How is the book The Odds by Chad Millman

[blgalley77]

Can someone tell me there opinion on this book.

Great book. The best one ever written on sports betting.

[blgalley77]

how did it help you

[Peter McDermott]

If it's the book I'm thinking of, it's not that sort of a book. Isn't it an account of the lives of three sports betters in Vegas?

[dragon14]

It covers a professional bettor (Alan Boston) an amateur bettor from Indiana and the other major character written about is the head of the Stardust sports book.

I found it very interesting but I don't think there are many ideas on how to bet sports in it.

[fungaimike56]

Read this book. It is very entertaining. It contrasts two college basketball bettors. One is a middle aged guy living in an empty house in Vegas, sitting in the only chair surrounded by stats magazines, watching sports and making his numbers. He's very frustrated. In spite of being the consumate pro he finds with each passing year its harder and harder to do the most essential part of his work which is to get into the heads of the 19-22 year old college basketball players he makes his living betting on. And when he makes a good number he's frustrated in his attempts to get down in volume on the number because his very success over the years means the sports books clock his action and quickly move the lines--such is the expensive respect he has earned. The other bettor is a kid new in town from Indiana where he made his $30,000 bankroll booking action and manipulating the lines outrageously because he knew the hometown gamblers bet compulsively on their favorites. He's savvy and in Vegas because it's where the action is. Back home his family considers him a degenerate. It turns out that in Vegas the only thing going for him is his ability to get inside the heads of the 19-22 yr. old players without thinking about how he does it. He just knows and is betting blind and running good.
The third guy portrayed in the book needs the action every bit as much as the first two but needs family life and stability even more--he runs a sports book. With each number he posts he puts his own ass on the line every bit as much as do our two heros.
This is all very informative and entertaining. Read the book--it effectively shows how much hard work goes into each side of a bet as well as demonstrating how luck screws up even the best laid plans or, in this case, points.