How about this idea?

[marqfan22]

Why not have the Vegas rank the teams? They know more about the teams than anyone since it's a billion dollar investment to have the scoop. I know it will never happen, but I would trust a casino's knowledge of a team over some Ivy league AD.

Please refrain if you don't have an opinion.

[StillAWarrior]

Why not have the Vegas rank the teams? They know more about the teams than anyone since it's a billion dollar investment to have the scoop. I know it will never happen, but I would trust a casino's knowledge of a team over some Ivy league AD.

Please refrain if you don't have an opinion.

I'm not sure I agree with the basic premise that "Vegas" knows the teams better than the NCAA committee.

A bookmaker's main concern is to try to have an equal amount of money on each side of a game; that's how the casino ensures a profit.  Because of this, they often must factor in the teams' fans.  Teams with extremely strong fan bases (say Duke or Notre Dame) tend to get more love from Vegas -- shown through point spreads designed to get some money on the opponent.  I would think that Vegas would favor big name schools in order to maximize gambling interest.  I don't think that solves the problems that we've been talking about.

[marqfan22]

I hear you on that.

The line started out with MSU -2.5 and then dropped to MSU -1.5.  Obviously, there was action on MU to shift the line.  The line probably won't change more than once.  Enrollment wise, MSU is about 5 times as large as MU, so one would think there would have been more money on MSU to start.

USC (5)/ Arkansas(12) is a PK.  Both those schools are equal size.  Thats stinks for USC to have only a 50% chance when they're seeded 5th.

Just thinking about that...

[slingkong]

I think that USC/Arrrrkansas line has more to do with USC being overrated (as is the entire PAC10) and it being a 5/12 matchup. Quite a few people are tempted to pick a 12 just because it's the "dreaded" matchup.

[marqfan22]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2795259&sportCat=ncb

Great article about thsi topic

[WashDCWarrior]

"One by one, Sinisi hands in the sheets, which are entered in the company's computer system and released to the sports books. He struggled with the No. 9 Michigan State-No. 8 Marquette matchup, but ultimately made the lower-seeded Spartans a 2-point favorite. "[MSU coach Tom] Izzo gets the respect," he said."

[muhoosier260]

concerning stillawarrior's comment, do you honestly believe that the committe doesn't already consider the size of fan base?!?!?!?! that's ludicrous. let's say duke is the same team that they are, but their name is changed to miami (fl), do they really get the same respect as "duke". no, there's no way. the committee gives too much credit to namesake, i.e. duke, indiana and illinois this year. granted they didn't consider the namesake of syracuse, but they really were a bubble team. the committee is full of themselves

[MarquetteDano]

I hear what Still is saying about trying to even the lines.  However, supply and demand evens the lines.  And if the lines were always skewed in favor of the larger fan base, then it would be a lock bet to always pick the lesser fan base and we would all be millionaires.

Alas, that isn't the case.  The supply and demand of the lines are pretty darn efficient.  If you argue they are not, you would be much better off ignoring us lowly board posters and become a professional gambler in Vegas.

[StillAWarrior]

concerning stillawarrior's comment, do you honestly believe that the committe doesn't already consider the size of fan base?!?!?!?!

Of course I don't think that.  Not by any stretch of the imagination.  My point was simply that I don't think turning things over to Vegas would solve that problem.  The only way to get a truly unbiased selection -- and I'm not sure I'm willing to concede that it is even possible -- is to have the selection done by someone that does not have any financial stake in the tournament.  Vegas has a huge financial stake in the tournament.