Point shaving
Point shaving, in organized sports, is a type of match fixing where the perpetrators of the fix seek to prevent a team from covering a published point spread, but are not necessarily concerned with whether or not the team in question wins (particularly when it is the favorite). Unlike other forms of match fixing, point shaving is invariably motivated by gambling.
Point shaving scandals are most common in basketball (especially in the NCAA). Unlike other North American sports, basketball has many scoring opportunities, only five players from each team are on the court at one time, and the best players are often on the court for nearly the entire game. Although the NCAA has adopted a zero tolerance policy with respect to gambling, some commentators believe the NCAA helps to cause the problem due to its strict rules regarding amateurism combined with the large amount of money wagered on its games.
See also: Benny Silman
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