Why shop for the best line??

PatrickMcIrish · Jul 10, 2003

I'll hear from others but I have long contended it comes out to about a 2% advantage if you use multiple outs. I don't have to tell you how big of an edge that is - it's HUGE.

Anyone agree or disagree with this?

RPM · Jul 10, 2003

agree.

the amount of money you gain on wins and save on losses over the course of just the baseball season for instance makes it MORE than worth it to be able to get the best line.

drunkguy · Jul 10, 2003

I've heard 2% and even more quoted for finding the best line. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that does to your bottom line. If you're playing at 10c juice, you need 52.4% to break even...shopping for lines means you only need to do a little better than 50% to break even. If you are playing at a reduced juice book, you are even better off.

IMO, the two most overlooked advantages a player can get are shopping for lines and playing reduced juice.

PatrickMcIrish · Jul 11, 2003

I agree. That's a very sobering (pun intended) thought Drunkguy.

If you think about it you can almost flip a coin and break even if you are getting the best numbers. Not to be short on this but if you can't shop for #'s do not bet. No other way to say it.

jwunderdog · Jul 11, 2003

If you are playing for fun, go ahead and just buy the first # you see, if you are trying to make money shop!

Buzzsaw · Jul 11, 2003

This could pull Sick gambler out of his posting grave but...

If I could only choose 1, I would take great handicapping over the best number. I might footnote that not to include the numbers 3,4,6 and 7 in NFL foots. On those numbers I would say it was a toss up between capping and finding a 1/2 point the better.

Of course you have to be good at capping and the numbers to have a chance.

TheGeneral+ · Jul 11, 2003

The finals in NBA & WNBA are so often on top the number that there is no question looking for the best is an asset. I do not as much, but if I were to be very serious, then I would most def be looking find the best numbers/prices.

BuzzRavanaugh · Jul 11, 2003

One of the best books on sports gambling that I have ever read was by Lem Banker and one quote that I have pinned on my office wall is from that book:

"What you save is what you earn"

It is vital to shop and take the best number, college basketball I amazed at how many times I turn a push into a win or loss into a tie. It probably makes the difference between a losing and a winning season in that sport for me. Since I pick just over 50% winners in that sport.

e15n8c6 · Jul 11, 2003

Very good point BuzzRavenaugh, especially with the sheer # of bets during cbb. It'd be great to become a great capper, but with it being fairly easy to shop for numbers, I have to try to get the best I can or I'm just stupid or lazy and then my psyche gets all jacked around and then my wife don't wanna let me lick that pink thing and I get a ticket and then I run outta gas and well you guys know where this goes.

acw · Jul 12, 2003

If I could only choose 1, I would take great handicapping over the best number.
I love all the scalpers, middlers, etc. They make the market more even, so I need to spend less time shopping myself these days.