Expert: Steve Overmyer - 12/29/2000

Question
Hi Steve,  I appreciate your good broadcasting.  Thankyou.  I have tried to explain what a 1/2 point advantage is.  Could you help me explain?
Many Thanks,
A

Answer
Angela,

Sorry it took me so long to respond.... I was on vacation the past week.  And thanks for your nice comments about my sportscasting.  It sure is a fun job. As for the 1/2 point... It was created by bookies to prevent ties in oddsmaking.  It used to be the "betting line" would be set at 7 points, then the team wins by 7 points and its called a "push" niether the better or the person taking the bet wins.  So they had to payback the money to each individual.  So they started using half points to prevent that from happening.  So lets say the Raiders are favored over the Dolphins by 7 1/2 points, ok?  If the final score is 14-7 then the Raiders didn't "cover the spread" because they needed 8 points to win.  The half point insures a clearcut betting winner for each and every game.

Thanks for your question, if I wasn't clear enough or if you have another one, give me a shout

Later
Steve