Each week, I begin my Monday by looking at the opening numbers. Then while I work on my second cup of coffee I work on the numbers..

I have a set of numbers in my head on all of the NFL games and maybe 70-75 % of the college slate. I look at my numbers (remember, I'm talking about the point spread, not a prediction- and maybe some week, I'll get into the difference between the two- but I digress), the openers from The Stardust and then the early moves. I suggest you use various colored pens to make note of these various numbers.

Then later on Monday, when sportingbetusa.com posts its openers, I look at all the numbers: mine, the Stardust openers, the early moves and the live numbers that I can bet at sportingbetusa.com- then I act.

And here's where it can get interesting or tricky. Because the point spread is not a rock-solid number and fluctuates, depending on my savvy, I can be ahead of the number that's the final one before kickoff, or I can be in a worse position. But this is gambling and that's what I do- gamble and take chances.

Last week, when I heard that Joey Harrington was named as starting QB for the Lions, I logged in and played Detroit taking 8.5 points. On Sunday, minutes before kickoff, the number dropped to 7.5- I felt better with the 8.5 even though it didn't come into play.

This week, my numbers had Hawaii as a 23 pt. favorite over the hapless Mustangs of SMU. When sportingbetusa.com opened the game on Monday, I jumped all over Hawaii giving 20.5. Today, as I write this, the Rainbow Warriors are laying 22. I'll wait until late Saturday and depending on how I did during the day, I may play back some money on SMU as I'm looking at a nice middle only laying 20.5 and taking more than 21- and who knows what will happen by late Saturday night.

You can also use early betting to your advantage with totals. Last week, I thought (later proven a wrongful thought) that the hurricane would approach South Florida and drop buckets of rain on Pro Player Stadium. Thus I bet UNDER 41 in the Miami-Jets game. The hurricane skirted up the Gulf Coast and I was left with a big decision- risk it all at under 41 or play some back at over 40, the number that was there when I bet on Sunday. I sat, waited until halftime and then with the score 13-3, bet over 20 in the second half. While I lost my second half safety "hedge" bet, I was looking at a nice middle and more importantly, I was inwardly a much calmer person.

If you have confidence in your opinion or can spot what you see/think will be a public move on a game or are deep into studying weather patterns, I say take a chance on betting early. Hell, I do. This week in addition to Hawaii at -20.5, I'm on: " Carolina +7 " The Chiefs +3 even money (+100) " Miss. State +13 " The Jets +3.5

Good Luck

Nick Rizzo