When you see a game where the
percentages are completely out of whack and favoured toward one side...and the
House would stand to make a killing if that
team did not cover....you have to consider several things..
1)
Timing - Whens the last time that team covered as a favourite?
http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=422156&page=8
Tampa Bay 10 &
Carolina 24 -
Week 10 - Panthers (-9)
St Louis 0 @
Carolina 15 -
Week 11 - Panthers (-7.5)
Fairly recent. Of course we know Carolina went on to loose to the Skins the following week. But that loss did not stop them from receiving a high percentage this week agains the Eagles...Yes we do have to consider the fact that they did not cover the previous week and thus are in
good timing for a cover this week but they had
two straight covers before their blunder at Washington. In both games, the
percentages were more evenly distributed than the games vs the
Skins & the
Eagles as both teams were considered far less superior than Carolina. Were as
St Louis &
Tampa Bay, both Superbowl winners in recent years were considered a little more closer to the level of a Carolina. So we should not be suprised to see Carolina not covering to a lesser
Washington team...and an even lesser
Philadelphia team given their recent debacle agains the Colts last Monday Night....The
Percentages were very
Lop Sided in both matchups....
www.Sportsbook.com
(Week 12)
Carolina ML = 88 % / Spread = 78 %
Washington ML = 12 % / Spread = 22 %
(Week 13)
Carolina ML = 59 % / Spread = 68 %
Philadelphia ML = 41 % / Spread = 32 %
Just because the percentages were
Lop Sided, does that mean Philly was the automatic play, no because the timing has to be correct. We know Carolina didn't cover their last game as a favourite...and that has to be considered however, because they are such a public and popular team, regardless of their loss, they still receive large amounts of money week in and week out...last night was no exception...So now we have to ask, When was the last time
Philly Covered as a Dog? How often do we see Philly as a Dog anyway?
Philadelphia 21 @ Indianapolis 45 - Week 12
So the timing was good for Philly in regards to whether or not they would cover as a Dog, and more importantly, they were receiving a far lower
percentage of action than their counterpart, Carolina.
Perception
We have to realize that the public opinion on Carolina as being a great team in association with the fact that McNabb was out, played a large part in how this line was set. Last weeks loss to the Colts overshadowed the fact that
Jeff Garcia despite being 36 has always been a competant quarter back. How much worse would he have been than say...rookie
Jason Cambell, who only threw for 118 yards with 2 td's & 1 pick and still managed to beat these same Carolina Panthers last week? Sure Garcia is 36 but he is an athletic 36 and he is no slouch...Last weeks loss to the Colts likely made people forget this.
Who do these teams play next week?
From a Casino standpoint, A Carolina win last night would have been disasterous, but a Carolina win next week? Would the
Casino loose money if Carolina won? Well that depends on how much action the Panthers would receive....
New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers - Week 14
THE CASINOS DONT MIND WHEN THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THEN THOSE TEAMS CAN BE ALLOWED TO PLAY TO THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL BECAUSE THE HOUSE WILL NOT TAKE A TREMENDOUS HIT...BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE OF ACTION THE TEAM RECEIVES WILL BE FAR LOWER THAN IT WAS PRIOR TO THEIR "LOOSING" STREAK...
http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=422156&page=9
I think its safe to say that the publics view on this game will be one of apathy. The public has had a very hard time figuring these teams out and is likely ready to fade them the rest of the season. Now given that these teams happen to be playing each other this week, just imagine how Split the action is going to be on this game...Wouldn't it be great for the
House if Carolina were to cover as a favourite here, especially since a lot of bettors will likely be afraid to take them after
two consecutive losses to mediocre teams like
Washington &
Philly...The Giants are going to be a very tempting dog next week...while the public will be leary of the Panthers after being burned by them twice in succession....
Whens the last time the
Giants covered as a Dog....
(-3.5) Dallas 23 @ New York 20 - Week 13
Whens the last time the
Panthers actually covered as a favourite....
St Louis 0 @ Carolina 15 - Week 11 - Panthers (-7.5)
You will often find that the public teams go several weeks without covering...Sometimes 2 or 3 weeks go by when teams wont cover. This is long enough time...for the public to get so fed up to a point where the House can afford...it. The House cannot have popular public teams cover week in and week out.
http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=422156&page=8
Its been three weeks since Carolina covered as a favourite...the book knows this, but the public ignores it....Does this mean they cover this week against the Giants...not necessarily as it is very early in the week. Regardless perhaps now you can see what I mean when I say one week has everything to do with the other....There are patterns that can literally play themselves out weeks down the line...all you have to do is find them.....