Some good points here, so let’s make a few others.
1) The House ( I know we don’t have one...) does not win in case of a “ point spread” tie ...(like +/- 14 in the Missouri game)
- It’s called a PUSH, or sometimes a NO BET
- Anyone presenting their ticket to the betting window will get their money refunded, irrespective of which side the bettor bet on...but of course, not everyone will remember to take their ticket to the window to request their refund...( in which case, the House WILL win )
2) Point Spreads ( whether 13.5, 14, or 14.5 blah, blah, blah ) are set these days by computers...and are designed to take into account literally hundreds of factors...like weather, injuries, QB ‘ family issues’, revenge for last time loss, blah, blah, blah)
- The House ( I know we do not have one) examines all the “ situational factors” , and how they might affect the game, to set the lines
- Generally speaking, they realize people living in the largest cities, or even smaller—But with avid fans— will go “ hog wild “to bet their favorite teams ( no offense intended for Arkansas ) , so they set the lines at a number where they think they are most likely to get their share of the vig
- And , generally speaking, unsuspecting bettors ( like you and me...) will simply bet the FAVORITES and/or the “ OVERS” in games...the lines are set accordingly...whether NCAAFB, Professional or College —-basketball, baseball, football .....whatever...
All that said, thinking 2019 we can get a lot of people in the SoWal “ pool “ , and will propose how.
But, in the meantime, my picks...