Better Lines vs Better Price

Wanted to create a discussion here. When I place my bets I always try to get the best line with the best price, but this can be very hard to do. With the NBA/NCAAb season just underway, I am at the point where I am evaluating what my goal should be. In doing so, I try to set a limit of juice that I would pay. I try never to pay more than 3% juice. I know that sounds very stingy, but since I use Matchbook & Mansion Betting Exchanges it really helps and if you don't already use them, you might be suprised at what good prices you can get.

I want to use this week's NFL Game as an example.

Carolina -4 vs Washington

I like Washington in this game and at Pinnacle you can get Washington +4 (-103) or at Bowman's you can get Washington +4.5 (-110).

Personally I prefer to take the low juice and hope the half point will not matter, but sometimes its that half point that can save you. I have heard from several bettors say that if you win , you don't pay juice. While this is true, no one knows what is going to happen in any game and I just know when it comes to me setting out my goals for any given season that money management and keeping my juice as minimal as possible is key to turning a profit.

So what is your stand on this matter? Do you take a line at half a point less for minimal juice, or do you pay full price for a 1/2 point more?
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Anyone?

Really depends on the games and the situation it's in, but most likely, I prefer better price than better line.

I don't think it matters, at least in the NFL.

In the long run, if you only take the lower juice, you will save a little bit, and occasionally lose a close one by the hook. If you do the opposite and always find the better number for higher juice, once in a while it will kick in.

If you do one or the other, but only one method exclusively, it should be the same rate of profitablity or loss in the long run.

In other sports, I would guess it is better to always try to get lower juice on the point spread, but for NFL, it probably won't make a difference in the long run as the line and pricing is very efficient.

Well I play football, basketball & baseball. I am talking more so about Football & Basketball. Noticed a lot of bettors talk about CRIS, but paying 10% is just not something I can bring myself to do, although they have beter lines at times.

I think it depends on the numbers and how key they can be to the sport that youre betting on. I think would find that most people playing football would rather lay extra juice for receiving +3 ( i,e +3 -120 ) as opposed to taking plus juice and receiving +2.5 ( +2.5 EVEN ). With 3 and 7 being two huge numbers in football a lot of people would play extra for the privilige of buying a half/full point so they can get that number.

The same with baseball totals where the number 9 has some importance. OVER bettors might want to buy it down to, or pay more for 8.5 and UNDER bettors might want to buy it up to 9.5. All depends on the person and how much confidence they have in their 'capping or gutfeel and/or whether they feel the need to take that extra half point/run.

With your Carolina/Washington example, it would just depend on how close you think that game might be. If you think there is a good chance that the game will land on 4 then pay the extra 7 cents so that 4 is a winner for you. If youre not overly concerned about the game landing 4 then take the +4 and save the juice. You still have a push if it does land 4, just not a winner.