Do you bet on sports on Thanksgiving? Does your family know??

[raiders72]

Yes and they all know. Now that sports gambling is legal in many states it no longer has that negative connotation.

 

[HarryCaray]

All of my immediate family knows I bet on games. Many members of my extended family know or definitely suspect (they likely know I have some kind of financial interest, but might be surprised I'm literally placing straight wagers with a bookie and not just in some pool or betting with a buddy or something).

What always gets me is the uncle/cousin/in-law that "knows", and kinda tries to be "hip" about it, but can't for the life of them understand a point spread.

Them: "Who you got on this game?"
Me: "Notre Dame"
Them: "What's the bet?"
Me: "ND -5"
Them: "So wait...if they lose you lose?"
Me: "Yep"
Them: "So if they win by 3 you win?"
Me: "No. They have to win by at least 6"
Them: "But if they lose by less than 5 you win right?"

I've tried explaining it so many different ways.
"ND is -5"
"ND has to win by 6 or more"
"Take ND's final score and subtract 5 from it, and that's my score"
"ND is favored by 5"

Some people just can't grasp it. And don't even get me started on trying to explain moneylines.

Typically these days I'll just say "Yeah I have ND, they just have to win"

 

[HarryCaray]

Actually that's a bad example, favorites are pretty easy to understand. Underdogs are what confuse people. I think the part that gets them is if you have UNC +5...they can accept that you win if UNC loses by 4 or less, but the UNC outright win confuses them.

Somehow "UNC can win, or lose by less than 5" is not clear. I'll never understand why otherwise intelligent individuals can't figure it out.

 

[X-Files]

Do you bet on sports on Thanksgiving? Does your family know??

Of course. Yes, they know. They do it with me as we kick the bookies' butts together.

 

[Dr.Love]

I'll never understand why otherwise intelligent individuals can't figure it out.

Perhaps the answer lies in a false pretense? Maybe they aren't as intelligent as you have given them credit for?

 

[HarryCaray]

Perhaps the answer lies in a false pretense? Maybe they aren't as intelligent as you have given them credit for?

Perhaps

 

[nikossf]

Yes I make my kids bet too. I get the spreads and totals and make them pick for all the games. Which ever kid gets the most W's gets the 100 dollar pot. It's a thanksgiving tradition at my house.

Classic!!!