09/04/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a multi-year contract on Thursday.
Bogosian was the third overall pick in the 2008 draft.
The 18-year-old led the Peterborough Petes with 11 goals and 61 points in 60 games last season, ranking second among rearguards in the Ontario Hockey League in assists with 50.
<< Kip Deville one to catch in Woodbine Mile
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kip Deville, winner of the 2007 Breeders' Cup
Mile, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $1 million Woodbine Mile.
The race is one of the "Win and You're In" events that guarantees a spot for
the wi
<< Angels' Weaver has start pushed back
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver had
his start on Friday pushed back to Monday after the right-hander sustained
cuts on the middle and ring fingers of his pitching hand.
The injury occurred whe
<< Champions Tour changes eligibility for 2009
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Champions Tour announced on
Thursday changes to eligibility rules starting in the 2009 season.
The top-five finishers at the 2008 National Qualifying Tournament, scheduled
for November 18
<< Newcastle coach Keegan quits
Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Keegan has ended several days of
speculation over his future at Newcastle United by confirming his resignation
Thursday as the club's manager.
The 57-year-old had been locked in talks with the
Phillies 3B coach Smith suspended for two games >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Baseball suspended Philadelphia
Phillies third base coach Steve Smith for two games and fined him an
undisclosed amount on Thursday.
Smith was disciplined for his inappropriate actions
Crew's Schelotto earns MLS Player of Month for August >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Columbus Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros
Schelotto was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for August, it
was announced on Thursday.
Schelotto scored a goal while also recording six assists
Giants sign Burress to extension >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York and wide receiver Plaxico
Burress agreed on a two-year contract extension Thursday, hours before the
Giants begin defense of their title against the Washington Redskins.
Burress, who h
Isbister signs with Ottawa >>
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators signed left wing Brad
Isbister to a one-year, two-way contract on Thursday.
Isbister, who will be joining his fifth different team in as many seasons,
spent last season with Vancou
Recently I had an email debate with an angry reader who said I did not understand "the science of oddsmaking", as he called it.
He said I was wrong for suggesting oddsmakers care about who wins or loses games.
"Oddsmakers only care about splitting the betting public 50/50 on both sides of the line and keeping the commission (a.k.a. juice)," he wrote.
He might have been right about not understanding "the science of oddsmaking". After all, I'm not an oddsmaker. That said, I stick to my assertion that oddsmakers (a.k.a. sportbooks) often do care about who wins games.
Granted, as a general rule, sportsbooks try to balance their action so that they're not exposed to big losses. However, there are times when this is difficult to pull off, regardless of how much a line has moved. There are also times when that general rule is ignored and a book pursues risk.
Generally speaking, it's safe to say the books in Vegas are risk-adverse. Unlike in the past when the wise guys ruled the town, Vegas is now corporate and the goal of most casinos is to make as much money as possible with as little risk as possible.
Thus, Vegas sportsbooks try everything in their power to balance the action. They're satisfied simply collecting the juice. But these profits are small, especially compared to the take from other casino games, namely slot machines.
Because the profits at Vegas sportsbooks are so small, you could argue that many casinos operate sportsbooks simply as a novelty to keep the tourists happy.
With a growing aversion to risk, it should come as no surprise that Vegas bookmakers have been panicking this NFL season.
Despite huge pointspreads, a disproportionate percentage of bettors are still laying their money on favorites like the Eagles, Colts, Pats and Vikings rather than the dogs (a common trend for the largely recreational bettors that visit Vegas).
And much to the dismay of the books, those favorites are finding ways to cover the thick chalk. In fact, prior to Week 7, the four teams listed above are a combined 16-2-2 (88 percent) against the spread. (The tables turned dramatically in Week 7, but more on that later.)
The result has been an early-season beating for the books, and a bonanza for bettors.
While Vegas increasingly hates risk, it's no longer a major player in the sports betting world. Most of the betting action now takes place offshore where sportsbooks are not as obsessed about balance. In fact, some books encourage exposure to risk because the rewards can be so much bigger.
Consider MySportsbook.com. On its website, the book has odds pages which actually display the amount of action it's getting on games. In other words, you can see how much action the book is taking on both sides of a pointspread, moneyline or over/under.
One look at these numbers and it's obvious MySportsbook.com does not balance every game. In fact, far from it.
Take last weekend's matchup between St. Louis and Miami. By game time on Sunday, 83 percent of the betting action at MySportsbook.com was on the Rams; only 17 percent was on Miami.
What's interesting is that MySportsbook.com opened the pointspread with Miami at +6 1/2. By game time, the spread had lowered to +5.
That goes contrary to the balancing theory. If MySportsbook.com had wanted to balance the action, it would have given Miami more points; instead, it took away 1 1/2. World Series odds are now up as well.
MySportsbook.com exposed itself to even more to risk, and rolled the dice on the underdog Dolphins. Why? I contacted a representative with the book to find out. His answer was simple.
"The line moved early based on 'smart money' from sharp players," said Jeff Gilroy, a spokesperson for the book. "We also knew from early in the week that we would need Miami, therefore (we dropped) the spread to encourage Rams money.
"At the end of the day, we liked the home team."
So the conclusion is this: MySportsbook.com respected the sharp action, and gambled that the sharp bettors had a better take on the game than the recreational bettors, who were hammering the visiting Rams.
In the end, the gamble paid off. Miami, desperate for a win in front of its home fans, pounded the overrated Rams, who are terrible on the road and even worse on grass. Final score: 31-14 Fish.
MySportsbook.com was also heavily exposed on numerous favorites in Week 7, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Denver. All three failed to cover.
The fact that sportsbooks are exposed to risk on certain games is really nothing new. The fact, that Sportsbook.com is willing to show the public where it's exposed is intriguing.
Armed with this type of information, bettors can make more educated wagers. They can get an idea where the sharp money is going and conversely where the public money is headed.
MySportsbook.com is opening up its cashbox, letting bettors look inside and challenging them to take their best shot at grabbing the cash.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting odds needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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