It sort of is explained by using the word handicap. It's usually golf or horse racing that you see it but it's always done that way. It should really be obvious though, if you look at West Ham they're at 19 to win the league in the handicap with no headstart. That would effectively be 19 to win the league, but when you look at the normal odds to win the league they're not going to be anywhere near that even though it would be the same bet.
If you went to a casino and there was a 24 numbered roulette wheel and they were paying 18/1 on single numbers, would you play?
Personally no, casino wise I prefer things like poker where you're playing the opposition rather than just odds that are stacked against you. Betting wise I prefer low risk/low yield bets (eg live betting on sides that are 2-0 up), when you start rolling them up it can be very profitable, though I wouldn't be as stupid as that guy at William Hills putting everything on about 30 times and then losing it. I double up and take the stake back, then double up again and take 1/3 of the money, double, 1/3 etc. As far as the odds go though 18/1 on a 23/1 chance is a pretty good offer from the bookies, especially if you can spot an anomaly in them. I just made the point about it being a 1 in 24 chance so that people who hadn't realised it was all handicapped would be aware of the actual odds so they could make that decision for themselves. Like I said, if you looked at West Ham and saw 18/1 and thought it was just to win the league you'd leap on that, if you then realised it was 18/1 to win the league with all the handicaps you'd see it wasn't as good as was first thought.
cant get on betting sites to check specifics thanks to an overly sensitive server at work but another one for consideration that rules out the runaway league winner might be betting E/W to win the league in the outright market. im confident we'll top the league but if for example we finish 2nd 3rd or 4th for example (e/w terms need checking) then the points count doesnt factor. COYH
