| Marc Lawrence - About Me |
|
Age: 50-14 (or as Rod Stewart would say, “Forever Young”)
Years in handicapping: Began handicapping professionally in 1975. Developed a love for the profession as a student in high school where I met my wife and have been happily married since.
Achievements in handicapping: Won more documented Top 10 Handicapping Achievement Awards than anyone in the nation (400-plus). More recent accomplishments include winning the 2008 Playbook Football Wise Guys Contest and the No.1 ranking in NFL Win Percentage in 2008 (by SPORTS WATCH in Las Vegas), Playbook Football Wise Guys Contest Best Bet Champion in 2007, No.1 ranking NFL Win Percentage (by SPORTS MONITOR in Oklahoma City) in 2006, and No. 1 ranking in College Football in 2005 (by SPORTS MONITOR in Oklahoma). Won the prestigious STARDUST INVITATIONAL FOOTBALL CONTEST in 2005. In addition, was named HANDICAPPER OF THE YEAR in 2005 by FOOTBALL NEWS. Reached the semifinals of the 2006 LEROYS MONEY TALKS CONTEST and the quarterfinals of the 2007 LEROYS MONEY TALKS CONTEST. I also managed to establish a personal best 16-game win streak in MLB prior to the 2011 All-Star break. Ended the 2012 NFL with a winning record for the 7th consecutive season.
Biggest win of the year: Our 10* plays are rare and only occur two or three times a year. We released a 10* play on San Jose State when they hosted BYU this season. The Spartans were playing their best ball of the season and were returning home off back-to-back road romps as 3-point dogs to the Cougars. Aside from owning the better record and playing with revenge, SJSU was 3-0 ATS in the role a home dog with a better record – winning all three games in straight up fashion. QB David Fales, a JUCO transfer who had originally signed with Nevada, was having an outstanding season and the Spartans actually outgained Stanford in a season opening 3-point loss. BYU had been chewing up losing opponents, going 5-0 in the season, but had struggled against winning opposition, 1-4. It worked well when the San Jose State beat BYU, 20-14.
Biggest loss of the year: As rewarding as our College 10* play was, our NFL 10* on the Pittsburgh Steelers was not kind. Holding a 7-point lead with just over 7 minutes remaining, underdog Pittsburgh proceeded to fumble a long punt return. Dallas proceeded to score and send the game into overtime where Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger promptly tossed an interception on Pittsburgh’s first possession. The Cowboys kicked a field goal and it was game over. Ouch.
Systems used for handicapping: I have authored thousands of articles expounding on the fact that three primary forms of sports handicapping exist. Those are Fundamental, Statistical and Technical. To be a successful handicapper one must be a well-rounded handicapper, meaning it’s critically important to blend all three forms into the handicapping equation. I rely heavily on a powerful database that allows me to query scores, stat and results of games played since 1980 in College and Pro Football, along with College and Pro Basketball. By being able to identify and recreate identical situations, and checking them against the database, I have come to rely on similar results created by this technical ‘cause and effect’. Applying these findings to statistical and fundamental matchups makes for a solid handicap. By applying the handicap to ‘value’ we learn to win in the long run. And winning, in the long run, is what it’s all about. ??
Game Ratings: I rate games on a weighted star (*) basis. They include: 1* - light leans, reserved primarily for free or opinion plays. 3* - medium selection, usually reserved for daily premium plays.4* - strong selection, Key Plays usually released once to three times weekly. 5* - very strong selection, MVP Plays usually released once to three times monthy. 10* - extremely strong selection, MVP plays usually released once to three times annually. Please play accordingly.
Favorite team to wager on or against: I firmly believe fatal mistakes are made by players who tend to fall in love with a certain team(s). The bottom line is they are all ‘machines’ and our job as handicappers is to identify those that are well oiled and hitting on all cylinders, and conversely those who are not. My primary focus is isolating on winning teams in underdog situations that have a good chance of winning the game in straight-up fashion. If they do, you win. If they don’t, but play well, you still win. If they do neither, you lose. I like those kinds of odds. Hence, I live by the ‘Woody Hayes’ theory of handicapping. Hayes’ contention was that when you pass the ball, three things can happen and two of them are bad. When it comes to handicapping sporting events, three things can happen when you bet on a favorite, and two of them are bad. Conversely, three things can happen when you bet on a dog, and two of them are good. Think about that the next time you’re convinced a favorite can’t lose.
Team you avoid when wagering: I look to avoid high priced favorites, especially those with supsect defenses. In the same regard, I will avoid playing losing teams that are favored against winning opponents because losing teams find ways to lose, while winning teams find ways to win.
Sports, conferences and divisions the service excels at handicapping: Over the years I have come to realize that results will vary from sport to sport and season-to-season. Because of my experience and my powerful database, I have learned it’s important to keep an accurate pulse on what is working and what is not. As a result, I have been fortunate to have enjoyed success on all levels.
Quote: Nothing overcomes experience, hard work and information. Together they help make informed decisions. Nobody - absolutely nobody - in this industry is more dedicated or works harder at handicapping sports than I. Because of my desire to be the very best handicapper I can be, I continue to burn the midnight oil while working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I’ve learned over the years that the harder I work, the luckier I get… and I’m a real lucky guy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
• |
2012-2013 NCAA BK #3 Money Leader: +2,226 |
|
• |
2012-2013 NCAA BK #2 Percent Leader: 59% |
|
• |
2012-2013 NCAA BK #2 Guarantee Leader: +1,211 |
|
• |
2011-2012 NBA #3 Money Leader: +1,003 |
|
• |
2011-2012 NBA #2 Percentage Leader: 55% |
|
• |
2011-2012 NCAA BK #2 Percent Leader: 56% |
|
• |
2009-2010 NFL Money Leader: +1,620 |
|
• |
2009-2010 NFL Percent Leader: 59% |
|
• |
2008-2009 NBA Guaranteed Leader: 61% |
|
• |
2007-2008 NCAA BK #3 Percentage Leader: 56% |
|
• |
2006-2007 NFL #3 Money Leader: +780 |
|
• |
Semi-Finalist in 2006 in the $100,000 Leroy's Money Talks Contest |
|
• |
WON the 2005 Stardust Football Invitational Contest |
|
• |
2005 MLB #2 Money Leader: +1,677 |
|
• |
2004-2005 NCAA BK #2 Percentage Leader: 55% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
