Comments on: Lovie Smith: Bears were motivated by being eight-point underdogs

By: asublimeday

asublimeday — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:37:26 +0000

i am a dieheart packer’s fan (wisconsin born, raised AND educated) and i holey agree that the bears are underratted.

-if there is any teams in the league left on the packers schedule is will be the bears who they will be deal the first lost. even although they dont play again until week 6teen
————-

Haha awesome. That Wisconsin education shining through!

By: granadafan

granadafan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:32:23 +0000

“pikindaguy says:
Nov 8, 2011 11:01 AM
Players should be allowed to bet on themselves for moneyline bets., it’s not as if their goals would be aligned any differently if they were allowed to.”
=======================================================

Ever heard of point shaving and “integrity of the game”? Sure, a player(s) can win, but win below the point spread and pay off their bookie or make loads more cash. If you can’t see anything wrong with that, then there’s no point in continuing the discussion.

By: makinghtmlcodeforfacebook

makinghtmlcodeforfacebook — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:46:38 +0000

bcjim says:
Nov 8, 2011 10:26 AM

“8 pts? Who set that line?”

- the people that gamble on the game set that line. How did that comment get so many thumbs up?

By: piemasteruk

piemasteruk — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:43:31 +0000

“The betting line is set so that the amount of money bet FOR a position equals the money bet AGAINST a position. Period, end of story.”

This is not the case. Period, end of story.

By: greenbaysucks

greenbaysucks — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:43:10 +0000

The fact that this spread was 8 points is just crazy.

These teams have played against each other A LOT in the last few years. They know each other. Teams that know each other tend to have closer games.

The other point – the Eagles are overrated. They are bad. Too much talent, not enough chemistry.

By: kevpft

kevpft — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:34:04 +0000

@norcalchief, you’re wrong about the betting line. It has everything to do with how good they think the team is, because that’s how they set that magical point where the money equalizes.

Maybe you’re trying to say that it’s nothing personal? That I would agree with. But that’s not how motivation works – whether it’s personal or not, if an institution is putting its financial stake on a safe bet being your team losing, that’s something that can readily motivate a team to not perform to diminished expectations.

By: bearsrulepackdrool

bearsrulepackdrool — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:25:34 +0000

early line Bears a one point favorite against Detroit. I’m going to need you to find better motivational tactics this week.

By: kiefs85

kiefs85 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:54:54 +0000

Nice try “greenpacker”. You’re going to have to be a bit less obvious with your grammatical errors. Enjoy your Bears or whomever you cheer for—it will be over soon.

By: joecb91

joecb91 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:47:52 +0000

Its not just about being underdogs, its about how much the Eagles were favored by. If the spread was more like 3 points they probably wouldn’t mind as much.

By: bearsrulepackdrool

bearsrulepackdrool — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:44:54 +0000

You don’t have to look at the spread in Vegas or another gambling site. The media will do it for you as soon as it comes out. Heck ESPN has the spread on their bottomline on a daily basis. What you expect people to just ignore that?

By: gergie1957

gergie1957 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:34:57 +0000

I was wondering which Eagle team showed up last night? It wasn’t the team that showed up to play the Cowboys. Last week they were flying around hitting the Boys in the mouth, left and right.
Last night they were slow to the line, confused, and hesitant. We’ll see who shows up next week.

By: mjkelly77

mjkelly77 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:25:50 +0000

Hey, it’s the point spread that made the NFL what it is today.

By: nineroutsider

nineroutsider — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:25:39 +0000

Martz hasn’t called a game I liked since he was with the Rams, but if he calls them like that the Bears are a playoff team.

By: champ27

champ27 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:24:07 +0000

They were motivated because they were underdogs……Then why are they not undefeated.

By: westmantooth

westmantooth — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:24:02 +0000

They were also motivated by being home underdogs in the NFC Championship Game last year. Urlacher made that extremely clear.

How did that work out?

By: tformation

tformation — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:18:51 +0000

It wasn’t just Vegas that was disrespecting the Bears, every single analyst on ESPN picked the Bears… except Ditka. And he’s kind obligated to pick the Bears. Both PFT “experts” picked the Eagles over the Bears too.

Too many sports media people have bought the “dream team” hype. The Eagles look great on paper. On the field, they look like paper tigers.

By: norcalchief

norcalchief — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:12:00 +0000

The ignorance on the part of people saying these statements is laughable (Mike & Mike said roughly the same thing this morning).

Let’s get on the same page people: the betting line has zero, ZERO to do with how good someone in a dark room in a faraway city thinks your team is or isn’t.

The betting line is set so that the amount of money bet FOR a position equals the money bet AGAINST a position. Period, end of story.

If anything, Lovie should take this as a sign that Vegas had to encourage money on the for Eagles side, because at a pick-em or +3 spread, too much money was on the Bears to cover.

By: herokravon

herokravon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:06:12 +0000

Actually they were 9.5 point underdogs closer to kickoff….thanks.

Herokravon
PFT Assistant to the GM

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:06:01 +0000

They always have wonky lines with the Bears. It’s to get the meatball fans voting.

By: philtration

philtration — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:04:58 +0000

The Bears have beaten the Eagles 4 of the last 5 years and Michael Vick has never beaten them.
It was the Bears that came up 7 points shy to the Packers in the NFC championship game last year, not the Eagles.

Whoever set the spread at 8 points is an idiot.

By: heyguru1969

heyguru1969 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:04:52 +0000

Kind of reminds me how players refused (for a while) to acknowledge their role in fantasy football, and now it’s as wide-open as any other topic. Glad Lovie made a few bucks, too!

By: greenpacker

greenpacker — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:02:32 +0000

i am a dieheart packer’s fan (wisconsin born, raised AND educated) and i holey agree that the bears are underratted.

-if there is any teams in the league left on the packers schedule is will be the bears who they will be deal the first lost. even although they dont play again until week 6teen

By: pikindaguy

pikindaguy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:01:40 +0000

Players should be allowed to bet on themselves for moneyline bets., it’s not as if their goals would be aligned any differently if they were allowed to.

By: danospleasanton

danospleasanton — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:36 +0000

I thought I was the only one who thought that spread was too large. So glad I took the Bears and points. Thanks Bears!!

By: boilerup1869

boilerup1869 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:59:30 +0000

I’m not sure what Lovie’s role is in the Bears organization.

By: oxycode30

oxycode30 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:53:54 +0000

Pretending betting on the games doesn’t occur extends to this forum where pro-wagering comments are removed. Running from reality is extremely unbecoming of the league (and this forum) and pretending that “fantasy football” is some acceptable substitute for straight wagers, over/unders and parlays is delusional.

By: kh221

kh221 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:51:21 +0000

Underachieving Eagles should have been motivated, but showed no sense of urgency or fight. You can stick a fork in the dream team.

By: schmokes

schmokes — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:44:56 +0000

When has a coach or team ever shied away from pointing to the spread as a means of “disrespect”? Dumb article.

By: cakemixa

cakemixa — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:43:21 +0000

Should have known Vick was in trouble with 8 point dogs coming into town.

By: jpb12

jpb12 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:42:30 +0000

Thank God for Vegas.

Both Lovie and Tom Coughlin noted the 8 and 9 point spreads against their teams in post game comments