[mmichaels1970]

They’ve got the math on their side, the only time they lose is when somebody monkeys with it.

100%. I think a lot of folks don’t understand that a point spread is simply a sliding scale determined by how bets are placed. To ensure a relatively even amount is placed on both sides to minimize risk to the bookmakers. Any bookie who has a vested interest in the outcome of a game is a bad bookie.

[discostu]

Especially in the age of modern legal sports books. They’ve got so much math on their side, and the people and computers to do it. All you’ve got to do is look at all the “temptations” they advertise. If they’re will to give you $400 worth of “free” bets for placing your first $5 bet, well guess how much they think they’re gonna make on you. And one of them pays off if the team you bet for goes a TD up at any point in the game, which sounds insane, but you gotta know the math works and even if they “lose” millions on that game they’re still making a profit by day’s end.