Why not every lopsided game becomes a pick

Our rule starts simple: when 90% or more of the public's money is on one side, we take the other side. But a few more rules decide whether a lopsided market actually becomes a pick.

The price has to fit

When the public piles onto a heavy favorite's moneyline, the other side is a big underdog, sometimes +300 or +600. Those prices win rarely, and a handful of them can swing a record for reasons that have nothing to do with the crowd.

So there's a price ceiling. If taking the other side would mean a long-shot price above our cap, the game stays off the card, no matter how lopsided the money is. That's why a Sunday full of 95%+ NFL moneylines can produce zero NFL picks.

Baseball is totals only

In baseball, we only take totals. Moneylines and run lines aren't part of the card, however lopsided the money gets.

Small college games need a real crowd

90% of the money on a small college game might be a few thousand dollars. A college football market only qualifies when the game has a large crowd behind it, at least 10,000 tickets, so the lean actually means something.

It has to lock before the game

A pick only counts if it locks in the final hour before the start, from a reading taken before the game. Anything that tips late or misses that window isn't a pick.

Every pick that does clear all of this is logged and graded on our public record, wins and losses both. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.