General tips for new handicappers

Other veterans to the game definitely post yours. This is a very general guideline, aimed more for people that haven't a clue than those that know the game and are looking to glean a hidden insight.

The Spread

Also known as "The Line". The spread is the +/- points associated with one of the teams for each game. Usually, it appears as:

Team 1 -31/2
Team 2

*Handicapping the Favorite*

Vernacular: "Team 1 is laying 3.5"
Vernacular: "Team 1 needs to cover 3.5"

The minus value of points assigned to Team 1 stipulates that they are the favorites to win the game by at least the value assigned. Which means Team 1 must win by 4 or more points in order for any units bet on them to be collected. It's like this for any value. -3 would mean that they'd have to win by 4 or more points. However, lines without a fractional 1/2 point also allow you to push. Suppose;

Team 1 -7
Team 2

And you put units down on team 1. However, they only win by exactly 7, say 21-14. In this case, you push, meaning you don't win any units but you do get your units wagered back minus the juice (juice will be explained next).

*Handicapping the underdog*

Vernacular: "Team Two is given 7 points"

The above line stipulates that Team 1 must win the game by more than 7 points in order for units wagered on it to be collected. However, it also stipulates that if Team 2 loses by less than 7 points, any units wagered on it will also be collected. In your gambling thread, you'd refer to this as:

Team 1
Team 2 +7 points

To imply that Team 2 is "given" 7 points. Therefore, if they lose the game 21-16, the "given" 7 points would push the hypothetical score for handicapping purposes to 21-23. Thus, Team 2 is the "winner".

Just as picking the favorite, any non-fractional value can push should the underdog be selected. So if you picked "TEAM 2 +7" and they lost by exactly 7 points, you'd get your units back minus the juice once again.

***Important Note***

The values assigned to each game SHOULD NOT be considered as the Bookmaker's (Whomever assigns the Spreads) thoughts on the game. It should not be construed that he thinks Team 1 is 7 points better than Team 2. Instead, the Spread is only used to equalize the handicapping on each side. Whichever value is assigned to each game is the value that the Handicapper thinks will stimulate each side to be chosen about half the time. So for example;

Alabama -6.5
Virginia Tech

Is not an indication that the Bookmaker thinks Alabama is 6.5 points better than VT or that he thinks Bama should win by at least 6.5. Instead, 6.5 is simply the value that he believes will stimulate just as many people to pick Alabama -6.5 as Virginia Tech +6.5.

***Watch the Spreads***

If every 'Bama fan in the world thinks that's easy pickings and picks Alabama -6.5, the Spread (Line) will shift to reflect this. Since so many units are on Alabama's side, the Line will be changed in order to try and equalize the scales. So, Virginia Tech will be "given" more points. The line may shift to:

Alabama -9
Virginia Tech

*How HOME/AWAY affects the Spread*

Generally, the Home team is given an additional 3 points. Suppose the following game is played at a Neutral Site;

Alabama -6.5
Virginia Tech

If the game was played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Alabama, the Line would change to "Alabama -9.5". If the game was played at Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech, the Line would change to "Alabama -3.5".

The Juice

The juice is the amount of each wager to be collected by the Bookmaker regardless of the result of the wager. Suppose;

Team 1 -7 (-105)
Team 2 (-110)

Choosing Team 1 and the points they're laying means for every 105 units you wager, only 100 units would be won. The 5 points subtracted from your wager are "payment" for the Bookmaker supplying the Spread. Similarly, for every 110 units wagered on Team 2, 100 units would be won. The 10 units subtracted from your wager are also payment.

If you PUSH on a wager, the Juice is always subtracted. So, if Team 1 won by exactly 7 points, you would receive 100 of your 105 units wagered back.

The Money Line

The Money Line (ML) is the value assigned to pick a straight out winner regardless of the Spread. Suppose;

Team 1 -7 (ML -115)
Team 2 (ML +135)

The values assigned to the Money Line stipulate how many units are won for a certain wager. So, if you were to pick Team 1 to win the game outright, you would need to wager 115 units in order to win 100 units. Similarly, if you were to pick Team 2 to win the game outright, you would win 135 units for every 100 units wagered.

Remember: Just like Spreads, Money Line odds should not be considered the Bookmaker's thoughts on the game. They're only assigned to equalize the handicapping for each side.

The Over/Under

You can also wager on the total amount of points that are scored in a game. Suppose;

Team 1 -7 (46.5)
Team 2

The Bookkeeper has set 46.5 games as the equalizing total. One could wager that more than 46.5 total points are scored, The Over, or less than 46.5 points are scored, The Under.