Definition
The term ‘handicapper’ or ‘sports handicapper’ refers to a person who ‘handicaps’ or analyzes sports matchups/events. Handicappers can be professional, amateur, or simply novice.
Can you trust handicappers on the web?
As stated above, handicappers can be anyone. Therein lies the trouble upon relying on handicappers. Someone on the Internet can always claim to be winning at a 90% clip, without even having to show proof. Such is the case with many handicappers on the web. These ‘scamdicappers’ claim to be winning in exorbitant amounts of money and sell their picks to unsuspecting gamblers. The first red flag that bettors should be aware is that no one can maintain a winning percentage of 90%—it is simply mathematically impossible. If someone is claiming to have a very high winning percentage (>75% or so), then one should take a closer look at how reliable this handicapper really is. Although there are many honest and reputable handicappers on the web, the dishonest and deceitful ones far outnumber the prior.
Can anyone be a handicapper?
The answer to this question is a simple ‘yes’. Many can claim to be a handicapper, but not all are successful. Handicapper spend a lot of time and energy in determining their picks, and thus many make this their mode of living. The casual handicapper may still be successful, but may not be as sophisticated as his/her more serious counterpart. Many serious handicappers have a base of subscribers that fund his/her business. Some go online and advertise and sell their picks, while others scour the phone systems and sell their picks over the phone.
How can one start?
Primarily, one needs to dedicate a lot of time to start handicapping. Secondly, one must have accumulated data over the past couple of seasons of a particular sport(s) that one wants to handicap. Thirdly, one must advertise so that others may potentially buy his/her picks.
Do I need a handicapper?
People who usually buy picks are those too lazy to make their own picks. Often, these people actually waste more money on buying picks and losing, than if they simply just played their own games. In pointspread games, the winning percentage that one needs to have is about 55% to show profit (betting at –110 lines). If one uses a handicapper, this percentage rises in direct proportion. So, if one decides to use a handicapper, one needs to win at a greater rate—a feat that is inherently more difficult. In all, one generally does not need to buy picks. There are many free picks sites and gambling forums on the web that offer free picks and useful information to the average bettor.
Summary
In closing, a handicapper is one who analyzes a game and predicts the outcome of a sporting event. A handicapper can either sell his picks or offer them free of charge.