The college basketball season is in full swing, with many teams approaching the one-third mark of their season. We thought we would take a few minutes to converse with one the best college basketball handicappers in the business, Edward from Right Angles Sports. He single-handily has established Right Angle Sports as the premier source for college sports handicapping.

Already this season R.A.S. is hitting an incredible 61 percent in college basketball, with a long history of success and winners dating back to 1996. Edward is a busy guy so we jumped right in.

StatFox: What makes Right Angle Sports different from other handicapping services?

Edward: First, I do college sports only and take that a step further by focusing on college basketball when the season starts in November. The reason I do this is with over 200 board teams (the teams oddsmakers offer lines on), it takes time and I’m more of an information based handicapper. I’m always seeking as much information on each team as I can. It would be impossible for me to do justice to my clients if I was handicapping other sports at the same time. Most of the industry is focuses on sales, TV games, the NFL and NBA. For me with my style of handicapping, the NFL and the NBA are the two hardest to beat. With so much media coverage and information easily accessible to the public, the numbers are harder to beat. With college sports, it’s not as easy to see all the teams on television or find the right information on every team.

SF: The way the college basketball schedules are set up, that must mean you are extremely busy preparing for huge boards on Wednesday and Saturday boards, especially once league play starts.

ED: The schedule can be imposing and I have a full-time partner and during the season, we live, eat and breathe college basketball.

SF:  What does Right Angle Sports do in college basketball handicapping of games that separates you from your competitors?

ED: Living in Southern California, I go to every open scrimmage and practice that is available to me. This allows me to get any early start and I like to use the term “protect my house”, giving me an edge knowing the local teams, before working on the other conferences. I have the correct information on the Big West, the WCC, the Big Sky, the Mountain West and the Pac-10. I really like the smaller conferences. My strength is on the really big cards, I can nail these games.

SF: So what your saying is while others focus on the Big East, Big Ten and SEC, your real expertise is in the value of smaller conferences, where the line makers are potentially not as focused on those games.

ED: Exactly, they (the linemakers) are looking at an ESPN or ABC game, while I’m focusing on a game with limited information that can produce winners.

ED: True, these are the hardest numbers for oddsmakers to make and they do make mistakes. I could probably do a better job of making numbers on the totals, but that doesn’t mean I would be better if I had to do all the other sports as well. Because of what we do, we have success in finding the three or four mistakes in big cards and have a huge edge in these games.

SF: On your website, you have “closing line value”, can you explain.

ED: The closing line is the most accurate line out there based on public perception. If you are making wagers at -2 and the line closes at -4,  that ends up being the most accurate line, which becomes the final line everything is judged. If you are betting the -2 side, that is the best indication you are going to be a long term winner. Much like real estate, you have the asking price, followed by the offer price, what the final agreed upon price is the market value price, which is probably the most accurate.

SF: How does the person that uses your service evaluate closing line value?

ED: Let’s say -2 is the morning line, I formulate my opinion on the game at the same price. I release the play for purchase and everyone else’s opinion gets factored in during the course of the day. By the time the game is ready to start and the line has moved to -4, you the customer picked up two points of closing line value. There are sportsbooks who track customers plays to see how good a sports bettor is and they can determine if that player is sharp or just lucky by following his betting patterns compared the actual line at the time of placing bet.

SF: Here at StatFox we receive inquiries about what are the hot conferences or the ones to follow this season. From what you’ve seen, what is your opinion?

ED: Outside of the Big Six conferences, I like to look at the Mountain West; I don’t believe they get the proper respect they deserve. They are looking at four teams that should be tournament worthy, BYU, UNLV, San Diego State and Utah. Even some of the lower level teams have changed coaches and made good hires for those programs. TCU got Jim Christian from Kansas State and Steve Alford at New Mexico. As a whole, I think the conference is underrated.

SF: Do you see any conference where it is going to be hard to win home or away?

ED: The Big East has so many good teams, there is not going to be any easy games. I expect you will see a lot of upsets. In the league as a whole, I don’t see any easy outs in the conference.

SF: Being the middle of December and a few conference games popping up, do you handicap any differently for non-conference vs conference contests?

ED: Definitely when looking at totals, the teams know each other much better, because the scouting in more through and the tempo of the games is not as fast in conference play. Generally, you will see lower scoring games in league play. The other thing I look at is giving less value to home court advantage, because the visiting team has played there before and know their opponent as well as they know them. I’m more prone to look at road teams in conference action than in non-conference games. 

SF: Do you grade every team the same at home or do you make adjustments?

ED: For the most part, four points is the general rule, but every situation I study is different. I definitely take into consideration teams that play well on the road and those that don’t and am very aware of who the good home teams are.

SF: You’ve seen North Carolina, I’m trying to think of a more impressive team in recent memory and they still haven’t had everybody at full strength on the roster. Do you think the Tar Heels could go unbeaten this year?

ED: I do think they have a chance. They haven’t played any tougher of a non-conference schedule than they usually do. It’s a litter harder to gauge with Michigan State not as strong as anticipated, having lost to Maryland previously. The Kentucky team they beat has not been too impressive to date. Looking at their schedule, North Carolina plays at Wake Forest, has the home and home with Duke, plus the ACC tournament, which appear to be the only remaining tests they will have.

SF: With that said, are their in your opinion any good spots to play on or against the Tar Heels, since people are still going to want to play them?

ED: I think this goes for any big favorite, whenever you are going to give a lot of points, I think you have to know there is some motivational circumstance for them to want to beat another team badly. Whether its revenge situation or derogatory quotes, it becomes something that gives them a reason to want to perform. As far as playing against North Carolina, the three games I mentioned that will be big games, they could be situations for a letdown just before or after the important contests.

SF: In closing Edward, what tidbit of betting college basketball information is a consistent winner you have found that works?

ED: One thing people don’t do is focus on a select conference or two, instead of trying to figure out the whole board. Obviously, time plays a big part in any sports bettors’ world, get to know a conference extremely well and don’t try and do too much. Otherwise, give us a try with our proven track record and let us do the work for you.

SF: Great insights Edward, continued success to you and Happy Holidays.

ED: Thanks, it’s been a pleasure and the same to you.