NFL Handicapping Strategies and Sports Betting Stories



Fairway Jay takes a look at his career in the gambling industry with some advice on how he approaches betting on football.

NFL Handicapping – 8 Straight Winning Seasons 57.3%

In 2003 I was living in Las Vegas pursuing my career in real estate over the past decade. I was working for home builders in what would become one of the biggest booming housing and home building markets in the country. I was also pursuing my passions in poker and sports, as I had been a self-handicapper and bettor since my college days at the University of Minnesota. 

After spending a few season posting my own plays and analysis in various sports forums and a blog, I received an offer to become a professional handicapper. I was interviewed to also be part of a radio team of analysts and handicappers, and I became a regular contributor on a popular daily radio show in Las Vegas that was also heard throughout the U.S. in more than 50 markets. I was starting to live the dream in Las Vegas, combining my passions of poker and sports while getting paid to do something I really enjoyed.

I’m one of the less than 10% of adult American’s that are analyzers. I approach the world around me in an open-ended and exploratory manner. I like to solve problems, explore new ideas and I’m constantly guided and focused on logical thinking. I prefer flexibility, independence and control over my work. Analyzers have a need to understand how and why things work. An insightful analyzer, like myself, understands that logical conclusions are based on principals, experience and knowledge. I examine and critique, and do not accept information or direction at face value. I’m not a fan of protocol, and I can get impatient with policies and procedures that get in the way of progression.  

Analyzers often make good prognosticators, and that’s a large part of the reason why I enjoy sports handicapping. I like time and space to think things through and figure out the process of point spread prognosis. That includes researching and analyzing data, news and information to be better informed to make decisions and provide insightful feedback and explanations. Analyzers usually set and hold high standards, but I can also tend to be hard on myself, and find it difficult to deal with people and environments where others are incompetent.

Sports betting Las VegasAs I was figuring out my way in Las Vegas in the early 2000’s, I turned that sports hobby into a business. I broke onto the scene in a big way in 2003, my rookie season. I guess if there was a Rookie of the Year award in NFL handicapping, I would have won. My selections were documented at the Sports Monitor of Oklahoma City, and in the 2003 regular season, I provided picks that went 52-28 ATS (65%), and led the nation in net wins and net profit for those willing to have their selections independently monitored. I also went 6-2 in the 2003 playoffs. All my selections were released to a building client base late each week of the NFL season.   

For 8 consecutive seasons starting in 2003 through 2010, I won every year in the NFL. On nearly 650 regular season plays, I posted a record of 371-277 = 57.3% ATS.

2003 – 52-28                 2007 – 36-32
2004 – 44-32                 2008 – 54-42
2005 – 47-42                 2009 – 50-41
2006 – 44-38                 2010 – 44-22

I was proud that I had strong sustained success, and achieved top of the leaderboard results over a period of time. I felt good about the information and service I was providing and that others who put their confidence in me to make them money were rewarded. I was making money while handicapping and betting on sports.

The tout and pick selling industry is an ugly business filled with fabricated and false information often used to manipulate less-than-informed consumers. I never considered myself a tout, as I was not involved in or worked for any hard sell company those years. For the most part, business was done the right way considering the lack of trust and integrity that filters through the filth of many in the business. I’ve also never felt comfortable with the idea of having to sell or promote myself, but at times it was part of the business to generate clients and sales, and I preferred to have others do that for me and let my work and results speak for themselves.

All that said, I’ve met and know many solid people and professionals in the sports handicapping, reporting and related sports betting business that are kind, reasonable and work hard to provide information and services to others.
professional sports bettingAs the housing market crashed starting the end of 2007, it hit especially hard in Las Vegas, the great recession caused many other industries turmoil. That included the sports betting and advisory businesses, and a few years later, I moved on from the business on a full-time basis for both personal and professional reasons. Our company founder ran into some serious gambling and financial issues that hurt all of us on the team, and I was going through a high conflict divorce that included our three children. It was extremely time consuming and an emotional and stressful part of my life, and I had to cut back from my passions and work. I’ve seen and been a victim of extreme corruption and abuse of power, and have a Supreme Court ruling in my favor that shows the disgraceful and disgusting acts of attorneys, judges, and other professionals and people in power, and the cruel, destructive and evil acts and intentions of people including those with power, influence and money.

I’ve since turned down a number of offers to 'sell' selections for other companies and provide my expertise and insight. I’ve pursued other passions and another path in sports and gaming providing information, insight and analysis while working on my chosen schedule. I’ve also become a part of the media and covered other sports and gaming events. That includes college and pro sports, World Series of Poker and Global Gaming Expo, which will have a Sports Betting Symposium this year covering the growth and expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and legislative issues.

The Supreme Court decision on sports betting (PASPA) was another example of too much power and New Jersey’s fight for millions of other American’s became a reality this year. The NFL is a big gorilla, and the power and money is enormous. Now that the states have the ability to pass legislation to include sports betting, the professional leagues and NCAA will figure out ways to partner with other companies and businesses and get their piece of the pie.  

Fan engagement and inclusion of gambling and related products and services is part of the focus. Many companies are trying to expand and partner with other connected businesses including technology companies knowing that sports betting in the U.S. is on the cusp of becoming a huge part of the college and pro sports landscape.

College and pro football followed by college and pro basketball are the busiest time for handicappers, bettors, sportsbooks and directors, and those involved in the sports, betting and reporting businesses. Pro football is the most popular sport to bet on, and the NFL is king of them all with fan interest, fantasy sports, contests and pools and sports betting. But as the NFL changes the rules and adjusts to the new ways we watch, gamble and consume football, I’ll too evaluate, analyze and adapt to change on the playing field.

It’s great to have had success handicapping and betting on football, but the ability to learn and adjust is crucial to growth and preparation for future success. I hope to profit from the experience in a more up-tempo and faster-paced game. But I’ll still have a fundamental focus and analyze the changes and games using a logical approach.

You can bet on it.

FairwayJay is a leading national sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. Read more great insights from Jay here and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay


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