For years, sports fans have largely accepted the notion that gambling interests play a role in TV ratings for live events.
Heck, some broadcasters, such as Al Michaels and Brent Musburger, rarely get through a telecast without at least one reference to the game’s point spread.
The question has always been how much gambling might boost the ratings. One study from two economics professors has finally given us some hard numbers.
Turns out the point spread can send TV ratings soaring by as much as 30 percent in games that aren’t close.
One of the professors told ESPN.com in college football games with point spreads of at least 21 points, even one touchdown that moves the margin closer to the spread can bump the ratings significantly.
The study also confirmed a widely held belief that in games that aren’t close, once the total points surpass the over/under line, viewership drops.
This data might help explain why there are so many football bowl games, and why one group wants to send two college teams to play a bowl game in Australia.
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