Steele's College Scorebook; Trend Books Should Satisfy Angle Players Everywhere

25 June 2003

By Howard Schwartz

Phil Steele's 2003 College Football Scorebook (399 pages, 8x11 plastic spiralbound, $24.95) has arrived at Gambler's Book Club, along with the College Football Trend Notebook (136 pages, 8x11 paperbound, $32.95) and the NFL Football Notebook Trends, Sides and Totals book (81 pages, 8x11 paperbound, $2.95), the latter two from Bob Frederick and his Inside Sports View, based in Las Vegas.

Steele's Scorebook previews every important college team by position; looks at returnees and projected starting lineups; provides key boxscore statistics for every game played last season; gives five years of results and pointspreads and allows dedicated players to track the performance of a team, game by game for the entire 2003 season. Each week, if they exist, one or two betting angles are listed for that week's matchup. You can see what type of playing surface the team will be on and for those who believe it makes a difference, and that a team will try harder in front of alumni, family and friends, you'll be able to see which are Homecoming contests.

Wondering about the number of returning lettermen on offense or defense? It's listed in Steele's book along with a projection or forecast on how Steele sees each team performing in 2003. Many smaller colleges, often bettable ³board² teams are listed as well, such as Portland State, Sacramento State, Weber State, and other teams in conferences like the Big Sky. There are articles or essays on who plays the toughest schedule; the proper use of power ratings and which teams did the best job recruiting.

When it comes to trends and angles that have been profitable in the past, Bob Fredericks one of the best at compiling them. (He's been doing this more than 15 years.) In his College Football Trend Notebook, he's compiled 267 winning trends, which have succeeded at a 70 percent rate or better. Looking at Miami (FLA) for example, you're able to see they are 12-3 against the spread in season openers since 1984. They'll open at Louisiana Tech August 30. The last season opener they lost or failed to cover was in 1995 against UCLA, dropping a 31-8 decision while being favored by three points. The book is unique in that you can see the workout of every angle, game by game since originated rather than just have a quick summary. You see each game, the line, the year and the result.

Frederick's NFL Football Notebook, Trends, Sides and Totals contains 159 winning trends hitting at 70 per cent efficiency or better. Some sample angles include the fact the Minnesota Vikings are 4-11 when they play their first road game (this trend active since 1988). The Vikings play at Green Bay Sept. 7 for their first road game. Since 1979, the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints have a tendency to go under the total, with 10 unders and three overs (one push). They'll meet at New Orleans Dec. 14.

For easy reference you'll be able to see each team's complete 2003 schedule and spot what type of playing surface they're on during home games.

Lest you think everybody picks his or her own games every week, particularly in colleges, remember that every year, the guys who are out there pushing the money through the betting windows are at GBC first buying these books. They know that they can get a running start with these guys.