Strategy for betting underdogs

[pigskin punk]

I usually don't play an underdog unless I think they have a realistic shot at winning the game. Trying to take 1 just hoping to stay close and cover without winning usually isn't an option for me. 1 exception and it's rare for me to do it is taking double digits dogs if the right "Situation" presents itself but not just because they are double digit underdogs. I would like to hear some of you other cappers in here as to what plays into your thinking when playing underdogs.
thanks,
p.p.

[killa21]

Dogs can bark at any time.. i play dogs but one stat i look for is a road dog of 6 points or less....who has the better record than the opposition...

hope this helps, GG created this rule

[The Nac]

Home dogs always catch my eye. And like killa, I also look at road dogs of 5 or less points.
Won't automatically bet them, but I take longer to consider it.

[Lukester]

I have too many things in my head 24/7 so I wait/look for the obvious--one of those is I wait for a week with the majority of Favs covering then Hit the Dogs the following week...and vice versa. Same goes for O/U...

[garyrenard]

The only rule I have for playing dogs is if I like the side and they are +2.5 or less I take the money line rather than the points. I figure if they play well enough to cover that small a spread, they probably won the game.

I'm sure someone has numbers backing this up. How many times does a +1.5 to a +2.5 dog cover the spread but not win the game outrght?

[cptkirk321]

Originally Posted by garyrenard

The only rule I have for playing dogs is if I like the side and they are +2.5 or less I take the money line rather than the points. I figure if they play well enough to cover that small a spread, they probably won the game.

I'm sure someone has numbers backing this up. How many times does a +1.5 to a +2.5 dog cover the spread but not win the game outrght?

In the NFL games with lines of 7.5 and under 85%+ of the time you pick the winner of the game outright you win on the spread as well. So in the long run if you like any dogs that are 7.5 point favorites and less you should have two bets going a full size bet on the spread and half that size on the moneyline and + money.

[steel69]

Originally Posted by Lukester

I have too many things in my head 24/7 so I wait/look for the obvious--one of those is I wait for a week with the majority of Favs covering then Hit the Dogs the following week...and vice versa. Same goes for O/U...

Agree, I follow this method as well...

[CANDY-MAN]

yea I Like that pigskin the dog needs to be able to win it out right.