Get really upset when you lose? You might not be cut-out for sports betting unless you can change your attitude. As you will see below, losing days, weeks, or even months are inevitable. They are built into the fabric of life thanks to the laws of statistics. The key to being a winning sports bettor is to understand and embrace the realities instead of fighting them.

Bursts and streaks are inevitable - in life and in sports betting

Don't believe it? Think you can somehow find a way to win consistently without suffering losing streaks? Think again!

Consider the stock market. According to Money Magazine (April 2008), had you invested in an S&P 500 index fund in August 1997 and sat tight for 10 years, you’d have racked up an 88% return. Had you missed just the 20 best days in the market over that period, you would have had a 20% loss!

Think about what that means. Out of 3,650 days, 20 were big winners and the rest, in aggregate, was losers! Stock returns come in bursts. The same is true in sports betting (especially when picking underdogs in moneyline sports like baseball and hockey).

Streaks happen. Winning streaks happen. And, as much as we like to deny their existence, losing streaks happen. Even in a season where you hit an unbelievable 60% winners (as good as it ever gets), there will be losing days, losing weeks and maybe even a losing month.

Consistent day-after-day winning just does not happen. Read that over again if you must. The point is, you need to expect losing streaks. And, you can't get too bent out of shape when they happen. If you expect them, you won't get too upset. Getting upset only makes things worse as that emotion forces you to do the wrong thing (chase or stop). You need to stay the course, again, shooting for 55%-60% winners over the long haul.

If a losing day or a losing week gets you too upset, you are probably betting too much. You need to be able to take those short-term hits so you can be around for the long term spoils. Bet a small enough percentage of your bankroll that you can survive the short-term losing streaks.

Begin to manage your sports wagering like a business that doesn't need a good day, or a good week, or even a good month, but rather needs to show a profit at year's end. If you can cap out 55%+ this is the only way it can be done!



What's the difference between winning and losing? Not much.

To further demonstrate how hard it is to "win" consistently, check out these probabilities, presented so you can get a feel of what winning feels like. The best way to describe what winning feels like? It feels like losing!

Yes, you read that right - it feels like losing, and that is why most gamblers crumble to the psyche that initializes their demise!

Let us explain. Let's say your having success gambling. You are a long-term 55% handicapper, yet somehow it doesn't feel like it is supposed to feel.

Here is your answer:

Let's say you average between 3-5 plays a day, let's say on average 4 plays per day. If you are a 55% gambler making 4 plays per day this is your statistical expectation:

WINS

LOSSES

PROBABILITY
4

0

9.15%
3

1

29.95%
2

2

36.75%
1

3

20.05%
0

4

4.10%

So, what does this tell us? It tells us that the chance you'll have a winning day, after the juice/vig is considered is less than 50/50! To have a winning day in this scenario, you need to win 3 or 4 out of 4. The chance of that is happening 39.1% (29.95% + 9.15%). So, over 60% of the time you - a winning gambler - will be losing money!

Now you can see where the problem lies. A gambler goes 2-2 on his well capped plays, but after a 2-2, or 1-3, or the rare 0-4 decides he needs to make money for the day, and plays an ill-advised game. Or, he bets too much to try to catch up. Unconsciously he has just reduced his chances of being a 55% capper, even though he is!

It goes beyond basic money management. It takes a substantial amount of bankroll discipline to accept losing 60.9% of the time, in order to win. WHY? Because it feels like losing! Until this is understood, the sports bettor, even the one that can hit a good winning percentage,will show a loss at years end.


In the end, remember:

* Even at 60% winners you lose 52.48% of all days you bet!
* As counterintuitive as it may sound, winning feels like losing
* Don't fight the losing days or weeks. There will be many of them. Take a deep breath and ride it out until the winning streak comes along.

The Wall Street Journal estimates that 100 million Americans wager close to $100 billion on sporting events each year. What are you missing out on?

The first ever sports bet probably happened a long time ago. It probably started between two cavemen. We’ll call them Grok and Akk. You see Grok once told Akk that he could run faster than a charging Saber Tooth Tiger. Akk scoffed at this notion but Grok was adamant. Akk relented with the prospect of Grok’s new spearhead if he wasn’t fast enough. The two agreed.

Akk won the makeshift wager and Grok, well, he became a belch.

As competition and man evolved we have continued to bet. It is one of the few intangibles that have carried over from those Grok-Akk days. We humans still have that innate desire for competition and risk. Sports wagering is yet another outlet for that intrinsic need.

