On this episode of The Football Analytics Show, I talk with Matthew Holt, the Chief Operating Officer at CG Technologies and the guy who sets the opening lines in Nevada. Among other topics, we discuss:
- How sportsbooks use analytics to set market values
- How much gathering injury data has changed the past 12 years
- The markets that Matthew suggests for finding value
- The subjective adjustments that sportsbooks and bettors must make to the numbers
- The crazy odds for the New York Jets under 4.5 wins this NFL preseason
Matthew was a joy to talk with and even offered his help to anyone interested in getting into the sports world.
After the interview, I discuss my predicted total in Texas Tech at West Virginia and the pass defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Listen at 36:02.
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Wow, your best podcast so far! Any insight into how the bookmakers think and work is so interesting and potentially valuable. Loved the early lines insight… especially how bettors like to see multiple lines before deciding. Would love to hear more from other sportsbook operators.
BTW, second favorite podcast was Rufus Peabody. Hearing a legit sharp speak about his craft was awesome.
Thanks Ed. Keep up the good work.
Let us not fool ourselves here. Matthew Holt does not even work in risk (how else would he have time to spend his whole day making media appearances, largely with fraudulent sports betting touts) and his “linesmaking” consists almost entirely of printing out CRIS lines and handing them out to people who actually work in risk.