# NFL Predictions - Week 1 (The Reckoning) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051 "2005-09-11T01:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/21 "2005-09-13T06:16:41Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Sorry, but I guess my stupid pills kicked in because that still doesn’t make much sense to me. Between an option to bet 55 and make 120, and an option to bet 55 and make 50… it doesn’t seem like there should be any argument, bookies and casino profit aside (they win when you don’t, which statistically, is a good take). > > Perhaps it’s a good thing I still don’t get it, I might actually be tempted to try it. Well, you’re missing one detail. The risk 55 for 120 option is a parlay between 2 teams. The 55 for 50 option is only a one team bet. In a way of speaking the first bet is twice as unlikely as the latter, ergo twice the reward. Also, when you say “they win when you don’t, which statistically, is a good take” isn’t accurate. The point spreads are intended to create a situation where the betting on both sides is equal. Mind you, this isn’t the same thing as predicting the actual difference in the expected final score. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/22 "2005-09-13T06:20:06Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > There is no vig on a win; only losses. There is also no vig on a push, nor should there be any vig at all on any parlays, but good luck finding a generous enough soul to offer that. > > The [NFL Division Rankings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6575357#post6575357) are up. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vig) disagrees. Though in a way it’s a matter of semantics. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/23 "2005-09-13T06:39:00Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vig) disagrees. Though in a way it’s a matter of semantics. Baseball (and boxing) don’t use spreads; they lay odds. Betting against a spread is a different animal; the vig is not collected on “even money” (against the spread) bets that win. Because the book tries to balance out the action on both sides of the wager, you could consider it a 5% vig on all action, but in reality it’s a 10% vig on the losing side only. If you never lose, you will never pay a vig. If you did, you’d only get 45 on a 50 bet. Risk 55 to win 45? Good luck getting any action on that book. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/24 "2005-09-14T23:29:04Z")
Just to give everyone a idea of what it is that I go through every fall. [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/050914](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/050914) ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/25 "2005-09-15T01:26:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Just to give everyone a idea of what it is that I go through every fall. > > [ESPN.com: Page 2 : Nothing offensive about the Bears](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/050914) Ramsey may be available… ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051/26 "2005-09-15T03:22:10Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > Ramsey may be available… Bwhahahahahaha!!! Thanks anyways. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-1-the-reckoning/321051.md?page=1)