12-01-2017, 12:29 AM
Interesting thread. Kudos to those who brought up the comparison of strong NFL markets to strong NCAA markets, that's interesting stuff.
Bottom line is, the NFL doesn't have to be fixed in the Montreal-Screwjob sense. It nearly always comes down to a handful of plays that are the difference in the game, so if one team tends to get the calls over another that's enough. They don't care if the darling teams are 16-0 or 10-6, as long as they get into the playoffs most of the time. So more subtle nudges a few times per game is enough on average to get the outcomes they wish. Like loaded dice in a casino, sometimes the house still loses....
Bottom line is, the NFL doesn't have to be fixed in the Montreal-Screwjob sense. It nearly always comes down to a handful of plays that are the difference in the game, so if one team tends to get the calls over another that's enough. They don't care if the darling teams are 16-0 or 10-6, as long as they get into the playoffs most of the time. So more subtle nudges a few times per game is enough on average to get the outcomes they wish. Like loaded dice in a casino, sometimes the house still loses....
