Football Handicapping
For Experts Only

If you talk to ten gamblers there is a good chance you will hear ten different ways to handicap football. Some suggestions might be valuable while others are useless. Most football handicapping techniques will fit into one of the four categories listed below.

• Power Ratings
• Trends and Angles
• Situational Analysis
• Match Up Analysis

Power ratings are used to assign a grade to every team and are statistics based. Subtracting the power ratings of two teams yields a mock pointspread which is compared to the sportsbook’s line.

Trends and angles are tendencies that repeat; Teams that have won 2 or more games against the spread are 24-16-4(60%) as an away favorite since 2003.

Situational analysis measures the impact of outside influences. This may include the weather, injuries or a mid-season coaching change.

Match up analysis compares a team’s style of play with their opponents. A position by position analysis might be used.

Basic Power Rating (PR)

Many handicappers use power ratings as the foundation of their sports handicapping program. The power rating is used to create unbiased pointspreads. Average margin of victory is the most common statistic used to create power ratings.

Basic PR = (Total Points Scored – Total Points Scored Against) /Games Played

Use the power ratings calculated for each team to predict the outcome of a game.

Pointspread = (Home Team PR - Away Team PR + 3) *-1

Subtract the Away Team PR from the Home Team PR, add 3.0 points for home field advantage and multiply the result by (-1) to show the Favorite as a negative number. A negative pointspread indicates a Home Favorite and a positive pointspread indicates a Home Underdog.

Using the AFC Championship game as an example:

1. Calculate team power ratings.

New England PR = (620 points scored – 294 points scored against) /17 games
New England PR = 19.2

San Diego PR = (457 points scored – 314 points scored against) /18 games
San Diego PR = 7.9

2. Calculate the predicted outcome or pointspread.

Pointspread = (New England PR – San Diego PR + 3) *-1
Pointspread = (19.2 – 7.9 + 3) *-1 = -14.3

We have calculated New England as a -14.5 point home favorite.


Advanced Power Rating

Unfortunately basic power ratings do not take into account a team’s strength of schedule. A more accurate power rating can be calculated by averaging opponent PR’s and averaging this number with the team PR.

Advanced PR = (Team PR + Opponent Average PR)/ 2

1. Calculate opponent basic power ratings.

New England San Diego
Week Opponents PR Week Opponents PR
1 New York (NYJ) Jets -5.44 1 Chicago Bears -0.88
2 San Diego Chargers 7.94 2 New England Patriots 19.18
3 Buffalo Bills -6.38 3 Green Bay Packers 9.76
4 Cincinnati Bengals -0.31 4 Kansas City Chiefs -6.81
5 Cleveland Browns 1.25 5 Denver Broncos -5.56
6 Dallas Cowboys 7.41 6 Oakland Raiders -7.19
7 Miami Dolphins -10.63 7 Bye
8 Washington Redskins 0.18 8 Houston Texans -0.31
9 Indianapolis Colts 10.82 9 Minnesota Vikings 3.38
10 Bye 10 Indianapolis Colts 10.82
11 Buffalo Bills -6.38 11 Jacksonville Jaguars 5.44
12 Philadelphia Eagles 2.25 12 Baltimore Ravens -6.81
13 Baltimore Ravens -6.81 13 Kansas City Chiefs -6.81
14 Pittsburgh Steelers 7.18 14 Tennessee Titans -0.41
15 New York (NYJ) Jets -5.44 15 Detroit Lions -6.13
16 Miami Dolphins -10.63 16 Denver Broncos -5.56
17 New York (NYG) Giants 2 17 Oakland Raiders -7.19
Wild Card Bye Wild Card Tennessee Titans -0.41
Divisional Jacksonville Jaguars 5.44 Divisional Indianapolis Colts 10.82
AVERAGE -0.4 AVERAGE 0.3

2. Average opponent basic power ratings.

New England Opponent Average PR = -0.4
San Diego Opponent Average PR = 0.3

3. Calculate advanced team power ratings.

New England Advanced PR = (New England PR + Opponent Average PR)/ 2
New England Advanced PR = (19.2 + -0.4) /2 = 9.4

San Diego Advanced PR = (San Diego PR + Opponent Average PR)/ 2
San Diego Advanced PR = (7.9 + 0.3) /2 = 4.1

4. Calculate the predicted outcome or pointspread.

Pointspread = (New England Advanced PR – San Diego Advanced PR + 3) *-1
(9.4 – 4.1 + 3) *-1 = -8.3

After factoring in the opponents power ratings we have calculated New England as a -8.5 point home favorite.

