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why do some believe that sports are fixed in the first place? if they were fixed why would underdogs win so often?

Is 50/50 good enough to bet one's money on?

A smart bettor can improve his odds of winning to better than 50% by doing quality research with all available resources and understanding the nuances of home advantage, trends, line movement on betting volume and so forth. Sports wagering, within one's means, and according to his expertise, is also exhilarating at times. I would recommend a sound entertainment value versus cost principle, rather than some effort to win big.

Exactly FitzGrisly--those are the criteria that I try to employ. But that's the main reason that I asked the original question--wouldn't someone's alleged "fix" then negate these factors, leaving nothing more than just throwing a dart at the wall to pick a winner? I'm contstantly hearing people snivel about a game (seemingly the ones that they lose) being fixed, then those research tools you mention become a moot point. So you intelligent folks out there who claim a fix is in--why do you bet? And what is the criteria you use to pick?

Well, like I said, I don't believe our "major" sports in the United States are fixed (although I have to admit that the NBA has caused me some doubts over the years). But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong. It just seems rather asinine of the people who disagree to be on them anyways, but they haven't answered my question. It's certainly not going to keep me up at night--what one chooses to do with his own money is up to them.

@octiger--
"the ones who whine about fixes why they never seem to know this before the game, only after they have bet the wrong side. The whiners are just that , like a guy I knew who always swore games were fixed when he lost, oh but when he won, he was a handicapping genius."
Very well said. I've met many of those same people.

not fixed, though there is a lot of incentive

i think the fixing is only in play in 2 areas--pro wrestling and the NBA. As long as you feel confident the fix is in on your side--GO FOR IT! What makes it tough though is that the NBA doesn't care about the pointspread--just that their stars or marque teams are successful. I can't watch the stuff. Hook David Stern up to a lie detector and ask him some tough questions and I'll change my mind--IF he passes.

@mkls531--"if you do not believe refs and players are also laying money on games you are crazy" Well, I guess I'd have to be considered crazy then. Obviously that has happened in sports history, but you make it sound prevalent. I think there are so many safeguards in place, and the policing is so astute by each sports organization, that what you're implying (intentionally or not) is rather far-fetched.

players arent the ones, its the coaches . u can play as hard as u want but if a game is bein coached for failure , it will surely fail. u dont notice players bein sat at certain times in a game , or plays bein called that are just stupid , like a run on 3rd n 14, but they say , oh, i thot we'd catch em off gaurd BS. yet we still bet for the luv of sport n competition and the hope that we'll get something for a little something (greed)