by Jimmy Vaccaro (Twitter @JimmyVaccaro)
November 8, 2011

What a weekend! College game of the year, "mules" running on the biggest day of the year for horse racing, plus the No. 1 spectacle and betting propositions that is the NFL.

When booking on a busy weekend it has more to do in some aspects with being someone who utilizes both art and science. In other words, do you react more quickly or slower because of where the money is coming from?

Does one move off a hot number or on the money attached to the number? All these components come into play while at least trying to put your "joint" into the best possible spot to make some money.

There comes a time, although rarely, when you just sit back and enjoy, not wanting to get in the way. That was LSU vs. Alabama on Saturday.

Like a lot of operators, I was asked numerous times by media types where is the money coming in, who is getting all the attention and finally, which team will win the "game of the century?

Let me once again steal a phrase from the classic movie "The Godfather." Remember when Virgil Sollozzo leaned over to Michael and said those immortal words, "I am not that clever."

With the game banged around for over three weeks, the number was solid. I don’t believe it moved more than a tick all week long, taking away any real bad number for the game to end a kickoff.

Smarts did not take a huge stand on either side because the number was basically where it should be. Recreational guys and dolls showed up and simply bet the game many times over. The "earn" was off the charts.

You were in a spot in most cases to win something, or a lot, depending on where the game ended. Don’t tell me now that LSU was a shoe in because I’ll lower you down a notch on the smart chart unless you bet your house and first born on the outcome.

Bookmakers like these type of spots, but obviously they don’t come around every year. There has to be some guidance that comes from the top guy in each store on a daily basis. Lucky’s hub guys were extra busy, but not because of the game of the century. It was just from all the extra business brought by this type of game.

I have been behind the counter for decades now, but let’s call it like it is. Sometimes "you need educated decisions" and on rare occasions you could put a giraffe back there to navigate games of the century.

Take it from me, on many occasions I know the giraffe would have made more sensible decisions.

Take care,
Jimmy V.

Re-printed with permission of Gaming Today