Football: EPL: Arsenal vs Liverpool - 1.30.13 - 2:45PM ET

[v.kevin]

Originally Posted by T Rollie

I'm not above watching some football now and then, but I'm not a huge fan. So for you guys who really enjoy the sport, do draws get on your nerves or do you just accept them? I have a "games need decisive winners and losers" mentality I guess.

I used to feel the same way until I bet on a draw.

[T Rollie]

Originally Posted by v.kevin

I used to feel the same way until I bet on a draw.

Seems like every time I try the draw option I pick wrong. Doesn't help that I don't follow the sport well enough to know when a draw is likely I guess.

[Noblet10]

Originally Posted by T Rollie

I'm not above watching some football now and then, but I'm not a huge fan. So for you guys who really enjoy the sport, do draws get on your nerves or do you just accept them? I have a "games need decisive winners and losers" mentality I guess.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both formats. I think growing up in the US, I understand why most Americans feel this way about draws. Soccer is pretty much the only major sport where draws can still happen.

I personally don't mind it at all. I'd rather draw a game than lose, so when my team is playing a superior team, I feel they have more of a chance of getting a result. If your team is the worst team in the NFL, do you even have any hope when they play the best team? It seems extremely unlikely they could beat them, but a draw is much more likely. It gives you something to cheer for. Also, I'd say 9/10xs the superior team wins in overtime, so it gives the inferior team less chance. They'd be happy with a draw.

MLS actually experimented with overtimes and shootouts during their regular season games, but they converted to the tradition W,D,L format. Even American soccer fans found it silly having shootouts in every other game. I think the other reason is how many games are played in soccer. Having games go into overtime very often would fatigue the players far more.

Soccer is probably harder to bet on than sports that genuinely only have win/lose outcomes, but that also makes it interesting to me. I also follow the leagues fairly closely, so I can figure out what matches are safe to bet on and what aren't. I don't have a clue who to bet on in NFL, NHL, or NBA at the moment, so I don't bet on them.

[T Rollie]

Originally Posted by Noblet10

There are advantages and disadvantages to both formats. I think growing up in the US, I understand why most Americans feel this way about draws. Soccer is pretty much the only major sport where draws can still happen.

I personally don't mind it at all. I'd rather draw a game than lose, so when my team is playing a superior team, I feel they have more of a chance of getting a result. If your team is the worst team in the NFL, do you even have any hope when they play the best team? It seems extremely unlikely they could beat them, but a draw is much more likely. It gives you something to cheer for. Also, I'd say 9/10xs the superior team wins in overtime, so it gives the inferior team less chance. They'd be happy with a draw.

MLS actually experimented with overtimes and shootouts during their regular season games, but they converted to the tradition W,D,L format. Even American soccer fans found it silly having shootouts in every other game. I think the other reason is how many games are played in soccer. Having games go into overtime very often would fatigue the players far more.

Soccer is probably harder to bet on than sports that genuinely only have win/lose outcomes, but that also makes it interesting to me. I also follow the leagues fairly closely, so I can figure out what matches are safe to bet on and what aren't. I don't have a clue who to bet on in NFL, NHL, or NBA at the moment, so I don't bet on them.

Fair enough. I can see how that would add some dimension to the games.

Our NHL season just started, so if you're interested now is a good time to get in on the ground floor and start getting a feel for the teams. Right now the Blackhawks, Bruins, and Sharks have been doing really well.

[Noblet10]

Originally Posted by T Rollie

Fair enough. I can see how that would add some dimension to the games.

Our NHL season just started, so if you're interested now is a good time to get in on the ground floor and start getting a feel for the teams. Right now the Blackhawks, Bruins, and Sharks have been doing really well.

I lived in Detroit for 1yr while I was playing soccer up there. Everyone tried to get me into it, and I considered going to a Red Wings game. I actually wish I'd have done that, but I just can't get into it. It's definitely a decent sport, but having never played, I just don't find it as interesting. Hockey is another sport that has gone back and forth with having draws I believe. I think it's format actually fits allowing draws more, but the American fanbase demands otherwise.

[T Rollie]

Originally Posted by Noblet10

I lived in Detroit for 1yr while I was playing soccer up there. Everyone tried to get me into it, and I considered going to a Red Wings game. I actually wish I'd have done that, but I just can't get into it. It's definitely a decent sport, but having never played, I just don't find it as interesting. Hockey is another sport that has gone back and forth with having draws I believe. I think it's format actually fits allowing draws more, but the American fanbase demands otherwise.

I'm a very casual hockey viewer, but I've been keeping up with the scores and recaps just for fake betting purposes.

Did you live in Detroit recently? I went to a concert there last year and it was like a ghost town, it was almost eerie.

[SippycupPIMP]

Suarez scores for Liverpool, 1-0.

[bjjaz]

Oh nice. How much time is left...

[bjjaz]

13mins in I just checked.

[SippycupPIMP]

It just started. We're at 14 minutes.