Alex (Not So) Smart

I spent the weekend looking for websites where I can get additional information on American football matches as a way to look for trends to bet on.

Whilst searching through one of the sites I usually go on, I came across a section where professional gamblers offer their picks on the sports for a weekly or monthly fee. We're talking big business here as these guys charge a fair sum for subscriptions.

Some may think that my betting is crazy at times but you'll be glad to hear I have absolutely no intention of paying for tips. Unless you count the Racing & Fotball Outlook at £1.60 a week, of course.

That's not to say I didn't take any of these professionals' advice, though.

You see - each of these cappers have a 'free pick' on their pages as a way to entice potential customers. It makes sense really; Put a pick on the page and make sure it wins so the punter will return for more. With that in mind, I thought I would have a small punt on one of the college football games that was tipped.

Alex Smart - one of the cappers - wrote a piece explaining how he thought Utah would beat the spread in their game against UNLV. I placed a bet on them at a -22 handicap and went to bed.

The following morning, I woke up to see 'LOSE' written on the online betting slip. It was only a few pence lost - I was only testing the waters..

Later on that day, Mr Smart did yet another free pick. This time he urged the reader to bet on Miami in their game against the New York Jets.

I had already placed a bet on New York so I was worried why he would select the Dolphins. I read his small article and noticed one thing.

He wrote saying how the fair-weather bettors were fickle putting their cash on the Jets because of the Brett Favre arrival. He ran down the bad season the Jets had last year and hyped up the Florida team and their new coaching staff.

He failed to acknowledge that Miami's previous season was even worse. From there, I hoped he was wrong.

The Jets won. Barely. Alex Smart was almost right but I prevailed against the pro!

When New York were a few points clear in the mid-way point of the game, I went onto the website to get a few quotes to put in here today but the write-up had gone. Funny that.

I'm not saying Alex Smart doesn't know what he is on about. Far from it. I'm just saying that - in my two experiences of reading his picks - he's got a one hundred percent record. In the wrong direction.