Weighted Advanced Power Rating
A college football team’s season can last more then four months and NFL teams will play up to five months if you include the playoffs. During this time a number of changes can take place and the team you saw play in September is not always the same team in December and January. To account for this change weighting a team’s most recent performances may be necessary.

Accounting for bye weeks the above chart shows that New England and San Diego played nine games by the end of the tenth week. For simplicities sake let’s give all games played after week ten twice as much weight.

1. Calculate team power ratings for the first ten weeks (9 games).

New England PR = (355 points scored – 147 points scored against) /9 games
New England PR = 23.1

San Diego PR = (212 points scored – 185 points scored against) /9 games
San Diego PR = 3.0

2. Calculate team power ratings for games played after week ten.

New England PR = (265 points scored – 147 points scored against) /8 games
New England PR = 14.8

San Diego PR = (245 points scored – 129 points scored against) /9 games
San Diego PR = 12.9

3. Calculate weighted team power ratings.

Weighted PR = (PR 1st ten weeks + PR after week ten + PR after week ten) /3
Make the denominator equal to the number of factors enclosed by parenthesis.

New England Weighted PR = (23.1 + 14.8 + 14.8) /3
New England Weighted PR = 17.6

San Diego Weighted PR = (3.0 + 12.9 +12.9) /3
San Diego Weighted PR = 9.6

4. Average opponent power ratings from the first ten weeks.

New England San Diego
Week Opponents PR Week Opponents PR
1 New York (NYJ) Jets -5.44 1 Chicago Bears -0.88
2 San Diego Chargers 7.94 2 New England Patriots 19.18
3 Buffalo Bills -6.38 3 Green Bay Packers 9.76
4 Cincinnati Bengals -0.31 4 Kansas City Chiefs -6.81
5 Cleveland Browns 1.25 5 Denver Broncos -5.56
6 Dallas Cowboys 7.41 6 Oakland Raiders -7.19
7 Miami Dolphins -10.63 7 Bye
8 Washington Redskins 0.18 8 Houston Texans -0.31
9 Indianapolis Colts 10.82 9 Minnesota Vikings 3.38
10 Bye 10 Indianapolis Colts 10.82
AVERAGE 0.5 AVERAGE 2.5

5. Average opponent power ratings for games played after week ten.

New England San Diego
Week Opponents PR Week Opponents PR
11 Buffalo Bills -6.38 11 Jacksonville Jaguars 5.44
12 Philadelphia Eagles 2.25 12 Baltimore Ravens -6.81
13 Baltimore Ravens -6.81 13 Kansas City Chiefs -6.81
14 Pittsburgh Steelers 7.18 14 Tennessee Titans -0.41
15 New York (NYJ) Jets -5.44 15 Detroit Lions -6.13
16 Miami Dolphins -10.63 16 Denver Broncos -5.56
17 New York (NYG) Giants 2 17 Oakland Raiders -7.19
Wild Card Bye Wild Card Tennessee Titans -0.41
Divisional Jacksonville Jaguars 5.44 Divisional Indianapolis Colts 10.82
AVERAGE -1.5 AVERAGE -1.9

6. Calculate weighted opponent power ratings.

New England Opponent Weighted PR = (0.5 + -1.5 + -1.5) /3
New England Opponent Weighted PR = -0.8

San Diego Opponent Weighted PR = (2.5 + -1.9 + -1.9) /3
San Diego Opponent Weighted PR = -0.4

7. Calculate weighted advanced team power ratings.

New England Weighted Advanced PR = (New England Weighted PR + Opp. Weighted PR)/ 2
New England Weighted Advanced PR = (17.6 + -0.8) /2 = 8.4

San Diego Weighted Advanced PR = (San Diego Weighted PR + Opp. Weighted PR)/ 2
San Diego Weighted Advanced PR = (9.6 + -0.4) /2 = 4.6

8. Calculate the predicted outcome or pointspread.

Pointspread = (New England Weighted Adv. PR – San Diego Weighted Adv. PR + 3) *-1
(8.4 – 4.6 + 3) *-1 = -6.8

After weighting the advanced power ratings we have calculated New England as a -7.0 point home favorite.

