Will Replacement Refs affect covers and totals?

[widestrides]

Will Replacement Refs affect covers and totals?

Offensive Lineman may get away with holding = Overs
DBs and all defenders may get away with holding, pass interference, etc. = Unders
Refs may be intimidated by Loud opening day home crowds = Home covers

I think defenses may benefit more from lack of calls, so maybe more Unders.

[Masked Prognosticator]

No. If your play is tight enough to affected by bad officiating, its not a play.

[resteasy]

if anything I think there will be more penalties called.
Possible to also see more play stoppages from blown whistles on plays that could go on. Just a poor gut reaction from the official.

I don't think it'll affect it enough to see which way the affect is happening. Meaning I don't believe we'll see one outcome (more overs, more home wins etc.) to know it's the refs.

I won't be thinking about the refs when I look at the games.

[dragon1952]

Will Replacement Refs affect covers and totals?

In certain games, absolutely

[Krichinsky]

I did notice a willingness to flag a lot of marginal calls.
To avoid any questions about competence??
Really not sure, but I think we can add the question, will
the refs or who is refing have an affect on what the line is
before the game is played?

[Krichinsky]

From Mike Colbert of Cantor Gaming,
"Home teams deserve an extra half point in their favor if games are
called all year the way they were officiated in week 2".

Cantor sets the lines for several Vegas books.

Also:
Through 2 weeks, out of 419 penalties 55.1% went in favor of the home team.

Through 2 weeks, last year there were 30 pass interference calls. This year
44 have been called.

[resteasy]

55% compared to what the last several years?

Home teams did win last week 14-2 and I'd say from watching it looks like the home team is often favored but we have a very small sample size and unknown stats.
One thing for sure, no huddle offense slows down a lot with these long penalties

[Krichinsky]

I agree, in fact I'm more leary when someone in his position
comes out and makes a statment. I do think that there is
an underlying fear that the subs will be involved in a result
that will not please the line makers.