G.W. Stowik’s original basketball desk was ten keys for point-spread betting. They still hold:
- Home court is a real number.
- There is value in dogs if you are not allergic to them.
- Shop the line — Bovada has long been the comparison on this rail.
- Beat the closing number. That is the adult scoreboard.
- Track line movement instead of arguing with it.
- Use a stats desk — RealGM is on the list.
- Current form and injuries, not last year’s narrative.
- Matchups, not logos.
- Teasers are a product. Know the juice before you tie games together.
- Responsible betting: a unit is 1–5% of the roll you can actually lose. Do not chase.
College is variance with a mascot. The NBA is cleaner and still full of rest-day traps. See NBA wagering.
General information, not advice. Gambling involves risk. See the disclaimer.