Summary

Basic Power Rating = New England -14.5
Advanced Power Rating = New England -8.5
Weighted Advanced Power Rating = New England -7.0
Closing Vegas Line = New England -12.0

New England won the game 21-12 but did not cover the spread as predicted in the final version of our mock pointspread.

The six point difference between pointspreads that were calculated using the basic and advanced power ratings was in large part due to New England playing against average competition. New England’s deflated play and San Diego’s improved play during the last half of the season was reflected in the pointspread derived from the weighted power ratings.

A problem that arises when using statistics is that the sample size is small for the first few weeks of the season. Power ratings are most effective after every team has played a couple games. For this reason we must use trends, situational analysis, and match up analysis early in the season. These handicapping methods should also be used to fine tune team power ratings through out the year.

Trends and Angles

Most trends and angles have a small sample size that cannot be proven valid and usually does not hold water over time. Only use a trend if it has been consistently profitable over multiple years or a team trend that you are intimately familiar.

Situational Analysis

Weather – John Madden mentioned on MNF that passing teams had the advantage over running teams on a slippery field. The reasoning is offensive lineman and running backs can not get any traction in the mud. True or not weather should be considered when handicapping.

Motivation – Who would have thought Florida would take one on the chin from a disappointing Michigan team in the Capitol One Bowl? The Wolverines had enough fortitude to win their last game for Coach Carr. Meanwhile the Gators experienced a classic letdown game having played in the BCS Championship game the year before.

Injuries – Injuries are often over compensated for by handicappers. Exceptions are cumulative injuries to a specific position or side of the ball and season ending injuries to Pro Bowl caliber players. When I say Pro Bowl caliber players I mean Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Most winning teams can handle any player loss for a few games but a long term injury to a team leader can be the cause for a team giving up after a few losses.

Match Ups

When analyzing match ups we are looking for specific strengths or weaknesses when comparing two teams. Do not blindly guess and predict Team A will pass all over the secondary of Team B. Look at specific games where Team A was successful passing against a team that had similar talent in their secondary and ran the same type of defense as Team B.

Final Thoughts

Remember to include returning starters in the equation when handicapping college football at the beginning of the season. Mediocre NFL teams that barely make the playoffs often regress due to having a tougher schedule the following year.

Due to the abundance of sports television networks football has become a year round pastime. With national signing day, spring games, free agent signings, the draft and training camp it never ends. For football handicappers the crowning of the Super Bowl Champion should signal the start of the next season. Now is the time to update your statistics database and start crunching numbers because it will be time to pay a visit or logon to your favorite sportsbook before you know it.

The Art of Winning
The Mind of the Winning Handicapper

If you visit sports betting message boards you probably have read more then one sympathy seeking post about the losing streak from hell and how it’s time for the poster to take a break from gambling. Usually there is some mention of an endless string of bad beats often due to one team or player. Of course every handicapper whether they are a professional or purely recreational sports bettor will eventually have to deal with a little bad luck. How each person deals with the ups and downs will ultimately determine how successful they will be as a sports bettor and in life.

It is important to realize that as a sports handicapper your main goal is to make a profitable investment every time you place a wager. Looking at handicapping from this perspective it is easy to see that sports bettors are not much different then someone who trades stocks to improve their financial situation. With this frame of mind it is much easier to visualize what you need to do to reach your goals and the obstacles that you will encounter.

Inherently most people never plan for failure only anticipating success. Probably because we are taught during our youth that anybody can succeed if they work hard. When we fail we are told not to give up and try again. While I agree with this I think more of us would be successful sooner if we also planned for failure or had a backup plan before attempting our initial endeavor.

I can confidently state that most handicappers will succeed if they use a little forethought and map their path before they start wagering on sports. The first decision that a winning handicapper makes is what sport will be used as their investment vehicle. Choosing a sport you enjoy watching or participating in will at least ensure that you will approach handicapping in an enthusiastic manner. In addition you are probably aware of the statistics and situational factors that determine the outcomes of games for this sport.

