Since it's been a tradition of mine, to head down to the Vegas Strip each year a few hours before they put the March Madness point-spreads up...and hang around to see old friends, as well as what the "Sharps" think early...I was really looking forward to giving Play-by-Play of the action I'm seeing via my TWITTER Page  http://twitter.com/VegasRunner...Because so much happens during those first few hours that is very telling...

We get a clearer picture of the confidence the bookmakers have for the oddsmakers numbers, soley on how quickly and how much money they are willing to book at a particular price before raising or lowering it...And we can definitely see what the "Wiseguys" are thinking, based on their pattern of betting...

So I was really amped up for it when a friend of mine who I've known my entire life gave me a call...This friend has been here in Vegas as long as I have, and we both were "Runners" on the Strip...betting for some of the biggest Syndicates, during the time when Vegas had a much bigger influence in the Sports Betting Market...Which was prior, and at the very conception of Off-Shore Wagering...

My friend still moves "Steam" for many of the biggest Pros in town and from around the globe, and unfortunately, he is going through a very tough time, due to the illness of his wife...To make a long story, shorter...He was in no condition to do his thing when the point-spreads were going to be posted, and knowing how much his livelyhood depends on March Madness...when he asked if I would cover for him, there was just no way that I could refuse...

Well, I got all ready...strapped with communication devices and funds, and headed down to the Strip to await the numbers...To my surprise, I ran into so many fellas from the old days, who still Bet/Create Steam...And also saw a lot of new faces who are here from the Islands and other parts of the US, in town for March Madness...

And although I gave my word that I wouldn't Twitter everything that I was doing and betting...It is ok that I pass along the experience, as well as some good info , and some things we can expect...

For starters, I was handed a sheet with all of the Match-Ups and the Numbers my friend was looking for...And based on the difference between what he thought and what was offered, I was supposed to bet a pre-set amount...The bigger the discrepency, the bigger the edge...

Immediately, as the Lines for the Sides came out...I saw that the Oddsmakers sent them out much higher than what the "Sharps" expected...And I am sure of that because most Syndicates Power Ratings are extremelly close to one and other and my friend's are as Sharp as they come...That is why it became a race to the window, to try and get down all the money we all could...on those spreads we all felt were off...

I am sure most of you have noticed that almost all of the moves were towards the underdogs...But I can also tell you that I know for fact that many of those moves were "Set-Ups"...So that the followers and other public bettors see the move, and bet it as well...moving the line even lower...So that when Thursday/Friday comes, my friend and all the others down on the Strip moving money are able to come back and take the Favorite...the side they really liked to begin with, at a much better price...

I knew from my days as a Runner, that this  happens every March Madness...because the limits taken from bookmakers is so much higher than during the regular season...Making this kind of exploitation of the market profitable...

This is why the Oddsmakers job is so difficult...and they will all admit that they judge their success and failures on how the "Sharps" end up doing, who forced the biggest adjustments...

Now although it wouldn't be right for me to pass along those couple of "Line-Moves" that I know to be fake...I can tell you that if you see a line which dropped a few points, get adjusted significantly right before game-time...You can be assured it a wager that was set up that very night that I am writing about...

So I hit a pre-decided upon handful of sportsbooks...and applied my trade...The best part was seeing some of the bookmakers from back in the day who were shocked to see me taking orders, rather than giving them on games...And that made it difficult for them to decide what to do with the spread after I bet it...For those books that I've known from my days as a Runner, I went ahead and explained to them what I was doing out of common courtesy...But I had so much fun messing with the handful of new and young books, who didn't know if I was a Square with Money, or a Sharp looking to score...And I even got to use a line I picked up from one of the best Hustlers of our time...When asked. "Well how much do you want on the Game"...I got to respond, "Since I'm not on a Budget, at least let me feel it"...That one always gets a laugh, and usually allows for a bigger wager...

I could go on forever writing about all the things that I saw...because it was just like being on the stock market floor...And so much money is being wagered and so many decisions are being made about what to do with the number based on the betting...I mean, it's the cat and mouse game, of all cat and mouse games...With the Winner being decided when all the games go final...

But before I go, I want to pass along these facts that I know to be true...

First, the majority of money bet on Thursday Games, will come in on Thursday...And then the same holds true for every other day...I say this so that you know to pay closest attention to line moves the day of the games...

Next, keep in mind that last year...the books got totally destroyed on the first 2 days of March Madness, when the Favorites went "21-11" ATS...And after speaking with many of the others down there moving "Steam"...that is why we all believed that so much of what was being bet on Sunday, was simply done so that these big Syndicates don't tip their hands...And at the very same time, work towards getting a much better wager on gameday...

Finally, next year I hope to be able to give a live play-by-play...So that I can tell you all of the teams these guys were betting the most on, and which I can be sure are set-ups...But this year, I'll try to organize all of that info I picked up on Sunday Night...that I truely wouldn't have been aware of if I didn't cover for my freind...and see if I can make sense of it, and have another great March Madness...

I want to wish you all the best, and to let you know that you really should give much more respect to "Sharp Money" being bet...Because I can assure you that these next few weeks, are used by many of these Syndicates...to do their heaviest, and historically, most successful betting of the year...Thanks,. Vegas-Runner