NCAA Brackets and the Office Pool: Pay Close Attention to Money Lines
Do not hand your NCAA brackets into your office pool the first day. Instead wait until the final day (Wednesday) as a means of gathering any information possible to give you that special edge.
Online sportsbooks like SBG Global can provide that special edge, especially when it comes to the amount of volume betting on money lines. MONEY LINES WERE AVAILABLE ON A NUMBER OF GAMES AS OF MONDAY NIGHT.
"SBG Global is one of the biggest online sportsbooks in terms of overall customer betting volume," Gambling911.com matriarch, Payton O'Brien points out. "Over the course of the next few days we will be providing our readers with information related to which teams are getting the best money line action."
This is an important observation in that the money line is based on which team wins outright as opposed to a spread (or cover). North Carolina and other top seeded teams may have money lines that are -500 or greater, indicating they are pretty much a "lock" to win outright during the first round. But it's those lower money lines and the lopsided action on one side that should raise eyebrows when it comes to creating your NCAA brackets for the coveted office pool.
A great example of this concept would be on Sunday's Florida State vs. Duke game. At press time, this one had yet to get underway, but what we noticed was that the underdog Florida State was getting significant money line action, around 75 percent at some online sportsbooks. In fact, Florida State was the most bet on team among the so-called "sharp" betting shops with the +5 ½ spread, an indication that the Seminoles stood a very good chance of an upset here.
If this matchup were one to consider when creating your 2009 NCAA brackets, Florida State would be a team with the best chance for an upset (at least in the eyes of the gambling public). Typically money line bettors are perceived as more savvy than those who wager on the spread.
Gambling911.com will also be monitoring line moves - including on the money line - at "sharp" bookmakers to make additional determinations.
If you have not bookmarked the Gambling911.com website, please do so now here
Remember, SBG Global not only offers betting on the 2009 NCAA Tournament, but is also giving away $175,000 to the person who gets the most selections correct and more than 50 other prizes of $5000 or more each. You must join to participate in this contest. Receive free cash with your initial credit card deposit (restrictions do apply)
Update:
A NUMBER OF MONEY LINES WERE NOW AVAILABLE AT SBG GLOBAL AS OF MONDAY NIGHT.
As of Monday morning, none of the online bookmakers were yet to offer money lines in the first round outside of the basic -100 to +100. We will continue to monitor once money lines are released. In the meantime, TheGreek.com had the following Final Four early money lines...Watch for 10 to 20 point moves or greater before Wednesday:
3/19/2009 11:30 AM
Louisville vs Connecticut
201
Louisville
-150
202
Connecticut
+120
3/19/2009 11:30 AM
Louisville vs North Carolina
205
Louisville
-135
206
North Carolina
+105
3/19/2009 11:30 AM
Connecticut vs Pittsburgh
207
Connecticut
-130
208
Pittsburgh
+100
3/19/2009 11:30 AM
Connecticut vs North Carolina
209
Connecticut
+100
210
North Carolina
-130
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