As a winning handicapper you will always be looking for an edge. It has become more difficult to find value betting the major sports leagues due to the increasing number of internet sports bettors. To counter this fad you should be prepared to wager on opening lines that have not had all the value bet out of them. Specializing in less popular sports leagues will most likely lead to more profitable betting. The WNBA and the Arena Football League are good examples. If you want to take this idea to the extreme try handicapping curling tournaments or Major League Lacrosse.

After narrowing your search to a particular sport the next step is to acquire as many resources as possible to study the sport you will be betting. Thanks to the internet there is an abundant source of material to use. This may include sports betting forums, fantasy sports leagues and sports news sites that maintain scores, odds and statistics archives for nearly every sport. Additional information can be acquired from books, periodicals, sports handicapping services and fellow gamblers.

The winning handicapper does not take any theory at face value but scrutinizes every idea to verify that they will produce a significant advantage on future wagers. This may lead to a concept being modified or totally discarded but a system is always thoroughly tested before real money is wagered. Back testing systems is an essential part of the process. Any system or trend must be tested against years other then the time period they were discovered. If you find a trend that did very well during a consecutive five year period than it must be tested against following years to prove it is valid. Ideally testing or practice betting should be done on live games. If the trend still holds water you may decide to use it if you are confident that the sample size warrants faith in it. For handicappers the sample size is usually measured in games played. It may be necessary to review a statistical reference to determine if the sample size is sufficient.

After fine tuning and testing your handicapping system against a database it is time to move to the next stage, deciding where, when and how much to wager. The winning handicapper makes a list of sportsbook attributes that they consider important for wagering on each sport. Finding a sportsbooks that offers odds at a reduced price is always a benefit. Sportsbooks that have a large square or recreational customer base are always a good choice. Due to the public’s tendency to wager on favorites, the winning bettor can find better odds on underdogs at these sportsbooks.

A sportsbook that offers overnight wagering will allow the winning handicapper to take advantage of weak lines that have not been heavily bet. Internet sportsbooks that are slow to adjust their lines on steam plays or heavily bet games afford the handicapper time to place a wager without losing value.

A common sports betting rule of thumb is to wager 2.0% or less of your bankroll on every bet. This is known as flat betting and is recommended for novice bettors. The winning handicapper calculates their bet amount for every wager based on their edge. To breakeven a bettor must win approximately 52.5% of their wagers at -110. A bet with a 55% expectation of winning gives the bettor a 2.5% edge.

Assume a bettor normally wins 55.0% of the time and has chosen 2.0% of their bankroll as their standard bet size or unit. If they have a $5000 bankroll they will wager $100 on most bets. If they calculate a bet to have a 57.5% expectation of winning their edge has doubled over their standard wager. They have now doubled their advantage with a 5.0% edge and a $200 bet is acceptable. Most bettors tend to overestimate their edge probably because they have not adequately back tested the system or trend they are using. If you are not completely confident in your ability to correctly calculate your edge you are better off flat betting.

Even the most well thought out plan is often thrown aside by gamblers who are not prepared to deal with winning and losing streaks. Overconfidence during a winning streak often leads to betting more than is appropriate. Losing streaks may convince a bettor to give up and disregard months of planning and work.

You must learn to endure losing streaks that test every sports bettor’s character and discipline. Having faith in a system that took a year to develop is not that easy in the midst of consecutive losing days. This is when it is important to remind yourself that betting on sports is a long term proposal and fluctuations come with territory. Before you place a bet convince yourself that the hard work you completed months before the start of the season will compensate you for a few bad beats. If you did your homework than you should be able to persuade yourself that you indeed have a winning formula and your current losing streak is a normal variance.

There are a number of stress reducing actions you can take to maintain a winning state of mind such as exercising, not watching games you bet and avoiding alcohol.

Remember betting on sports is a grind and sometimes it is necessary to take a break. It’s not easy spending hours at a time in front of your computer gathering statistics and handicapping dozens of games night after night. Even if it is just for a few days take some time to recuperate.

At the other end of the spectrum are winning streaks. There is no better feeling than consistently winning. Don’t let your self get to high and keep an even keel. Now is not the time to over estimate your edge and start betting like a madman. Winning will give you extra energy and motivation. Take advantage of this good fortune, continue to educate yourself and improve your handicapping techniques. Now might be a good time to diversify your sports betting portfolio and start the process of handicapping another sport. Remind yourself that this unbroken series of wins will not last forever and although losing may not be right around the corner it will be easy to deal with a little adversity if you are prepared for it.

