point
spread lines used often varies between online bookmakers
it makes sense to shop the lines at all bookmakers listed. For example, if three sites
have an NFL team -3, and you find another having -2.5 obviously you should make
the bet at the site that is offering -2.5, so long as the odds are the same.
There’s an old saying in sports betting “I know far more winning line
shoppers than I do handicappers”.
The first
thing to understand is point spread betting is only one of many ways to bet on
a game from any sport. It is possible to bet just on which team will win with
no point spread involved. To give an
example let’s say in the NBA the Atlanta Hawks are one of the best teams and
are playing at home against the Orlando Magic who are not a very good team and
have injuries. The bookmaker might set odds on this game as Hawks -700 (risk 7
to win 1) / Magic +500 (risk 1 to win 5). This type of wagering is called moneyline betting. The problem with moneyline betting
is most gamblers prefer closer to an even money wagering proposition. With this
in mind, for the same game the bookmakers will likely set the point spread odds
as Atlanta Hawks -10.5 -110 / Orlando Magic +10.5 -110. The -110 is the price
and means for every 1.10 you stake you’ll profit 1.00 if your bet wins. As you
can see the odds are much closer to even, how the point spreads.this is part of bookmaker step.
Betting Line is understand when someone asks
“what is the line” they are referring to the point spread. In the used example
the Atlanta Hawks have a line of -10.5 (spoken, “minus ten point five”
or “minus ten and a half”) and the Orlando Magic have a line of +10.5
(spoken: “plus ten point five” or “plus ten and a half”). Another
term sometimes used is: hook. What’s the line? “ten and a hook; Atlanta is
the favorite”.
All Lines
Have a Price is unless
otherwise specified all point spread bets are -110 (risk 1.10 to win 1.00). In
some cases the lines will be specified. You might see Hawks -10.5 -115 / Magic
+10.5 -105. In this case the bookmaker feels the Hawks are slightly more likely
to cover. The -115 means risk 1.15 to win 1 and the -105 means risk 1.05 to win
1.
Half-Points
and Pushes – as
already mentioned the half-point in a betting line is referred to as a hook. A
line of -10.5 has a hook where a line of -10 does not. With -10.5 it is not
possible to tie. With -10 it is possible to tie. In the event you do tie, for
example betting -10 and having your team win by exactly 10, this is called a
push. In this case your stake is returned and the outcome is as if you never
placed the bet.