We all love sports but not all of us can compete at a high level. So we do it everyday in business. We invest in stocks and we compete for partnerships, raises and promotions. We participate in office pools.

It all adds up to taking risks. How much are you willing to give in order to gain is as individual as it gets.

So we can’t run with Dwyane Wade, hit like Zach Thomas or throw like Roger Clemens so we find other ways to remain an active part of the sports we love and love to watch.

Today, the stakes aren’t as high as the day Grok became Meow Mix, but that action has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry. Today, we wager with dollars and cents and when we win, we still get that tremendous rush and when we take a beating, we feel like something the cat caught.

This article is designed to guide the beginning bettor through all the betting basics and terminology they will need to place that first bet, start wining and get back in the big game. It's not a comprehensive guide to all online gambling but will give you the basics to get started in sports betting.

Wining in sports betting is like the icing on the cake and we’ll help get you ready for that first big slice.

THE FIRST STEP - FIND A PLACE TO WAGER
To get started you will want to decide on a sport to bet on and a sports book to make your wager.

Selecting a wager outlet used to be a very secretive mission and your betting options were limited to what an individual “bookie,” or “book maker,” was capable of covering. These limited choices resulted in odds stacked against the bettor and a lingering apprehension when it came time for payouts.

As sports betting became a larger and more accepted practice, sportsbooks rose above their disreputable “bookie,” counterparts to enter the digital age. Online sportsbooks now have the security of being a large company ensuring the best benefits for many bettors.

Sportsbooks will take your bets in exchange for a commission - usually 10% of the wager. This is also known as the “juice,” or “vig,” or “vigorish.” In theory, the sportsbooks don't care who you bet on - they simply take half of their bets on each "side" and make their 10% commission.

You have the opportunity to place bets on just about any sport you would like. From boxing to basketball, baseball to football for both college and professional games or events, these online giants can cover them all.

Of course, make sure you follow the local laws where you reside as it relates to placing wagers.



ESTABLISH A BANKROLL AND BET SIZE
Many novice sports bettors don't even think about money management. They simply pick an arbitrary bet size and fire away. This strategy (or lack thereof) is very risky. It's always better to think about your bankroll and pick the right bet size based on your bankroll. Please read our article about bankroll management.



DEVELOP REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS
Expecting to win every bet? Of course not. But how much are you expecting to win? You might be surprised to know that the best profressionals in the business rarely achieve 60%. Most hit 55%-59% on a long term basis. But don't be discouraged. Hitting anything above 52.38% is profitable and 55%-59% is very profitable. Please review our articles on Return on Investment (ROI) expectations and how to manage your own expectations. The key is to recognize that you shouldn't come in and expect to break the bank right away. Successful sports bettors win by applying a disciplined approach over a long period of time. If you are looking to double your money in one weekend, you are setting yourself up for dissapointment.



MAKING THE WAGER
So now you are armed with the knowledge of the sportsbook, bankroll management and expectations, you are ready to place your first wager!

For this example we will use two teams from the NFL and take you through how to bet the two most common types of wagers – ATS or “Against the Spread,” and betting the OVER/UNDER.

Let’s say the San Diego Chargers are playing the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. You like the Chargers because they are having a great season, prolific offense, strong defense and they are racking up wins. Since the San Diego offense has been clicking, you also think that a lot of points will be scored during this game.

The next step is to go to a sportsbook and look up NFL and then find this particular game. Here's what you might see:
TEAM SPREAD TOTAL
San Diego
-3 (-110)

44 (-110)
New England
+3 (-110)

44 (-110)

The line shows that San Diego is -3, with a total of 44-points. The reason why there is a line is because one team is going to be favored over another to win the game. This way the oddsmakers can level the playing field, making the bet attractive to both sides. In this case San Diego is the favorite and New England is the underdog.

This means that if you are placing your bet on San Diego, the Chargers will have to beat the Patriots by at least three points for you to win your bet. If they lose the game or win by less than three, you lose your bet.

Additionally, the second number shows 44, which is the OVER/UNDER score. By betting the OVER, you are putting money on the possibility that the sum of both team’s score will be greater than 44-points at the end of the game.

Next to the line for each type of bet (ATS, OVER/UNDER), you will see the odds. The odds simply mean the chances of the team wining the bet and how much money you will win in relation to how much you bet.

The (-110) indicates that the sportsbook is charging a 10% "juice" on these bets. That means that you will have to risk $11 for every $10 you wish to win. Again, this is the sportsbook's profit.