Viewing a log of your past bets will usually show a series of days when you sometimes won a little and other times lost a little. There will be winning and losing streaks some more severe than others. If you stick with your game plan typically you will find that you have won more than you lost at the end of the year.

Before you make your next bet make a check list of fundamental tasks winning handicappers use.

• Choose a sport that you enjoy handicapping and will give you a financial advantage.
• Exhaust every effort to find the best handicapping method for that sport.
• Properly test and evaluate your handicapping system without bias.
• Properly size your bet based on your edge.
• Use multiple sportsbooks so you always get the best price.
• Anticipate line movement and bet when the odds are favorable.
• Plan for losing streaks and stay the course.
• Use winning as motivation to continue your handicapping education.

Nobody can account for every possible situation that will arise during their sports betting career. Experience goes a long way in avoiding the hazards that trap novice gamblers. Give yourself a head start by preparing yourself psychologically. Use suitable planning and competent execution as a foundation to insure your success. Maintain the right frame of mind and take responsibility for the financial outcome of your bets. Ultimately picking winners determines if you are a successful sports bettor but accomplished handicappers start with a winning state of mind.

What is sharp money?
Professionals versus Amateurs

Are you a professional?

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word professional as, “participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs”. Therefore if you engage in a venture that you are compensated than you are a professional.

Can a sports bettor be a professional? According to Webster the answer is yes. Betting on sports is an activity which can be financially rewarding. In the gambling community professional sports bettors are characterized as being sharp and amateur sports bettors are simply called squares.

A more important question to ask is how can I become a sharp sports bettor? To answer this lets compare the traits of sharp bettors who are successful and squares who fail.

More than 99% of all sports bettors could be categorized as square whether they choose to admit it or not. This is because most people use sports betting as a leisure activity and are blind to the realities of gambling.

Square bettors wager on sports just to have action. In an effort to kill boredom or capture the adrenaline rush they get when a team they bet on covers the spread after nailing a buzzer beating basket. This behavior is often exacerbated under the influence of alcohol or peer pressure by fellow square bettors.

This impetus to bet usually leads to a string of bad habits which ultimately ends with the bettor losing more then they win.

Instead of doing their homework the amateur seeks and unfortunately takes the advice of sports pundits and friends with a bias. Using the “what have you done for me lately” system of handicapping the square bettor will easily lay the points on a double digit favorite with a two game winning streak without further research. Consistently overrating their alma-mater and having faith in short term trends quickly drains the square’s wallet.

The square bettor will place their wagers when it is convenient, failing to use strategy while disregarding line movement. Hurried betting minutes before game-time is the norm. Finding the closest or easiest to navigate sportsbook is more important to the square bettor then taking time to locate the book with the best line or price.

This formula for losing is compounded by being oblivious to the fact that even if they pick the right teams they will not be profitable over the long-haul without proper money management.

The squares idea of money management is setting aside a small chunk of cash and betting random amounts depending how they feel about each game. Inevitably they have a winning weekend. Feeling particularly confident with the help of a few beers they give away yesterdays profit after making a losing bet on a sure thing. Conversely the gambler who had a bad Sunday betting on the NFL feels the need to chase their losses. Betting on Monday Night Football becomes mandatory because it is the last opportunity to at least breakeven before next weekends games.

Another pitfall and favorite choice for square bettors are parlays. Parlays are a high risk illusion with a payoff to appealing to resist. Unaware that the odds of winning a three game parlay are not much bettor then 1 in 10 square bettors eagerly lay down their money for a chance at a big pay day.

Having failed at previous sports betting endeavors the square bettor racks their brain for a system that will cure their sports betting ills. After much contemplation they finally see the light and the holy grail of sports betting is revealed, progressive betting. Progressive betting is an inherently flawed method that has been tried at least once by every gambler. Although there are many variations of progressive betting the simplest form is to bet the same amount after each win and double your bet after each loss. The problem is that even if your base bet is only $10 you will have to risk $160 after just four losses to win back your original 10$ bet.

While square bettors think they understand what it takes to be a profitable gambler sharp bettors know how to make sports betting pay off. Sharp bettors use a combination of study, hard work and experience to consistently beat the bookie.

