Why don't books keep everything at half points?

**Dark Horse** · 03-26-09, 05:37 PM

1/2 pt is a lot, especially for sides.

**coldhardfacts** · 03-26-09, 05:42 PM

The idea is to max out the action, and in most cases to even it out. Moving a game a half point can induce sizable bets on a side, and change the book's position considerably on any single game. The negative/positive consequences of doing so dwarfs the extra juice that can be gained by eliminating pushes.

**Masu485** · 03-26-09, 05:55 PM

maybe because the spreads would end up as +150 or higher in some cases before a move. and someone could hit 50% at those numbers and make a lot.

**Justin7** · 03-26-09, 09:50 PM

Most squares don't want to lay more than -110. This gives the book a strong incentive to keep lines near -110.

**Wrecktangle** · 03-26-09, 10:03 PM

Justin7: well, not only the squares but us Wrecktangles only like laying a max of -110 too. OK, I layed -160 last season, but I didn't like it.

While Obama is making up all these new regulations, he should require the books to only post 1/2 pt lines!!!

**Arilou** · 03-28-09, 02:41 PM

A few percent of the time you'll push but it's not worth it. Keeping the numbers as close to pick as possible is what the customers want, so it's what the customers get. It's a lot easier to not realize you're paying -110 when every game is -110/-110, and many people hate paying more than that. But if a book wanted to deal at half numbers, they mostly could outside of key numbers.

**MonkeyF0cker** · 03-29-09, 01:23 AM

MGM/Mirage does this frequently with totals, especially close to close. Quite often you'll see a -135/+115 total. They often do it on second half lines (both sides and totals) as well. They get much of their action from squares, so they attempt to induce action on the other side this way.

**yisman** · 01-02-17, 04:39 PM

Books do keep it at the half points for women's college basketball, I've discovered.

WNCAA Basketball Game

			Spread	Money Line	Total Points	Team Total Points
Mon 1/2	50755	Vanderbilt	+11½ -110		O 140½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50756	Texas A&M	-11½ -110		U 140½ -110
Mon 1/2	50757	Clemson (w)	+4½ -110		O 115½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50758	Boston College (w)	-4½ -110		U 115½ -110
Mon 1/2	50759	Louisville (w)	+5½ -110		O 139½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50760	Duke (w)	-5½ -110		U 139½ -110
Mon 1/2	50761	NC State (w)	+16½ -110		O 133½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50762	Florida State (w)	-16½ -110		U 133½ -110
Mon 1/2	50763	Notre Dame (w)	-13½ -110		O 134½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50764	Georgia Tech (w)	+13½ -110		U 134½ -110
Mon 1/2	50765	Miami Florida (w)	-13½ -110		O 126½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50766	Pittsburgh (w)	+13½ -110		U 126½ -110
Mon 1/2	50767	Virginia (w)	+8½ -110		O 137½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50768	Syracuse (w)	-8½ -110		U 137½ -110
Mon 1/2	50769	North Carolina (w)	+7½ -110		O 140½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50770	Virginia Tech (w)	-7½ -110		U 140½ -110
Mon 1/2	50771	Niagara (w)	+2½ -110		O 134½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50772	Siena (w)	-2½ -110		U 134½ -110
Mon 1/2	50773	Savannah State (w)	+33½ -110		O 107½ -110
4:00PM (PST)	50774	Florida Gulf Coast (w)	-33½ -110		U 107½ -110

**KVB** · 01-02-17, 05:07 PM

I can think of a few reasons, including avoiding some pricing by pushing through some numbers.

When keeping the bigger picture in mind, sometimes it's not so much about on team covering as it is about a team NOT covering.

Sometimes angles, for example, become so heavily chased that the market finds itself backed into corners. Sometimes the best mark settlement is to keep some groups from winning...and those groups can sometimes be at odds in the same issue.

The push comes in handy here. I can think of other examples, including bettor confidence, that can be affected by not winning or not losing...just pushing.

If you sit behind the line and see pending wagers and parlays as the day of action unfolds, this will make much more sense. Over the long haul, it can be a safety net for books even though it negates their vig.

Just some of my thoughts on the subject.

**blowjoe2020** · 01-02-17, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by yisman

When a game pushes, all the money is returned and the book doesn't make anything.

Why wouldn't they simply do half points? Instead of 2, use 1.5 or 2.5 and adjust it accordingly.

If it's -2 (-110)/+2 (-110), do -1.5 (-120)/+1.5 (+100) or something.

It just seems to me that it would make more sense.

Anyone have an idea?

Well, go look at how many times a non-half point line does push? It just doesn't happen very often. Now on halftime lines it might push a little more. I remember when NHL Hockey went to no ties. I think it was a lot to do with so many pushes on bets! LOL Like you said people, or the books either, don't want a push & money returned!

I agree with you about the ties & money refunded being ridiculous though.

I had a bookie that made everything half points so there would be no ties.

And we all remember the Titans Vs. Rams Super Bowl. The line was at 7 the whole week and then it landed on 7!!!

Ugh! All ties & money refunded on both sides! What a waste of time for everyone!

**Cookie Monster** · 01-02-17, 07:37 PM

In the same vein, SBObet seldom move spreads and totals on basketball and football, just adjust the price. I suppose they open later than other books, allowing the price to stabilize a bit. Still, they sometimes end offering -150/+130 prices. SBObet will not get middled, but as Justin7 said, most squares prefer betting at close to -110 prices and thusly they got less action. Such prejudice also shows on squares betting seldom large moneylines.

