The Sharp Square

Jeff explores the legacy of Charles K. McNeil who is credited with  inventing the point spread. The episode also goes into the early turf clubs that served as the first betting parlors as well as the first line services that provided consensus odds and game information to bookies and bettors across the country.

Jeff explores the legacy of Bob Martin, considered the best oddsmaker of all time. Long before the internet and computer models, Bob Martin set the point spreads in Las Vegas that every bookmaker would seek out before releasing their own. 

Jeff explores the legacy of Jimmy "the Greek" who became the most well known sports handicapper in the country. His notoriety led him to a spot on the NFL Today pre-game show, decades before networks and sports channels ever thought about talking point spreads as part of game analysis. 

Jeff talks about the legacy of "Lefty" Rosenthal. The U.S. government implemented numerous tactics to stop organized crime. Many of which aimed at gambling. In the 1970's when an excessive tax on sports betting in Las Vegas was greatly reduced, Lefty was at the forefront of bringing the sportsbooks inside the casinos and creating a gambling haven for bettors at the infamous Stardust...

Jeff is talking about the legacy of Scotty Schettler, who oversaw the sportsbook at the Stardust in the 1980's and introduced the infamous lottery. The line at the Stardust was the most sought after opening number and led to bettors doing whatever they could to get first crack at the purest point spreads in the desert.  

Jeff explores the legacy of Roxy Roxborough, a highly successful bettor who provided information services to various Las Vegas sportsbooks. Roxborough was a pioneer in using computer models to fine tune point spreads and was at the forefront for today's application of analytics.

Jeff talks about the legacy of Billy Walters who is considered amongst many prevalent handicappers as the best sports bettor of all time. The episode goes into how professionals gather unique information and manipulate lines to get the best value on every point spread they bet. 

Jeff talks about the legacy of Jimmy Vaccaro. Vaccaro has been around the evolution of the point spread and derivative betting throughout his career. He has mentored and advised some of the great bookmakers of the industry today and came up under the tutelage of many legends that preceded him. 

Jeff is talking about the move offshore and the revolution created by online sportsbooks. The episode goes into the the legislation that aimed to stop the growth of sports betting in the 1990's and early 2000's and the pioneers who found a way to expand the outs for those willing to seek the best point spread digitally. 

Jeff is talking about the legacy of sports bettor Steve Fezzik who is the only two time winner of the Westgate Super Contest. When it comes to handicapping contests that judge bettors ability to navigate the NFL point spread, many consider the super contest format one of the most demanding tests. The episode goes into tout services and the emergence of media focus on point spreads.

Jeff is joined by Duce, from The Happy Hour Podcast with Ariel and Duce, to talk betting on Wrestle Mania XL. Jeff is heeling off while Duce defends the mama Rhodes family. Duce tries to talk Jeff off of the Sami Zayn-bad-bet ledge, while making ladder match predictions and telling you where to get the best value on the Rollins/Lynch family, book and surgery betting strategy. Jeff breaks down some...

Mike and Jeff made some money betting the Superbowl and also enjoyed some old man nostalgia that came with the television production.  

Full Gambling preview in 30 minutes. Dominoes has nothing on us! Mike and Jeff go through all aspects of betting strategy for the Super Bowl. Spread picks, totals, derivatives, teasers and props included. 

Jeff is recapping the Conference Championship games, talking Chiefs dominance, Baltimore's no show, Detroit's collapse and the 49ers finding another way to win behind the elusive running Brock Purdy.

Mike takes over hosting duties as Jeff is under the weather and it is straight to business. This is a meat and potatoes preview with lots of info on both the NFC and AFC title games. 

Jeff is breaking down the four divisional games from the weekend and how the fundamental questions heading into the games, determined the outcome. While he feels for Bills fans, demons are hard to overcome. Lamar erases all doubt about how dominant him and the Ravens are. Dan Campbell trusts his guys to win while Kyle Shanahan sees things differently. 

After Mike dominated the first round of the playoff game, Jeff is faking it until he makes it, with bold confidence betting some big favorites. Scared money don't make money. Jeff also explains teaser protection and the value of Wong teasers. Mike has some player props and derivatives for some games where he doesn't want to bet the side, but is feening for some action.  

Jeff goes over all of the action from Super Wild Card Weekend including meltdowns in Dallas and pathetic efforts from Philadelphia. Teams with foundation and execution ruled the day as the contenders for the divisional round separated from the frauds.

Mike and Jeff discuss bankroll management heading into the playoffs. What to do if you've gone broke and what to do if you are flush with cash. Then it's time for Jeff's playoff game. Find a friend and play at home! All six wildcard games are broken down along with some thought on who can make playoff runs. 

Mike made the cash in his individual Super Contest! Congratulations. 

Many think the final week of the season is the hardest week to bet. Mike and Jeff are delving into week 18 specific strategies for how to attack the market. All of the playoff scenarios, all of the resting players and all of the checked out teams making tee times are discussed. Mike also gives his thoughts on the final week of his super contest entry that is hovering around a nice cash payout.

Mike and Jeff are off back-to back winning weeks heading into the final week of the regular season. While the entry is far from the cash, the current 57% win rate is worth playing out. Jeff talks about evaluating your edge percentage to determine whether or not a bet is worth increasing. Spoiler Alert! He doesn't know. 

Mike and Jeff are coming off of their best week in the Super Contest at 4-0-1. Mike stole all the thunder, however, by going 5-0 and printing money with his cash bets. The guys have to sift through the deep tracks for picks as their is staunch disagreement on multiple categories. The card is filled with an ugly betty, a wagon circle, a share-of-square and two wildcards from the sunshine state. Hap...

The week went well, as the guys best Super Contest entry of the year went 4-0-1 and was not even the highlight, as Mike ventures closer to the money in his individual entry. Jeff got back on the winning side of the ledger, but fear kept him off  winners that should have been in his portfolio.   

Jeff opens with an apology for a drunken drone version of last week's hindsight 20/20. To make up for it, he offers invaluable information on how not to place losing bets, in four specific situations. No winners here folks, only not losers... sometimes. This conversation has a lot of insight into betting systems and power ratings. Mike then talks about his hot run in the Super Contest. If you...