[LT Profits]

This was my response to Dan regarding the NHL All-Star game, although I feel it holds true for all sports:


There is no such thing as "value" in all-star games Dan, as they are nothing but glorified exhibition games. I suggest NEVER betting on them myself, as most of the time the players don't even care who wins or loses. This is even more true in this modern era of mega-million dollar contracts, as players are more concerned with just not getting injured.


Anyone agree or disagree?

[Willie Bee]

I agree with you, LT, on the players not giving a hoot any longer about these exhibitions. Certainly not as much as they used to care. And it that regard, it's definitely hard to assign much value to the games when you can't really count on the performers going all-out to win.

[SBR_John]

The ONLY cool all star game was when the defending super bowl NFL team would play the 1st round draftees NCAA all star team.

Now that was coooool. Oh sure the NFL won by 5-7 touchdowns but it was always a night game and always featured the rookies coming into the NFL.

[Mudcat]

I will certainly play arbs/scalps/middles on all-star games if the numbers present themselves, but they are not a gambling opportunity for me.

All my gambling is based on collecting data and betting on long-term patterns. I generally need an angle to prove itself over hundreds of samples before I start backing it with real money. I could never accumulate anywhere near that amount of data for a once-a-year event.

I seldom even bet playoffs due to insufficient data samples - so I'm sure not going to bet All-Star games.

[Dead Money]

Only one I wager on is baseball.

Most likely just for the action, but out of all of them I would say that in bases the players play just as hard as they normally would in a regular season game. IMO

[bigboydan]

How many times do you actually see a team win by 1 goal in the NHL all-star game... Not many really.

Why not take a shot with either the puck line or the alt puck line in this type of exibition game. Theres some instant value right there IMO

[LT Profits]

Dan,

I love you bud but 4 of the last 10 All-Star games have been decided by one goal, so it does not happen as rarely as you imply:


1994 East 9 West 8
1995 Game cancelled as part of the season was locked out.
1996 East 5 West 4
1997 East 11 West 7
1998 North America 8 World 7
1999 North America 8 World 6
2000 World 9 North America 4
2001 North America 14 World 12
2002 World 8 North America 5
2003 West 6 East 5 (OT/SO)
2004 East 6 West 4
2005 Game cancelled as the entire season was locked out.
2006 No game due to the XX Winter Olympic Games.

[Dark Horse]

The NBA ASB is alright from a gambling perspective, because many teams use it as a calendar marker. After the break a lot of teams up the intensity, as the hunt for the playoffs and playoff positioning is on.

Two teams in the league have had home court on their minds for a long time. They also happen to be the best two teams. The ridiculous winning streaks they're putting together illustrate what most other teams think of the regular season.

[xxx]

When is the last time an NHL all star game was played on a weekday?

[onlooker]

I rarely bet on a Allstar game. The players dont go to win it, they go to show off. Well maybe its different in baseball now, since it counts.

[Jay Edgar]

For me they are difficult and perhaps even pointless to handicap in the classic sense.

But that doesn't mean pointless to bet.

Live wagering in the NBA all-star game was berry berry good last year. If a 20 point lead means little in most NBA games, it means absolutely zero in the all-star game.

[BuddyBear]

I hate all star games.....The only one worth watching is the MLB one.