Professional Handicappers: What did you major in college?

**Brick Tamland** · 12-07-05, 07:49 AM

GED here and proud of it!

**mad** · 12-07-05, 08:38 AM

Double Major: Valuation (Property) and Marketing
Minor: Finance

**raiders72001** · 12-07-05, 10:07 AM

PE

**BuddyBear** · 12-07-05, 11:54 AM

I don't think there is a specific major in college one would take in order to be a professional gambler...but I will recomend a few courses you need to take if you want to be a sharp.

Public Opinion: Usually found in journalism, mass comm, or political science departments.

Statistics: have to have this...probably the most important of all courses need to be a sharp.

Economics: You can make the connection between sports betting as a market driven enterprise.

Finance: This will help for money managment if nothing else.

These are courses you definitely need if you want to be a sharp.

**pats3peat** · 12-07-05, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by BuddyBear

I don't think there is a specific major in college one would take in order to be a professional gambler...but I will recomend a few courses you need to take if you want to be a sharp.

Public Opinion: Usually found in journalism, mass comm, or political science departments.

Statistics: have to have this...probably the most important of all courses need to be a sharp.

Economics: You can make the connection between sports betting as a market driven enterprise.

Finance: This will help for money managment if nothing else.

These are courses you definitely need if you want to be a sharp.

thanks for the input bro

**newb411breaker19** · 12-07-05, 04:45 PM

i just signed up for statistics today actually

**Mudcat** · 12-07-05, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by pats3peat

this is to the people whose job is handicapping... i believe MadCat or someone like that on the forums is one of them

Am I MadCat? Perhaps.

I got 4 University credits. My major was (supposed to be) Astronomy/Astrophysics and I got 1 credit in that, and I also got credits in Calculus/Statistics, Chemistry and English Composition.

None of that really has much to do with what I do now in sports betting. Statistics is obviously related, but that University course was way more advanced than anything I need now. I could do what I do now without having taken that course (or having gone to University at all). My high school math is probably a must though.

The sciences train you to think in a certain way which is important to how I do business (example - always follow the data and don't get stuck on theories just because your psychology [or external hype] is telling you something should be right.) But I wouldn't say it is necessary to study sciences at the college level to be a successful handicapper.

Likewise there are many very important principles I have picked up from the world of conventional business that are critical to me. (i.e. - Never be satisfied/complacent; always push for continuous improvement. Surround yourself with good people.) But this question is about formal education and I'm not sure what to point to as the best source for that type of learning.

But anyway, the topic is asking about personal experience so that's mine.

**BuddyBear** · 12-07-05, 05:02 PM

Madcat...lol...that's the name of the library system at UW (short for Madison Catalog).

Don't be fooled Pats...Mudcat is a genius in sports gaming stuff even without the education stuff...we are certainly all better for having him on the forum contributing everyday.

Another thing I forgot to mention once you become a sharp or professional there is a high correlation between being a sharp and women. Women love guys who know what they are doing in sports betting...they see it as dangerous and risky and women love a man who lives on the edge.

**jomar** · 12-07-05, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by BuddyBear

Women love guys who know what they are doing in sports betting...they see it as dangerous and risky and women love a man who lives on the edge.

my wife would disagree

but she'll put up with it as long as I turn a profit

**applepicks** · 12-07-05, 05:47 PM

I was a Turgrass Management major and I only really use some of the statistics and finance things that I can see anyone using in sports betting. Maybe martail arts to teach some discipline, Cause when I first started betting I had none. Now money management is(besides being on the right side of a bet) the most important thing I go by.APPLE

**pags11** · 12-07-05, 06:39 PM

I'm not a "professional" since I'm a business owner, but I do dedicate a lot of time to it...I majored in English in college...

**raiders72001** · 12-07-05, 08:12 PM

For gambling all you need to know is simple math, a little statistics and understand poisson distribution.

**Illusion** · 12-07-05, 08:48 PM

I went to Purdue for a semister and then dropped out. College life just wasn't for me.

**pats3peat** · 12-07-05, 08:50 PM

yeah i was referring to mudcat

Originally posted by Illusion

I went to Purdue for a semister and then dropped out. College life just wasn't for me.

really? was it something wrong with Purdue... i know its a great school for pharmacy and its pretty hard to get in to right?

