1. Q: Do you handicap any other sports besides college football?
A: The Wizard handicaps college football only, and attributes some of his success to the fact that he doesn't spend time 'cappin the NFL, NHL, college hoops, the Nothing But Arrogance (NBA) or baseball. His passion lies with the college football, which is generally considered the least difficult to successfully handicap among the aforementioned. Note the use of the words "least difficult." The sharpness of Vegas linesmakers ensures that success in sports handicapping doesn't come easy, and can be achieved only by long hours of work and a systematic approach.
2. Q: Why did you offer such a fine product for free for two years?
A: Wizard Weygint's Football Magic began as somewhat of a lark, and the thought of charging for access was the furthest thing from my mind when WWCFM debuted in Aug 1996. I had been handicapping college grids for several years and thought "what the hell, why not offer my handicapping via a free web site?" Looking back, my motivation was mainly twofold: the enjoyment I got out of having people read and appreciate my work, and the satisfaction of turning readers on to my selections, which were, for the most part, very successful.
As I told several curious readers and a couple of site reviewers who wondered why I offered my site for free, I believe that what goes around comes around.
3. Q: Why the switch from free to fee?
A: See Why For Pay
4. Q: Why the focus on the SEC, Pac 10, Big 12 and Big 10?
A: The SEC because it has been the best and most entertaining conference for several years, therefore I follow it closely. The Pac-10 because I live in Seattle and have very good access to 'capping info on that conference. The Big 10 and Big 12 because they not only play good football, but I grew up in the nations heartland (Lincoln, Nebraska) and cuz of that, am very well acquainted with those conferences. Plus, I have several good "connections" in the midwest.
5. Q: Why do you call yourself "the Wizard?"
A: Because Wizard Weygint weally wuvs awitteration. It is also to satirize handicapping services who use such names and do so in a serious manner.
6. Q: If you select a game and post the line at a certain number and the number that I can get is a point or so away, should I still consider it one of your selections? For example, if you take Washington +6.5 but I can only get them at +5.5, should I still play it?
A: Before I post each weeks selections, I go check the lines at several Vegas casinos and take the one that is best for me, which underscores the importance of line shopping. Generally speaking, if a line moves a point or two I don't let it affect my play. But ultimately, I'll leave that decision up to you.
7. Q: Why don't you use a monitoring service to monitor your picks?
A: I'm frequently asked that question. The reason is that many monitoring services are crooked as a Freddie Kitchens forward pass. Paying a service to monitor picks makes for a ripe opportunity to fudge results. Brings to mind the way our political system works. Corporations financially support politicians to promote their corporate agenda and the politicians suck up to them like a just-blundered Florida QB does to Steve Spurrier during one of his infamous tirades. Maybe not the smoothest analogy the Wiz has ever laid on you, but you get the picture.
I have a large number of people reading my picks/capping each week and they function quite nicely as "monitors." The '99 season will be my fourth on the internet and I believe the way I've ran the site over the years demonstrates my credibilty more than a monitoring service ever could.
8. Q: I've followed your work for quite a while and have noticed that other professional handicappers are using your selections as their own on a consistent basis, some even using your handicapping verbatim. Are you aware of this and are you doing anything about it?
A: Several readers/subscribers have e-mailed me with similar concerns, many of those in the Boston area. I've tried not to put a whole lot of energy into it because there's little, if anything, that can be done about it. I welcome other "professional" handicappers using my work to enhance their handicapping, and view it as a compliment. But consistently releasing picks that are the same as, or very similar to mine, is low rent. And using the Wiz's verbage in their analysis shows a degree of indolence that not even the laziest of NBA players can match.
So the answer is yes I'm aware of it, but in this endeavor you gotta let it go.