I won't break the list down point by point, but I don't agree with many of them. :) In terms of the NFL anyways.

The pointspread actually has very little to do with who covers the game. For the most part it is about 18% in the NFL win a team "covers" a number, meaning they win or lose within the perameters set. The other 82% of the time the dog win SU or the fave wins in a blowout. So getting the best number is not as imperitive as people think. It is basially a feel good thing.  If a guy has that half point he feels better, but in the real world that half point might help him 2-3% of the time, if even that.

Never lay more than 3, well you probably won't be betting too many football games, and at those spreads geenrally the ML BOTH ways is a better bet anyways. Meaning the line is small for a reason. Either a eam is made fave that shouldn't be fave due to a hot streak or being at home or public perception, so they are made a very small fave. Te flip side is also true, a home team is a 3 or less dog when they should probably be 5-6 point dog, but people have this fear of betting road fave so they trim the number down some to entice action. So taking the ML might be of more "value".

It isn't always about the better line but what is of more value. Soetimes the line/spread has more value, and sometimes a ML has more value. Obviously that is based on personalopinion. But getting +125 on a ML dog is better than +2 -110 over the long haul. If you win that is.

Watching games I can agree with that to some extent, but only for the first couple weeks, by then you have a feel for the teams. Or read the play by play breakdowns since watching that many games is pretty difficult and trying to get the info you need. Because eventually the handiocapping of the games is lost in the betting of the games. Handicapping is sightly overrated. I am sure that will garner some debates. But not many people win in the NFL handicapping, middling, or any strategy they apply. There are not enough games a year, and the scoring system makes it very difficult. Since a single score can turn a winner into a loser. So the margin for error isn't there.

I wouldn't buy up to 7 either at 6.5. It isn't even worth 5 cents to do that long term. If you think you need that half point to win find anothergame.That is something I have never understood. Peopl buying half points or trying to shop around for a half point. If you are that nervous thatthe game is that close find another game. The irony of people buying points is lost on a lot of people.

Record keeping. Is good if you don't bet a lot of games. I used to keep maticulous records, but soon the record keeping interfered with the betting itself. So when it starts intefering with the actual day to day betting it isn't imperative that you do it. Besides if you bet enough games they should all start running into eachother and no game should have more wieght than another.

There are a couple simple rules infootball that you need to know.

Expect to lose. If you go in thinking you are going to win you are sadly mistaken, I don't care how long you have been doing it. The football season is as square as sqare is when it come to the actual "art" of successfull gambling. The holds are a joke, the season is way to short, and the pointspreadsystem is very difficult to beat, especially when in the NFL the lines do not move all that much. The ONLY reason the spointspread system works in NCA football and the NBA and NCAA hoops is because the lines move a loot, and the scoring system in hoops is a lttle less constrictive. Way too many things going against people in the NFL. Probably why not many if any actually make money at it trying to pick winners. And even those that do aren't making a mint.

It is definately one that is made to entertain, and not make money in.

But as for MY rles I don't have many.

But I would never tease a 6.5 fave to a -.5 in a teaser. But I don't bet teasers so no worries.

 I almost always bet +3.5 dogs on the ML blind.

I bet the ML a lot more than I take or lay points, even with favorites.

I will bet parlays if I have a few cards to compare and get better numbers and better odds to get a few free shots.

It is worth a tad OVER 10 CENTS to do so.

Also, shopping for a half point is not OVERrated.  You make mention that if a half point makes that big a difference, find another game.  NO MATTER THE GAME, ONE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO NOT TRY AND FIND THE BEST LINE.........THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

-Fishhead-

Well according to my numbers I have these results...

Since 1984 there have been 306 games closing -7. Of those 306 games there have been 12 pushes, that is about 4%. Since 1994 there have been 157 games lined -7, with the same 12 pushes, that is 7.6%. So pre 1994 according to the source I use there were no pushes from 85 thru 93. SO overall it isn't worth a nickle, but since 94 it is worth about 7.6 cents. But then again BUYING OFF a number is slightly different. I don't have the results for games that closed 6.5 and the fave won by 7, I could find out, but I doubt very highly it is even 3%, not to mention you aren't even buying for a win, you are simply buying to PUSH. Which compounds the math problem when you do it.

Also an odd side note. Since 2002 there hasn't been a push on 7 either. Again according to the source I use. That is 33 games  in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. That makes it zero percent those years when you bought to seven whe you needed to do it.

While getting the best line is obviously the best thing and if you have several books you want to take the best number (and best hold), there is no need to drive around or open an account at some off the wall book to get a half point. Especially when you are buying to an even number to gain a push, buying off a hook to get a win is slightly better, but still won't pay off if you do it all the time.

But it all depends on when you do it. If you do it at just the right time and gain ethe benefit more than it is a waste then by all means do it, but if you bet enough games, over the long haul it will not pay off.

Ya I got twisted there.

7 Is actually worth double and about 15 cents. If you could nail down 3 at 10% then YES it is "worth" 20 cents. But that is only to buy OFF for win, buying to get a tie is maybe 75% more or about 12 cents (for 7). So Fish at "slightly more than 10 cents" is correct. But that also only works if you are betting every game and buying every time. If you pick and choose it throws the theory all off since you are now introducing opinion into something that you have used every example to get a "probability" for. Definately theoretical in nature.

You basically double the percentage probability rate to get what it is theoretically worth for a win. Or as said, buying  to a tie about 75% more than the probablity rate.

I still don't buy, simply because at some point the number you wanted/want was/is available. And more than likely it won't even come into play. If I was good enough to figure the 7-8% of the time a game was going to push I wouldn't have to worry about gambling anyways.