HILTON CONTEST – MORE OBSERVATIONS Coming into this week, after 50 selections, all of the contestants have fallen under 70%. None of the top 5 contestants could do any better than 3-2 this week, and all are now below 69%. This season is no different from every other season in that regard. Remember that the next time some tout claims to have been 74% last season. If he passes the lie detector test on that question,... Read more

Boo hoo! Week One started with a 2-3. The worst part was I was 3-2 at the Crowne Club on late picks. My Contest Points +2. Here are the results of my picks: Detroit Lions +6.5 Won Indianapolis Colts -2 ½ Lost San Francisco 49ers -3 Lost San Diego Chargers -4 ½ Lost Washington Redskins +3 ½ Won Adding the Washington pick didn't change the results that would have occurred anyway. The play that was forgotten... Read more

Normal 0 HILTON NFL CONTEST - A BAD BET © Robert Crowne & Assoc., Sept. 10, 2010 Note: The Las Vegas Hilton Supercontest is a trademark of the Las Vegas Hilton. The Hilton Supercontest has been peopled, in the main, by existing sports services trying to make a reputation for themselves, entrants seeking to launch a sports service career based on the publicity... Read more

Unlike the regular season, won-lost records are one of the most important handicapping tools in the preseason. In some cases, SU won-lost trends are the only handicapping tool available for a preseason game. They must, however, be used properly and with the exercise of common sense. The handicapper uses won-lost records as an indication of coaching attitude. When attempting to discern coaching attitudes, some analysts... Read more

Preseason football is one of the only places in which trends across several seasons can be meaningfully used. The reason is that the winner of any game in the NFL Preseason is controlled almost entirely by which team is playing to win. Which team wants to depends on just three things: 1. The desire of the coach. 2. The desire of the owner. 3. The desire of the players when there is a battle for the starting or second... Read more

Here are the answers to some of the questions asked in the Comments to my article, " Teaser of the Year? What's That? " Question 1 : posted by jonpistone2 on 12/07/2009 3:01 AM i noticed u talked lots about 6 and 7 point teasers...clearly in a 13 point teasers you must get FOUR games right, rather than two...and ties are counted as a LOSS (which ive noticed makes these 12.5 point teasers if the line isnt already set at... Read more

Last Saturday, a pay-after-you-win internet sports handicapper promoted a "Teaser of the Year." His recommended teaser was a 7-point beauty on Rutgers/Oregon. Both teams were favored by 5.5 points, and were teased to +1 1/2. Rutgers took a bath, making the teaser a hideous loser at odds of 13-10 for most people. As I thought about the selections and the promotion, I couldn't help but wonder what a "Teaser of the Year... Read more

At the beginning of October, I wrote an article titled, "Lessons from the Hilton Contest." I pointed out that keeping track of the Hiton NFL Contest provides an excellent lesson in short term vs. long term results. There are, however, two more lessons that we can learn from examining the contest: LESSON #1 : Despite what you've heard, you can't win by betting against against the public because in terms of individual game... Read more

Question : How do you stop a chicken from hatching? Answer: Call Rob Crowne You know the saying: "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Well, when it comes to hatching chickens, I'm a champ at stopping them. Last night my Crowne Jewel was on Minnesota. I predicted Minnesota would win by 14. My point predictions are sufficiently accurate that I will often back them with my money. Last night, in the " Margin of... Read more

Keeping track of the Hilton NFL Contest can be an excellent lesson in short term vs. long term results. At the end of three weeks of NFL action, the top selector in the Hilton Contest stood at an excellent, and very lucky, 13-2 (87%). You don't expect him to be 69-11 at the end of the Contest, do you? The next four selectors were tied for 2nd place with a record of 12-3 (80%). There are 60 contestants who stand at 67... Read more