**Illusion** · 12-07-05, 08:53 PM

I had no trouble getting in. All I did was party down there and my grades really suffered, so I just dropped out.

**pats3peat** · 12-07-05, 09:10 PM

what was your major Illusion.. do you think its a tough school?

**Illusion** · 12-07-05, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by pats3peat

what was your major Illusion.. do you think its a tough school?

I was majoring in accounting. Yeah, it was pretty tough. (that's why I dropped out, lol.)

**pats3peat** · 12-07-05, 09:22 PM

Originally posted by Illusion

I was majoring in accounting. Yeah, it was pretty tough. (that's why I dropped out, lol.)

yeah but i was thinking the partying was the reason too.. guess not much

that sucks though.. if you could go back and start from scratch at Purdue... would you do that? so you could do good

**Illusion** · 12-07-05, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by pats3peat

yeah but i was thinking the partying was the reason too.. guess not much

that sucks though.. if you could go back and start from scratch at Purdue... would you do that? so you could do good

If I went back now I would do fine. I was a young punk then who was more interested in getting drunk and getting laid.

**Brick Tamland** · 12-07-05, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by Brick Tamland

GED here and proud of it!

I have a litle saying ...
I dont have a diploma but the people that bet with me do

**raiders72001** · 12-07-05, 10:18 PM

I dont have a diploma but the people that bet with me do

all 3 of them.

**misteve** · 12-08-05, 02:00 AM

Bachelor's degree.....University of Illinois
Master's degree....Arizona St. University

**Max Levine** · 12-09-05, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by BuddyBear

I don't think there is a specific major in college one would take in order to be a professional gambler...but I will recomend a few courses you need to take if you want to be a sharp.

Public Opinion: Usually found in journalism, mass comm, or political science departments.

Statistics: have to have this...probably the most important of all courses need to be a sharp.

Economics: You can make the connection between sports betting as a market driven enterprise.

Finance: This will help for money managment if nothing else.

These are courses you definitely need if you want to be a sharp.

Good post, BB! I would add Psychology and Sociology.

Max

**pats3peat** · 12-09-05, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by misteve

Bachelor's degree.....University of Illinois
Master's degree....Arizona St. University

awesome.. what was your major though?

U of I Urbana & Champagna?

**imgv94** · 12-09-05, 08:42 PM

There is a huge difference between being intelligent and being educated.
Intelligent people are the millionares,the owners of businesses,The "c"students.
Education is important,but will only take you so far and is only necessary if
you were not born a winner.Living in Los Angeles where rich and successful
people are all over the place,I know many extremely successful intelligent
people that didn't go to college that are doing great,I know alot of people
that went to college and are making $12 an hour?? what a waste of time.
All i'm trying to say is, with humans there some winners,some losers,and
some people in between, I'd rather be a high school dropout that makes
smart moves all the time,then a college graduate that makes the wrong
moves.What College did I go to? ? I went to the school of hard knocks.

**pats3peat** · 12-09-05, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by imgv94

There is a huge difference between being intelligent and being educated.
Intelligent people are the millionares,the owners of businesses,The "c"students.
Education is important,but will only take you so far and is only necessary if
you were not born a winner.Living in Los Angeles where rich and successful
people are all over the place,I know many extremely successful intelligent
people that didn't go to college that are doing great,I know alot of people
that went to college and are making $12 an hour?? what a waste of time.
All i'm trying to say is, with humans there some winners,some losers,and
some people in between, I'd rather be a high school dropout that makes
smart moves all the time,then a college graduate that makes the wrong
moves.What College did I go to? ? I went to the school of hard knocks.

so true.. i understand the difference between intelligent and smart(educated)

i was just curious to see what the majority of people who handicap majored in or what education they received (even if it doesnt matter much)

