As posted by a former All World employee at another site.
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""""This subject comes up every year at this time--as the coin toss props are always at the head of the list--and I go right out of my mind.
So let's deal with this pro-actively.
NO, they will not defer. No one EVER defers. If you win the toss, you kick off to start the second half. Electing to kick in the first half does not change that. IOW, if you elect to kick in the first half, you still must kick to start the second half. That's the rule in the NFL, the league where no one knows the rules.
Last year I was in the car listening to the game on the radio, and Boomer Esiason was gushing, "I'm surprised the Buc's didn't elect to kick off, to put that great defense on the field..." Boomer doesn't know the rule. Nobody knows it. This league changes about 10 rules a year. That's 100 rules that have changed in ten years. So don't feel bad about not knowing the rules, because NO ONE knows the rules!
By deferring, you have, in effect, just committed a turnover--you've given your opponent an extra possession, and at the same time, you've cost yourself a possession.
Yet every year, the squares line up to bet against the team with the dominant defense in the "Team to receive opening kick" prop. The squares figure they have a 50% chance of losing the toss, plus the added chance of some genius coach electing to kick.
"No, no, no!!!", I scream in vain, every year. "You're wrong! That won't happen! It never happens!"
And every year, that team with the dominant D loses the toss. The squares cash their tickets, and point at me and laugh.
Remember 2 years ago, when the Pats spent the entire week leading up to gametime saying, "Our only chance to beat these Rams is to keep Warner and Faulk on the sidelines."?? I still took a million bets from squares who were convinced that the Pats, who rode their defense to the conference title, would elect to kick, to put that vaunted D on the field. AFTER SIX DAYS OF, "WE DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BALL," I GOT HAMMERED BY PEOPLE WHO WERE SURE THAT MEANT, "WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE BALL AT THE FIRST OPPURTUNITY."
And the Rams won the toss, and the squares beat my brains in again, for all the wrong reasons.
Last year the Buccs managed to win the toss, snapping a streak that dated back all the years I've been booking this prop.""""""""