11/21/24
April 04, 2004
When Chris Duhon made a pointless 38-footer at the end of UConn's Final Four victory over Duke, he affected millions of dollars wagered on the game's 2- to 3-point spread. At one Costa Rican online sportsbook alone, the shot turned a $290,000 loss into a $340,000 profit for the house.
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:38 PM - 10 comments
This is no consolation! /slits wrist.
posted by corpse at 06:51 AM on April 05, 2004
This is why I refuse to bet spreads. I am constantly amazed by how right the oddsmakers usually are.
posted by vito90 at 07:07 AM on April 05, 2004
I'm with corpse. What a miserable weekend. Duke women lose last Tuesday, men saturday, Sox Sunday, and to top it off, the women's final is another boring UConn-UT matchup. The only possible consolation at this point is the slim possibility of Luke Schenscher as FF MOP. And that's pretty weak consolation.
posted by tieguy at 07:39 AM on April 05, 2004
I love stuff like this. The Sports Guy wrote recently (at the end of his bullet-points) about betting the over on a Pistons-Cavs game.. it's pretty funny, and best of all, it involves Darko!
posted by blarp at 07:39 AM on April 05, 2004
I'm with tieguy and corpse. I actually drank to drown my sorrows for the first time in a long time. Go Georgia Tech!
posted by mbd1 at 08:44 AM on April 05, 2004
The only possible consolation at this point is the slim possibility of Luke Schenscher as FF MOP So if UConn wins and Schenscher gets the award you'll be ok?
posted by YukonGold at 09:28 AM on April 05, 2004
Spread betting confuses me. Does anyone care to explain it in idiot's terms? I feel for those poor sods who lost their money in the last seconds though. I had Clan Royal in the works sweepstake for the Grand National at the weekend. Leading by a length with a furlong to go, it tied up and came in second. I'd already spent that £40 mentally. (Yes, on beer).
posted by squealy at 10:19 AM on April 05, 2004
In it's simplest form, spread betting is simply making things closer to a 50/50 proposition, e.g., not only does Manchester United have to beat Some Crap Team, they have to win by at least 2 goals. Otherwise people who bet on SCT win.
posted by yerfatma at 10:55 AM on April 05, 2004
Every so often, it becomes clear just how good the bookmakers really are at their job. I don't see why anyone would care enough to bet on a kids game played by kids, but given that it is such huge business, it's amazing how accurate the whole process is, consistently.
posted by chicobangs at 11:52 AM on April 05, 2004
Great link rcade.....extremely relevant....thanks.