“Good teams win. Great teams cover” (sports adage)

“Good teams win. Great teams cover”—that is, cover against the betting spread on the game—is a sports saying that has been printed on many images. For example, if the good team is predicted to win by five points, then a win by four points loses against the spread. A great team might win by 10 points.
 
Authorship of the saying is unknown. “Good teams win. Great teams cover” was trademarked by Colony Resorts in 2008, with a claimed first use date of December 31, 2005. “Good teams win. Great teams cover” was posted on Twitter by CougarBait on October 10, 2008.
     
   
Twitter
CougarBait
@CougarBait
As we countdown until our degeneration into hopelessly addicted (and broke) gamblers, remember this: Good teams win. Great teams cover.
12:45 PM - 10 Oct 2008
   
Twitter
🤹‍♂️
@Leisurist
Good teams win; great teams cover. The Bears did not cover.
12:35 AM - 23 Dec 2008
   
Twitter
Michael Coates
@michaelcoates
Okay .. I get it. w/r/t March madness: “good teams win, GREAT teams cover” (that would be the spread). “Full of beer”: default refrain.
10:12 PM - 20 Mar 2009
         
Twitter
Arclegger
@Arclegger
Back to back fails by the Vikings. Good teams win. Great teams cover the spread.
6:09 PM - 25 Oct 2009
 
5 October 2012, Las Vegas (NV) Review-Journal, “My next career? Principal of ‘Fielder Prep’” by Fielder, pg. C4:
Coronado at Liberty - Uncle Lefty once told me, “Good teams win. Great teams cover.”
 
Google Books
Good Teams Win, Great Teams Cover: An Underdog’s Tale of Life, Gambling and Sharp Sports Betting
Pat Hagerty
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Apr 4, 2016 - Gambling - 150 pages
I will teach you how to win more bets, but first a story…
     
Las Vegas (NV) Review-Journal
Kevin Durant turns from dog to bully
By MATT YOUMANS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
August 7, 2016 - 3:00 pm
(...)
In betting circles, we always say good teams win and great teams cover.
       
The Duel
Unusual Betting Trend Emerges in Spurs vs Mavericks Series
By Paul Shapiro
12 MAR 2019
As the old saying goes, “Good teams win. Great teams cover.”
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark GOOD TEAMS WIN, GREAT TEAMS COVER
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Wagering services. FIRST USE: 20051231. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20051231
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 77563057
Filing Date September 5, 2008
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition December 9, 2008
Registration Number 4132184
Registration Date April 24, 2012
Owner (REGISTRANT) Colony Resorts LVH Acquisitions, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NEVADA 3000 Paradise Road Las Vegas NEVADA 89109
(LAST LISTED OWNER) WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 5601 WINDHOVER DRIVE ORLANDO FLORIDA 32819
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Justin F. McNaughton
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
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