I'm also new at this. I keep an eye on the live lines during the game and look for obvious picks. Here's what happened last week in the BAL - DEN game:
I had BAL +5 before the game and BAL scored first (FG). The Denver ML immediately went to +133 so I jumped on it to create a middle/scalp.
Late into the 4th quarter, Denver leads 13-3 and Pinny offers DEN -9.5 at +120, so I also jump on that in case the middle doesn't hit (it didn't).
Ended up winning $60. If BAL had come back with a TD, I would've won $140. Only way I could have lost money is if BAL had come back with only a FG, which was pretty unlikely since it served no purpose that late in the game.
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82493673-1
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</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">12:48pm
9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">Football
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Baltimore Ravens (+5) vs Denver Broncos for Game</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">+100</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">100.00</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">-100.00</td> </tr> <tr id="pitcher9" class="hidden"><td class="accountText" colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="1" class="accountText" align="center" nowrap="nowrap">3 - 13</td><td colspan="1" class="accountText" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">NFL</td><td colspan="4" class="accountText" align="left">
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82524335-1
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</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">6:54pm
9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">Football
Money</td> <td class="accountText" align="left" valign="bottom">Baltimore Ravens vs
Denver Broncos for Game</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">+133</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">75.19</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> 100.00</td> </tr> <tr id="pitcher10" class="hidden"><td class="accountText" colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="1" class="accountText" align="center" nowrap="nowrap">3 - 13</td><td colspan="1" class="accountText" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">NFL Live</td><td colspan="4" class="accountText" align="left">
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82533532-1
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</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">8:21pm
9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">9-Oct-06</td> <td class="accountText" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">Football
Spread</td> <td class="accountText" align="left" valign="bottom">Baltimore Ravens vs
Denver Broncos (-9.5) for Game</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">+120</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom">50.00</td> <td class="accountText" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> 60.00</td></tr></tbody></table>