Now you would like to place your bet in the hopes of winning $100 from each wager. You would bet your $110 ATS on the Chargers to win and cover (win by three or more points), and $110 for a total score of 44-points for a total wager of $220.

On Monday night, the Chargers roll to a 31-20 victory and you have won both of your bets!

The Chargers 11-point margin of victory was more than enough to cover the spread of three points needed to get the win for a cool 100 bucks. A total score of 51-points at the end of the game also means you have won your OVER/UNDER bet for another $100 stack. Not bad for your first bet.



SPORTS BETTING GLOSSARY

Betting Straight Up - Winning straight-up means simply winning on the scoreboard without any regard to the point spread. Betting straight-up would be to take a side or a team and bet on them to win outright.

ATS or “Against the Spread,” – Betting with a point spread or line instead of on the straight-up result. Taking points on an underdog or giving points on a favorite.

Side – Like betting straight-up, a side bet is a wager on a particular team, or side to win a contest.

Betting the totals/over/under - The line on a given contest, representing the combined number of points/goals scored by the two teams; see over/under. Betting the over/under is a bet on whether the combined total of the points or goals scored by the two teams will exceed or be less than a specified number.

Half time total – Betting on a team or total in the first half of the game only.

Parlays - A parlay bet is a bet with two or more teams where all the teams must win for the bettor to be successful. Parlays are viewed by sharp gamblers as a sucker bet because the house edge (juice) is large.

Teaser - A bet on two or more teams where the line on each team is adjusted in the favor of the bettor. All bets must win in order to win a teaser.

Betting the “Money Line,” - The amount you must bet to win $100 (if betting a favorite), or the amount you win if you bet $100 (if betting an underdog). This is a bet based on the straight-up result of the game without a spread.

Betting the “Puckline,” - Used only in hockey. A “spread” usually set at exactly 1.5 goals. Favorites lay -1.5 goals while underdogs “get” +1.5 goals.

Now that we have covered the betting basics, we can breakdown some of the “exotics,” or “promotional,” bets.

Promos/exotics - Any wager other than a straight bet or parlay - also called a prop or proposition.

Betting “futures,” - Wagers made, or lines/odds posted on an event or outcome taking place some time in the future, like betting during the season on the eventual Super Bowl winner.

So the practice of betting on sports has come a long way from those cold days in the cave. Betting systems have advanced and online sports books have made betting and pay outs easier and handicappers can help you make the winning selections.



PICK ME A WINNER
The ability to pick winners has been a much sought after skill since Akk’s cave-mate Erk deduced that the four legs of the Saber Tooth tiger were twice as many as Grok’s two legs. This observation gave Akk the inside knowledge and statistical analysis to make an educated decision when agreeing to the bet. Erk shared this information with Akk and Akk got the win. Akk gave Erk a shiny new rabbit skin for his help and the handicapping industry was born.

Handicapping is the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events by compiling research and analysis to determine a winner.

Nowadays, there is much more information to pour over and many factors such as the team’s or individual’s history, trends and the proper way to use the point spread and odds can make the difference between selecting a winner or loser.

Today, handicappers develop and employ their own system to determine who has the best chance of winning. Handicappers sell their observations and advice to bettors that would like to increase their chances of winning.

There are a few things to understand when deciding whether or not to use a handicapper. The first is to understand that the average bettor is not going to have the time or the access to complete the necessary research to make winning picks – keeping up with all the numbers is a full time job!

Handicappers complete all the research and sell their selections to the general betting public.

The next thing to consider is the cost associated with employing the services of a handicapper. But consider that a handicapper may charge $200 a month to provide bettors with picks, but if these picks win or “hit,” and the bettor can make $600 per month on those winning selections, the handicapper’s fee is well worth it, especially compared to losing on your own.

There are a few things to look for when selecting a handicapper. The first is that the handicapper you select should be honest and up front with their history as a handicapping professional. All of their past picks, performance record of wins and losses and how they determine their picks should be out in the open.

Also be wary of any handicapper that use the terms “lock,” or “sure thing,” because any seasoned gambler will tell you - there is no such thing. Additionally, stay away from the high pressure sales pitch. You should feel comfortable about whom you have managing your money, and that in essence, is what a handicapper will do for you. After all, you are placing these bets on the basis of their picks so remember: they work for you and not the other way around.

Well there you have it - a simple yet comprehensive guide to help you make your first bet. We have also compiled a glossary of betting terms you can refer to for additional information.