Suspicious betting patterns currently emerging in sports betting

Phil Mashnick

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by Phil Mashnick

I don't know who Bob Dylan picked for the Final Four, but I'm sure he had gambling in mind when he sang, “It's pouring rain.”

What was supposed to be the biggest story of the week — five Division I college basketball games being investigated for highly questionable or “irregular” betting patterns — was the result of free agent linebackers of varying accomplishments. It's no match for the latest speculation.

Four of those games included Temple, and Loyola (Maryland) played the other game, according to multiple reports and the school's confirmation. Both teams had terrible seasons.

But the most glaringly questionable of the games in question was the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) game at Temple on March 7, which UAB narrowly won 100-72. Among the many curious games out there, this one didn't stand out. It was a decent game between the visitors 19-11 and Temple 11-19. It was not a game that attracted national attention, but that may not have been a coincidence.

On the afternoon before the game, UAB's line jumped from giving up 1 1/2 or 2 to giving up 8, all along the way, a huge move that only stinks considering the final score. There was no good reason, not injury or suspension, that could explain such sudden, unilateral, heavy action against the visiting team.

And with so many bookmakers to choose from these days, sophisticated game match-fixers avoid suspicion and detection by spreading their actions across multiple legal bookmakers. This will prevent the line from suddenly entering questionable territory.

A 2-point move probably won't get noticed, but a 6-point move probably won't. Then the alarm that was sounded will sound. The most notable statistic in the game was that UAB outrebounded Temple 41-19 in the stoplights. And UAB had 10 offensive rebounds to Temple's one. Rebounds often reflect effort and cannot be ignored.

Less notable, but still noteworthy, is that he shot 72 percent from the foul line this season, compared to 66 percent on 16-of-24 shooting, an average of 6.6 points per game. That means his steals have been reduced to 3 steals.

My educated guess is that if any of these games turn out to be modified, they are likely an inside, or at least unsophisticated, neighborhood job. Several players looked like they had very bad games, with losing seasons and little prospects in professional basketball, not to mention getting-rich-quick commercials running through their heads every day.

And the absence of a fairly slight betting movement would not be the work of a wiser sage. But that's because college players are now more susceptible to the demands, threats, and loyalties of street gangs than the central casting hoods of yore, where they had to munch on cigars and shave their beards. This may reflect a previous prediction in this column.

All we know for sure is that something very strange and very suspicious happened in front of UAB-Temple. And it still smells awful.

In 2019, when legalized sports gambling became the main commercial driver for sports viewing, this column examined another game for the weirdness of betting. Marshall's football team defeated Louisiana Tech 31-10. Two days ago, the betting lines suddenly underwent a major change. Marshall went from a 2-point favorite to a 5-point favorite. Why suddenly take unilateral action?

After all, Louisiana Tech had won eight in a row, making this a conference game between title contenders. But La Tech. They didn't release the information until Thursday night, a full day before suspending three players, including star quarterback Ja'Marr Smith. Did anyone know? Just the people on the inside and the people they told.

Oh, yes, it will rain heavily.

Francesa, Smith's many words say little

Authoritative Expert Corner: Mike Francesa ignores the fact that his career has been spent on the wrong things, but he declared this on his podcast this week as a former podcast host. He declared that he would never lower himself – “No one will honor Saquon Barkley.'' Like real money, okay? That won't happen. ” The incontrovertible evidence appears on the @BackAftaThis account on X (formerly Twitter).

Within hours, Barkley signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Eagles.

On ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, whose hyperbolic rants and dialect hustle don't hide his elementary ignorance of the sport, said free agent running back Derrick Henry “just gives the ball to the brawlers 20 to 25 times a game.” He declared that he would guarantee victory.

Alas, if the Titans had known how simple it was, they wouldn't have even bothered to punt. And they would have finished last season 17-0 instead of 6-11.

Did Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes have Francesa and Smith in mind when he spoke of people who “display such intense ambiguity that they disrupt the atmosphere without conveying the message?”

Art Shumsky, who is 82 years old and retired in Florida, recently told a story that proves this fact. As a Reds rookie in 1965, he was called up as a pinch hitter for Frank Robinson.

“Frank was furious, but [Mets’] The pitcher was Tom Parsons, but the manager did not think he could hit a sidearm throw. I was petrified. All I wanted to do was not strike out. I was batting for Frank Robinson! A grounder to second base would have been fine. ”

what happened?

“I hit a home run.”

The most disrespectful people in sports these days seem to be the coaches of the top women's college basketball teams. LSU's tough-talking Kim Mulkey, South Carolina's foul-mouthed Dawn Staley, and Geno Auriemma, an old and reliable opponent in College Con.

On the other hand, we have DIII Manhattanville boys coach Chris Alesi. In addition to a strong season of 18 wins and 10 losses, Alesi often wore 21 shirts during matches.

Why are there so many? He refused to cut anyone. By finding time and putting in the effort, a team is formed.

Mr. Brown's latest legal troubles are a real gem.

Former NFL All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, now a career rapper, could rise to the top of Roger Goodell's list to perform at the next Super Bowl.

Last week, Brown did not respond to legal charges that she did not return $1.1 million in jewelry she borrowed from celebrity jeweler Jean-Louis Schuqui. Brown instead texted Shuki, [sic] “U caint get st cracker,” “Cracker you beat,” and “Stop calling me a bitch.”

Head coach Nick Saban, who recently left the University of Alabama and is now with ESPN, said last season's “student movement” was revealed to be a complete fraud, but Brown was not involved in the 2007-09 season. During those three years, he entered Central Michigan University until his third year. The academic fraud that Saban recently lamented has been prominent for decades.

By the way, Brown has released a rap album, “Whole Lotta Money,'' an odd name considering he was arrested on suspicion of failing to pay child support. He has six children with three women.