ice man said:
just trying to find out more about scalping and middling. Local had mnf game at NE-10/-110, Pinny had NE -8/+102. How should i have bet this? I played NY +10 for 550 to win 500 with local, NE -8 for 500 to win 510. Should I have went for a true scalp(buying points w/pinny's drop down) and locked in profit or tried to middle/side game? Was this a bad bet because 9 isn't a key # to middle?
What about if I had one local who had it at -9, would this have been worth trying to hit a side with Pinny's 8.
You have a lot of options. Here are a few options:
If I like the Jets +10 and want to have 2 units on it:
I would play it big (say 10 units) with the local and then take NE -10 at Pinny (for 8 units) for + vig and effectively be playing with + vig at an inflated line.
If I like New England -8 and want 2 units on it:
I would take New England -8.5 (10 units at +108) at Pinny and then play NYJ +10 (8 units) at my local.
If I have no feel for the game:
a) I can try to middle it for the action (and pay a little vig)
b) I can take a 50-50 scalp and go to bed
c) I can take a one-way scalp for the action
d) Take a scalp and use the scalp money to bet on a MOV at Pinny
The bottom line is that there is no correct method because it depends on your feel for the game itself.
Also, as far as scalping/middling is concerned, you don't have to do one or the other. You can do a little of both. Middling is pure gambling, but if you use it with scalps, it can effectively lower your vig.
