Remember that the public is certainly a determinant in what the line winds up being. It can also be a factor in what it opens up at. Linemakers are very experienced, and they have developed something of where to go, and when. Accordingly, some moves by the linemaker are ANTICIPATORY, meaning that there may be an injury or some kind of strange weather condition which will undoubtedly affect the betting patterns, as well as the outcome. And they have to jump on it in order to be ahead of the rest of us.

Let's use an example from the NFL in a game svereal years ago. The Philadelphia Eagles, in the wake of the unrest surrounding Terrell Owens' suspension, had received word that Donovan McNabb might be undergoing season-ending surgery for a groin injury. With McNabb's status in doubt, the line on the Eagles' game at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants, which opened with the Giants a 3-1/2-point favorite in a circle (we'll get to the circle in a second) moved off the board, then re-appeared at 6, moved to 6-1/2, then 7, then 7-1/2, before settling in at 7 again, all with the knowledge that McNabb would be out of the game, with Mike McMahon to take his place.

In the case of weather problems, the adjustments in the line will be seen to some extent in the actual pointspread itself, but are more likely to adjust the TOTAL on the game (the line on how many total points are scored). Obviously, weather conditions can affect that more than anything.

In either instance, when injuries or weather look like they may become a major influence on a game, and create a high degree of uncertainty regarding the stability of these and/or other key factors, the oddsmaker may very well exercise the option of taking the game off the board, or CIRCLING it. When the game is circled, the individual betting limits on a game are lowered. This way, the sports book is able to limit its exposure if indeed it takes a “hit” due to the “unknown” factors. It’s obvious that the ideal situation for the sports book is for NO unknown factor to exist.

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