Looks like 3 games in the NFL play offs went against the bookies' spread. Since I am not an expert, here it is: Do bookies make more or less money when the game has a surprize result? Or is it irrelevant because they make their money on the spred? P.S.: Hopefully the Steelers will keep the -6 spread!
Oh, forgot to say the bookies are the house. They try to keep the bets equal on both sides and profit from the vig in the spread. They shave points, too.
I'm pretty sure the first layer of bookies lay off lopsided bets to bigger bookies for different odds, this moves up a ladder maybe more than once to the better funded bookies. Somewhere along the line if there is a big loss, they just don't pay. Simple as that.