The Linemakers

[Arky]

Gotta say, my new favorite show is "The Linemakers" on the Velocity channel, Friday nights (channel 364 on Dish, don't know about the others).

These guys get together every Friday and handicap a few college football games and a few pro football games for the coming weekend although they do get into other sports such as boxing, college basketball, etc. The show offers a lot of insight into the world of sports betting and how the lines and point spreads are set up.

The panel of "experts" is made up of a few guys that look like old school wiseguys and and a few guys who kinda represent corporate-New-Las-Vegas.

I've been watching for 3 or 4 weeks now and sometimes the panel will agree on a pick but not always. More often than not, they are right. Occasionally, they "slump" - a couple of weeks ago they had a not so good run on a string of college football games.

They present the show without encouraging betting or huckstering "stone-cold, guaranteed, lock-of-the-year picks." If interested, tune in and check it out...

.....The goal is to be informative and entertaining, and to be ourselves," former Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas sports book manager Vinny Magliulo said....

The credibility of the show is who these guys are and what they have accomplished," said Brian Blessing, a Las Vegas radio and television host who moderates the program's discussions. "There is a high level of expertise in this group and I think that comes across to the viewer."

....Velocity says the show offers insights into the inner workings of Nevada's race and sports book industry. While college and professional football are the show's primary focus, major boxing matches, horse races and NASCAR are often discussed....

....Scanlon said "The Linemakers" is geared toward Velocity's target audience of upscale men.

"The show was conceived as giving inside information to the smartest guys in the room," Scanlon said. "It tells someone why and how the line on a game is set."....

"The Linemakers" is not a "tout show," where sports handicappers argue over the point spreads while urging viewers to call toll-free telephone numbers for their "stone-cold, guaranteed, lock-of-the-year picks."

It might be clear which team a Linemaker might favor, but it's not an over-the-top "you need to make a wager" recommendation.

"When you're giving thoughts about a line, it's hard for your opinion not to come across," said Richie Baccellieri, who has run the books at Caesars, MGM Grand and the Palms......

.....Magliulo handles an opening segment and provides insight into the previous week's key games. Later in the show, Magliulo and D'Amico offer comments on upcoming college and professional games. Herron discusses fantasy football with Blessing.

"We're trying to let people know what goes on behind the counters," D'Amico said. "We try to educate the bettors. There has never been a show like this."
.....

[Arky]

Bah, I no longer get this show. Dishnetwork removed it from Top 200. If you've got Dish and Top 250, you can still find it on Velocity channel 9421.

Don't know about the other carriers...