One of the major difference between sharps and squares is that sharps bet numbers and squares bet teams. The most successful sports handicappers use a quantitative standard for assessing the game. In order to do that, it is imperative to use power rankings, also known as power ratings, to identify the point differential between opposing teams. By comparing two teams power ratings and accounting for home field advantage, the bettor can objectively determine what the point spread should be and take advantage of any difference in the actual line.
Team rankings are a snap shop of where the team is on game day. There are a plethora of factors that combine to make up the team rank. Some of the many factors are positional strength, strength of schedule, margin of victory, against the spread margin, yards per play, DVOA, injuries, previous opponent, future opponent, situational edges, motivation, team continuity, coaching, analytical data, and many more. These factors are blended together uniquely to the individual that is creating them. Because of the subjective nature of each aspect of the team ranking and how they are combined, most power rankings can be very different from one another.
Most individuals who work a straight job, (not a full-time sports bettor), do not have enough time to create their own power rankings. It is completely acceptable and even suggested that these individuals find someone they trust or use a composite of multiple power rankings and start handicapping based off the numbers. Find a power ranking that you trust, tweak it, account for home field advantage, handicap ancillary factors, and then bet the point spread value that will offer a 55% or greater return on investment.
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