No matter how disastrous the results might be, the players come back for more punishment. "THEY have an open order on State to give the seven" "THEY are taking up to 6 1/2 on Slippery Rock." The notorious THEY are always much in evidence. Whether it be football, basketball, baseball, the fights or elections. THEY command enormous respect from their unsuspecting followers.

The fate of thousands of tag-alongs is at their mercy. Generally their shadowy moves are precipitated by injuries or injury rumors. But because this is a much overrated angle. THEY will seldom perform any better than 50 per cent.

The one thing THEY can truthfully brag about is money. But they didn't acquire it by outguessing the oddsmakers. It may have come from oil, hotels or restaurants. Don't get the wrong idea. THEY are usually successful businessmen, and that's just the point. THEY are too occupied making their oil deals, running their businesses, to devote much time to a silly game.

But THEY don't let a little knowledge compromise their fun. With their bankrolls, THEY can make a favorite out of an underdog and convince you of their appearance of truth. A nondescript halfback of doubtful starting status can send them racing to the bank. When THEY lose because in effect THEY had nothing going for them, it's of no consequence. They're loaded and can afford the luxury of losing.

THEY are known by a number of aliases. The smarts. The steam. The point of this preoccupation with THEY is to alert the fan to how he can use this to his advantage. Since the smarts usually have nothing of substance going except $$$$$, the savvy fan can capitalize on the inflated value now presented. Whereas the legitimate line on a game might be seven, the steam may have pushed it to nine. The real student is not afraid to go against the steam. This is considered VALUE, and investors should recognize it as such. Over a few months, these added point advantages can make the difference between an average season and a good one.

This business of following the smart money is thrown for a loop when you consider that the bookmaker who handles their action ends up keeping most of it. If the smart guys were so wise, the bookmaker would have been put out of business.

There is another group commonly referred to as THEY that commands and deserves greater respect. It is an elite group of handicappers who by reputation have built up a large following. THEY are knowledgeable and work hard at their profession. THEY read a great deal, or hire people for expressly that purpose. THEY have contacts all over the country. THEY are well informed. However, the drawback in following these smarts is that you never know what THEY are really doing. Because points and value are the heart of this business, it behooves them to keep their best plays to themselves. Often the price is manipulated to mislead the followers who are "leaked" the moves early to create a distorted pointspread. Then these sharp gentlemen take advantage of either the inflated or deflated number and make their real move unbeknown to their disciples, who often get stuck with the opposite side. The best advice is not to pay attention to what they say, but what they do.

In summation, there are two powerful forces to be considered. The first one has little behind it except "money power." The second group has "brain power," but because of its deception can be just as unreliable.