:marsububu

**BuddyBear** · 12-09-05, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by imgv94

There is a huge difference between being intelligent and being educated.
Intelligent people are the millionares,the owners of businesses,The "c"students.
Education is important,but will only take you so far and is only necessary if
you were not born a winner.Living in Los Angeles where rich and successful
people are all over the place,I know many extremely successful intelligent
people that didn't go to college that are doing great,I know alot of people
that went to college and are making $12 an hour?? what a waste of time.
All i'm trying to say is, with humans there some winners,some losers,and
some people in between, I'd rather be a high school dropout that makes
smart moves all the time,then a college graduate that makes the wrong
moves.What College did I go to? ? I went to the school of hard knocks.

education is correlated with income

What you are saying is true imgv...everyone knows of the person who didn't go to college or went to pig farm university and is now making a fortune. However, on the aggregate if you plan on making money your best bet is to get an education and the higher the education the more likely you are to secure a nice steady job.

There aren't too many well paying jobs where intelligence is not required besides maybe president of the U.S.

**raiders72001** · 12-09-05, 09:12 PM

Education is overrated. It's only needed to get your foot in the door. Some people waste a ton of money and time going to college. During these 4 years you could be working with the goal of becoming self employed.

**imgv94** · 12-09-05, 11:03 PM

WOW! we have some sharp dudes on this forum. you guys impress me
more and more daily.

**BrentCrude** · 12-10-05, 02:42 PM

Bravo on college Raiders.Hell,anyone can get a useless fluff degree these days.College is a racket that let's useless eater academic elitist bureaucrats live high on the hog.Hell,look at what most of the degrees are in these days.Every Sunday I look at the engagement section in the newspaper and 70 percent of the kids work for the government in some useless capacity giving away free money to freeloading deadbeats.Most welfare mothers can't even read and they all go to college for free getting degrees in social work.They all say we were where these people were and how hard it was receiving huge amounts and bennies for not working so we will teach them to be social workers like us who can work for the government giving away money to the next generation of freeloaders.

**RamblinRoyce** · 12-11-05, 05:38 AM

Chemical Engineering

So a math nerd and studied statistics and all that jazz. But i think discipline and experience is the most important, not your major or background studies. the math is pretty simple, and i don't say this to sound snooty... really, the math is just arithmetic and we learn arithmetic in grade school.

Luck is more important, Research is very important, and Discipline is the most important. Which for me and most gamblers, to learn Discipline requires a "tuition" of hundreds to thousands of dollars to learn the ropes of being a winning gambler. and lack of discipline still bites my head off when i'm drunk and gamble away all my winnings on blackjack and poker. Discipline is learning to control your GREED and taking the best bets only, maintaining a disciplined betting strategy, and ignoring all emotions and/or gut feelings... cuz in the long run, your sixth sense is about 50% correct and when you include the juice, you lose. And if you think you're smarter than the average bear and have a lucky sixth-sense...well, you might be right...but i doubt it. The only way to tell is if you have a positive bankroll. If you don't do Research, and you don't have Discipline, you're gonna lose in the long run... at least that's what i've learned after years and years of losing, especially when i was younger and foolish.

and i'm preaching to the choir...

**pats3peat** · 12-11-05, 12:11 PM

Originally posted by RamblinRoyce

Chemical Engineering

So a math nerd and studied statistics and all that jazz. But i think discipline and experience is the most important, not your major or background studies. the math is pretty simple, and i don't say this to sound snooty... really, the math is just arithmetic and we learn arithmetic in grade school.

Luck is more important, Research is very important, and Discipline is the most important. Which for me and most gamblers, to learn Discipline requires a "tuition" of hundreds to thousands of dollars to learn the ropes of being a winning gambler. and lack of discipline still bites my head off when i'm drunk and gamble away all my winnings on blackjack and poker. Discipline is learning to control your GREED and taking the best bets only, maintaining a disciplined betting strategy, and ignoring all emotions and/or gut feelings... cuz in the long run, your sixth sense is about 50% correct and when you include the juice, you lose. And if you think you're smarter than the average bear and have a lucky sixth-sense...well, you might be right...but i doubt it. The only way to tell is if you have a positive bankroll. If you don't do Research, and you don't have Discipline, you're gonna lose in the long run... at least that's what i've learned after years and years of losing, especially when i was younger and foolish.

and i'm preaching to the choir...

great advice.. thank you and welcome