**blowjoe2020** · 01-02-17, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by Cookie Monster

In the same vein, SBObet seldom move spreads and totals on basketball and football, just adjust the price. I suppose they open later than other books, allowing the price to stabilize a bit. Still, they sometimes end offering -150/+130 prices. SBObet will not get middled, but as Justin7 said, most squares prefer betting at close to -110 prices and thusly they got less action. Such prejudice also shows on squares betting seldom large moneylines.

Right, it is all computerized now anyway. If the action goes about 65-35 then the computer will make the over-bet side minus 115 juice. then if that doesn't even out the action, the computer will move the most bet side to minus 120. And so on. If it continues, then the computer will finally move the line a half a point. And then a whole point, and so on.
So many people bet Iowa today that it moved all the way down from Iowa +3 down to Iowa +1.
So the book crushed the bettors on that today unless millions of dollars suddenly came in on FLA minus 1, which I doubt.

**tsty** · 01-03-17, 05:55 AM

dont think you guys know how the books make money

**jablo1312** · 01-08-17, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by tsty

dont think you guys know how the books make money

Can you explain a bit?

**evo34** · 01-10-17, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by tsty

dont think you guys know how the books make money

I don't think you know how sports betting works, so your comment becomes worthless.

**thechaoz** · 01-11-17, 11:24 PM

Sick 8 year bump

**BennyBigNuts** · 01-12-17, 06:36 AM

All in-game betting on william hill has 1/2 point lines, which is obviously smart.
The strange thing is juicing at -115 each side for ingame betting on there, they want to make sure they get the money but they dont want it pregame on a 20 cent line.

Im in total agreement for basketball 100%, they should all be 1/2 pt lines, but football would have to have an exception with a line that is +3 or -3
Its hard to take football games off that number because of so many games that fall on 3 points.
Would create lots of low and high juice on 3.5 or 2.5, and you would need a lot more action to move the line through that full point as well, and could be a disaster on huge games for books

**Bill Dozer** · 01-12-17, 12:35 PM

Wow, we should break out more classic threads.

Since this thread more bets are offered on tighter margins so they have to move the price. It also helps them not to cross key numbers especially with teasers.

**triplecrown333** · 01-12-17, 12:39 PM

we used to move the line to get more action, maybe they are doing the same

**funnyb25** · 01-12-17, 12:45 PM

Just giving the players a better chance at a push rather than a loss. They want them to keep coming back for more

**tsty** · 01-12-17, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by evo34

I don't think you know how sports betting works, so your comment becomes worthless.

lol you just follow me around linking my old posts now?

relax dude I get it you try your hardest and max out $100 a bet

good work man hope your kids are living well on spam

**Chi_archie** · 01-12-17, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Wrecktangle

Justin7: well, not only the squares but us Wrecktangles only like laying a max of -110 too. OK, I layed -160 last season, but I didn't like it.

While Obama is making up all these new regulations, he should require the books to only post 1/2 pt lines!!!

Wrecker here, hasn't posted since 12-08-12 and just made 103 bet points on a post from almost 7 years ago!!!!!

might be a record for the longest period of time between a post and a point reward!

tsty, show me some love brotha!

**Chi_archie** · 01-12-17, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by Bill Dozer

Wow, we should break out more classic threads.

Since this thread more bets are offered on tighter margins so they have to move the price. It also helps them not to cross key numbers especially with teasers.

bring back the sbr.tv vids too!

**jjgold** · 01-12-17, 10:59 PM

Books would get killed people everything 1/2 point

I would love getting 1/2 advantages on every game

**evo34** · 01-13-17, 03:08 AM

Originally posted by tsty

lol you just follow me around linking my old posts now?

relax dude I get it you try your hardest and max out $100 a bet

good work man hope your kids are living well on spam

Explain the rationale behind your legendary question, "Does anyone know of basic formulas to calculate a teams win% based off previous win/loss?"

Seriously, what is your experience level in sports betting?

**tsty** · 01-13-17, 03:13 AM

Originally posted by evo34

Explain the rationale behind your legendary question, "Does anyone know of basic formulas to calculate a teams win% based off previous win/loss?"

Seriously, what is your experience level in sports betting?

I already proved myself when you called me out before then you proceeded to disappear.

I think it's time you prove to me that you make bets for more than an average mcdonalds weekly salary ey

**evo34** · 01-13-17, 03:17 AM

Originally posted by tsty

I already proved myself when you called me out before then you proceeded to disappear.

I think it's time you prove to me that you make bets for more than an average mcdonalds weekly salary ey

You haven't proved anything.

Do you actually have any experience whatsoever in sports betting?

Why did you never sign up at Pickmonitor? Is the mirror that tough to look at?

**Jayvegas420** · 01-13-17, 03:56 AM

Tsty, did you know this thread was 5 years old?

**tsty** · 01-13-17, 04:02 AM

Originally posted by Jayvegas420

Tsty, did you know this thread was 5 years old?

No and I wasn't the first person to bump it

**Jayvegas420** · 01-13-17, 04:09 AM

I know. I think it was that son of a bitch BlowJoe.

I won't tolerate this...

I'm gonna say something.

**actiondan** · 01-13-17, 06:27 PM

Wrecktangle was a solid poster. Miss that dude

**LT Profits** · 01-13-17, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by Chi_archie

bring back the sbr.tv vids too!

No need to with our Youtube channel.

**Chi_archie** · 01-13-17, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by LT Profits

No need to with our Youtube channel.

Im talking about the vids that were already on SBR.tv that posters uploaded there instead of YouTube

we lost them a few years back

what a dumb idea that was!

hey lets do a shitty version of YouTube and keep our original conten far at for mainstream and hire Vegas Dave to do capping vids with Willie bee!!!

**Chi_archie** · 01-13-17, 09:01 PM

LT is your vid with your parrot squawking in the background and kid Hamming it up on YouTube?

or was it on sbrtv ?