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Football is King,
but Basketball Can Be Your Ace in the Hole
When I first started in this business, it was clear that football
season was the "bread and butter" of the sports betting industry.
Everybody bet football. There was office pools, school pools, parlay
cards, and serious players. Back in the day, everyone "knew
somebody" who get a bet down. If you got 100 sports bettors in a
room, 20 would bet bases, 50 would bet hoops, and all 100 would bet
football. Between the growing popularity of Las Vegas, televised
sporting events, and the eruption of off-shore betting facilities,
betting sports is much more common. Not just for the serious bettor,
but the school kid, senior citizen, and the average husband and
wife. Because of the popularity of off-shore gaming facilities and
on-line betting sites, betting is at your fingertips.
There is a big difference to the sportsbooks between football and
basketball. For starters, you can walk into any Vegas book and bet
almost anything you want on a football game. But walk into the same
book and try to do the same on a basketball game. It won't happen.
The books limit the amount you can bet on hoops. Ask yourself,"
Why?"
Football has 119 NCAA board teams and 32 NFL teams that you can
wager on. There aren't any surprises. By that, I mean that in NCAAF
everybody from the betting public, to the oddsmakers know everything
about every team from USC to UNLV, and from the Patriot's to the
Lion's. Between the internet and ESPN, every injury, or weather
condition is known days before the game is played. In hoops, there
are so many college board teams that the oddsmakers actually have a
hard time making an accurate line. Especially with some of the
smaller, lesser known NCAA teams. Also, in basketball, the game are
played daily so an injury or suspension might not have positive
status.
Most of your football games are played over the weekend on Saturday
and Sunday.. If you aren't crazy about a game, odds are you will
play it anyway because it will be another week before you get
action. Not to mention that if you lose an early game, you will most
likely double or "chase" your money just to get it back. In
basketball, games are 7 days a week. So if you don't like something
today, you probably will tomorrow.
The lines come out officially Sunday night for the following week of
football. If there is an "off" line, the oddsmakers have a week to
adjust it. They also have the benefit of knowing daily injury
reports that will reflect in the number and know about any possible
suspensions. In basketball, the lines come out officially each
morning. this gives the oddsmakers less time to adjust a bad line or
less time to react to a possible injury or suspension.
Streaks run very hot in basketball. Good teams win more while bad
teams lose more. In football a very good team may win but not cover.
A poor team may lose but cover the number. Don't get me wrong, this
can happen in hoops also, but not with the ups and downs as in
football.
Basketball has an enormous amount of value in betting the smaller
college schools.. The oddsmakers are familiar with the top 25
schools players. Their new recruits are already known from high
school and from ESPN, not to mention Sports Illustrated. But many of
the smaller schools have very talented unknown recruits. Especially
the talent pool that play in the California circles.
Time is on basketball's side. What I mean is that the baskets season
lasts for over 9 months. Take into consideration that for about 38
weeks at 7 days a week there is action on hoops. Compared to the 20
weeks of football action, that has limited betting days for
football. Put it this way...If you have a good football season and
make money 50% of the time, break even 25% of the time, and lose
money 25 % of the time, you have to figure about a 20% profit. In
hoops, with the same premise, you will make alot more cash and have
alot more action.
A smart player can make more money in 1 month of basketball then in
an entire season of football. Don't discriminate against what shape
the ball is that you make your money on. This is supposed to be fun
for you. But don't you have more fun when you are making money.
Thank you.
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