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Expert Biography

Name: Stephen Nover

Years in handicapping: Professionally handicapping since 1996. I've been heavily involved in the Las Vegas sports betting scene since 1984 as a handicapper, oddsmaker, journalist, author, analyst and radio talk show host.

Achievements in handicapping: I’ve never had a losing pro football season. I’ve won at least 57 percent of my NFL plays the past three years, including going 84-44-6 (65 percent) in 2008. I had 18 winning NFL weeks out of 20 leading up to the Super Bowl this past season. I cashed on both my Game of the Year and Monday Night Game of the Year. I was 9-4-1 (69 percent) on my Games of the Week. In college football last season, I won both my Game of the Year and Bowl Game of the Year. I cashed on 61 percent of my college bowl selections. In the NBA in 2009, I was 234-159-11 (59 percent) from December of 2008 to the end of the regular season this year, including finishing the regular-season going 70-39-3 (65 percent) on my last 112 plays and 31-13-1 (72 percent) on my last 45 totals. In baseball, I went 252-217-11 (59 percent) in 2007, playing underdogs, totals and small favorites. I am the author of three handicapping related books, "Las Vegas Sportsbeat," "SportsGaming Beat," and "Winning Fantasy Football." I taught a football handicapping class at UNLV during the fall of 2004. I'm an avid Rotisserie/fantasy sports participant who has won numerous league championships.

Biggest win of the year: My money management system is one unit up to 10 units. I look at sports betting being similar to the stock market. It's an area to make money by correctly applying information, intuition, research, experience and feel. My approach is conservative. My bets usually vary from one to three units. Rarely will I do a four-unit or higher wager unless it’s a Game of the Week or Game of the Year type of play. But it's not often you find a great number to go with a great handicap. You have to respect the oddsmaker and the randomness factor. The key to beating sports year in and year out is steadily turning a profit rather than stepping out too much of the time. I will beat the bookmaker. I always have, so I really don't look to have one huge win, but a steady supply where profit is made year in and year out. Money management is as important as handicapping.

Biggest loss of the year: I've suffered some brutal bad beats through the years. My worst loss this year, though, was in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference NBA finals between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers. I had the under and the game went over. There was nothing fluky about it, I just had the wrong handicap and deserved to lose. It was a rare time when I lost a big play and it hurt.

Favorite team to wager on or against: Green Bay Packers. Growing up in Racine, Wisconsin I've closely followed the Packers for nearly 50 years. I take great pride in my knowledge of the NFL and the Packers. I was influenced by Vince Lombardi. One of the things Lombardi said was, "Winning isn't everything, but the effort to win is." I've tried to pattern my handicapping and life from that quote.

Why you like Covers Experts.com: It's an honor to be part of a company that has a pay-only-if-you-win system. That's the way it should be.

Systems used when handicapping a game: I study everything - statistics, matchups, history, trends, angles and, situation - but I'm mainly a fundamental handicapper. I look at player matchups closely, which helps, too, in making various proposition wagers. I have a lot of confidence in knowing the talent level of not just the first-stringers, but backups as well. Understanding line value is a key, too. I do extensive research and have a network of contacts, including professional handicappers, oddsmakers, gamblers and sportswriters stemming from having worked more than 30 years for daily newspapers and Internet sites in the Midwest, South and West along with Canada and the Caribbean.

Your favorite stats/page on Covers: The matchup page is great, but I also like to check out the home page articles when I have time.

Team you avoid when wagering: None. Why limit your profits? I do try to avoid certain highly unpredictable pitchers, though, such as Oliver Perez. He could pitch a shutout or get blown out in the first inning. I don’t need to get involved with that.