There is no randomness to the sharps selections. Each bet is treated like a deeply scrutinized and calculated investment. The sharp will only bet when they know they have an edge over the sportsbook.

Instead of guessing sharps make an educated decision using tools such as power ratings. Power ratings are developed using various statistics to grade each team. Subtracting Team A’s power rating from Team B’s power rating provides the sharp bettor with the probable winner and margin of victory. This calculation is then compared to the sportsbooks price. A wager is only made if there is an overlay. The size of the bet is directly related to the gamblers edge.

The most common statistic used to formulate a power rating is average margin of victory. The first step is to tally the total number of points scored and given up by each team. The total number of points given up is subtracted from the total number of points scored. This number is then divided by the number of games the team has played. Almost any statistic that is deemed important to the outcome of a game can be used to develop or fine tune a power rating. Power ratings can also be weighted so recent games have more influence.

Significant trends or angles that have proven profitable over time are used to adjust power ratings as necessary. The keyword here is significant. It is very important to ensure that the sample size of each trend justifies the credence given to it.

Style of play and player match ups are also considered before a wager is placed. This involves looking for specific strengths or weakness’ when comparing two teams. This may be investigating the performance of tall receivers versus short cornerbacks in football or a basketball team that plays from the perimeter versus a strong rebounding team.

Outside influences or situational factors are also involved in the handicapping process. The most obvious example is the weather. Teams playing outside of their element are often unprepared and negatively impacted. Team motivation is another situational factor used by sharp handicappers. Teams that have clinched home field advantage for the playoffs have little reason to play out the rest of the season and often rest starters.

All of these variables are used in the handicapping process and thoroughly tested on historical databases or live games before real stakes are wagered.

Unlike the square bettor the sharp bettor knows that he will not win every bet. The season is grind and plans are made accordingly. Goals are measured is months and years not days and weeks. Winning 55% of their bets over a twelve month period is considered a very good year.

Sharp bettors establish a bankroll, an affordable amount of money that will not adversely affect their standard of living if lost. A conservative two percent or less of their bankroll is used as their starting bet size or unit. Sharps determine their edge and varies the size of each bet based this advantage. This increased edge can come from a consensus line or an off line posted by a sportsbook with insufficient two-way action.

Sharp bettors also take advantage of sportsbooks that offer better odds then the standard ten percent commission or juice charged on losing wagers. Reduced juice is often used as a short term incentive to draw in new customer or by high volume sportsbooks who require a large base of players to maintain their business model.

Sharp bettors will visit multiple local casinos and check the price at offshore sportsbooks in order to get the most favorable price. Having at least five sportsbook accounts for bettors who wager on a combination sports is a necessity and maintaining upwards of twenty offshore accounts is not unusual.

After in-depth study has determined a set of games that are worthy of betting and the best odds have been located the sharp bettor plots their next move. Maybe by waiting the line will shift in the bettors favor increasing their chance of winning. Sportsbooks desire equal action in terms of dollars on both sides of a spread, moneyline or total. Although this is nearly impossible to achieve some balance does lower the sportsbooks risk. When the money flows to one side and is unbalanced the sportsbook will move the line. This is usually in increments of a half point for pointspreads and totals and by cents on the moneyline. While observing line movement a sharp bettor may wait until just before gametime to bet or decide to wager shortly after the opening lines are released if the line starts to move against them.

Big line moves at sportsbooks known to have high betting limits may indicate that a wager was placed by a respected sports bettor. If a wager initiates a line change it is considered sharp money regardless of the amount bet. If this is the case many sportsbooks will quickly adjust their line on that game before followers chasing steam can bet and leave the book exposed. Sharp bettors can take advantage of steam plays by betting at slow moving sportsbooks or by re-evaluating their wager if the steam indicates that the sharp money is betting the other side.

Being a sharp bettor does not have to mean that gambling is your full time occupation. If you spent two hours laboring to earn the fifty dollars your about to bet why not spend at least two hours properly handicapping, calculating your edge and looking for the best odds. Start by identifying any detrimental betting habits you have and start thinking like a sharp. Take notes on every wager and learn what works and what doesn’t. If it at first it seems overwhelming scale back and specialize on just one sport, league or team until you get a handle on things. Before you know it sportsbooks will be adjusting their lines because of your sharp play.