Streamlining, when employed properly, is of course
effective in every line of work. In the 1970s and 80s, a lot of gamblers would
focus on local teams and conferences where regional information was often more
accurate and punctual than what Vegas could acquire.
The Internet and the Information Age, to say the least
changed that. By no means did progress eliminate streamlining, it changed the
focal point.
At one juncture, many moons ago, one of the most
influential persons in moving a line was professional handicapper “Doc” in the
Big 10. “His plays could move the line
five, six points” says Steve Linden, one of the high rolling founders of MasterLockLine.com, the online betting
syndicate.
Times changed and team or conference experts were no
longer based on “location, location, location” but on the ability to adapt and
expose which teams were the flavor of the moment to go with or against.
Focusing on a specific team now involves ascertaining
undervalued and overvalued squads and riding them until oddsmakers caught up.
Forensic handicapper Stevie Vincent of BetOnSports360.com says teams that
inevitably become streaky spread wise are squads that have a high winning
percentage but don’t blow teams out, or losing teams that don’t get blown out
often.
Mike Godsey of GodsTips.com says
he agrees, it is part of his “dichotomous ATS and SU” theory. “We discount 98 percent of trends, but this
has proven to be the exception to the rule. Basically if a team has a great SU
record but horrid ATS record or visa versa, you ride for that to continue as it
is the sign of which teams are most under or overvalued.”
the professional handicappers they monitor, unlike last century, there are
fewer who simply excel by focusing on a specific team or conference, but
instead they do notice, “The elite services do consistently go for or against
the same teams for extended periods.”
With college basketball just around the corner, the number
of teams undistinguished to the masses, but crystal clear to the sharpies
increases multifold. Good times lie ahead for gamblers who streamline, but do
so a bit differently now than they did in 1986.
Joe Duffy is CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com,
which features the top handicappers from the former Freescoreboard
scorephone. His plays are part of Dream
Team at GodsTips.com