The Southpaw Spot

As a sports fan, I was curious to learn more about the matchups in the upcoming first round of the NFL playoffs. On one website, CBS Sportsline, they had an area called "Experts picks." In my mind, to be an expert, you must be learned and experienced in a particular area. You must know more than the average bear.

So imagine my surprise when I saw what the records of these "experts" was when picking games vs. the spread this year. The spread is designed to make every game a 50-50 proposition. The experts in Vegas (and yes, they really are experts) set the spread so that an even amount of money comes in on both sides. It is an equalizer. When making picks vs. the spread, your odds are usually 50-50, which is why a bet vs. the spread pays even money.

So, if a game is a 50-50 proposition, that means a blindfolded chimp with a pencil in his mouth should have a .500 average over the course of a season. Two of these "experts" have losing records vs. the spread, and four have winning records. Of the four with winning records, one has a winning percentage of .521, and another has a winning percentage of .541

Experts?

I propose that CBS have a new section: "Blindfolded chimps with pencils in their mouths picks."

posted by The leftist southpaw @ 9:41 AM