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Gambling reference question

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by playthrough, Mar 31, 2010.

  1. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Maybe I'm too tired at 1 a.m., but am I missing something in this story:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=5042061&sportCat=ncw

    No wonder the oddsmakers in Vegas have UConn as a 26-point favorite against the Seminoles -- an almost unheard of spread for an Elite Eight matchup. And so overwhelmingly popular were the Huskies at tournament's beginning, that Jay Rood, director of Race and Sports for MGM Mirage, put together a proposition bet: UConn versus the rest of the NCAA field. You had to lay $800 on the Field to win $100.

    Bettors flocked to the Field, forcing Rood to up the risk. You now have to lay $1000 to win that same $100.

    Doesn't Woj have that backwards? If the Huskies were so popular, wouldn't they--not the Field--be a minus-800 overlay? And now, with the way they've played, wouldn't they be minus-1000? I can't imagine bettors "flocking" to go against UConn.
     
    playthrough, Mar 31, 2010
    #1
  2. trifectarich

    trifectarich Well-Known Member

    You have it right. Only if the handle was one-sided in UConn's favor would the odds go from 1-to-8 to 1-to-10.
     
    trifectarich, Mar 31, 2010
    #2
  3. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Thanks, tri. That's a pet peeve of mine--writers using gambling info to make a point and botching it.
     
    playthrough, Mar 31, 2010
    #3
  4. mustangj17

    mustangj17 Active Member

    UCONN is about as dominant as they come, but I can't imagine risking $800 to win $100.
     
    mustangj17, Mar 31, 2010
    #4
  5. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    It's a crappy payoff but it's about as good of a lock as you will get. There is no team within 20 points of UConn.
     
    Ace, Mar 31, 2010
    #5
  6. Ben_Hecht

    Ben_Hecht Active Member

    Yep -- either Woj, or the editors, bungled that.

    As for the prop, it's a question of your respect for money. Given this
    kind of risk/reward ratio, the UConn women are a far better prop than the typical horse bridge-jumpers go all in on in an effort to reap at 1-10 (or 1-20) return. And, yet . . . there's always food poisoning, kidnapping or practice injuries to contend with. Of course, at this point, it appears that UConn could play 4-on-5 and beat anyone in the field.
     
    Ben_Hecht, Mar 31, 2010
    #6
  7. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Yeah, a 1-10 horse could break down in the backstretch. I think UConn could coast home even if 2-3 players threw their riders.
     
    Ace, Mar 31, 2010
    #7
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