How to determine line softness in sport/league?

[Megaman]

Is there a way to measure how sharp lines in general are in a sport/league?

I was thinking of calculating the average absolute line movement from opening line to close. Since closers are said to be sharper, if one assumes an efficient market, a larger value would mean that the openers are softer. Using the half-point calculator or similar, the value could then be converted and compared to other sports/leauges.

Is this a good measurement or is there any better?

[Power Play]

smaller the bet limit the softer the line generally. larger the bet limit the sharper the lines

[Justin7]

This is a good measurement.

In addition to measuring absolute line movement, you might want to convert it into a percentage - compute EV of the move.

[Jaug]

Sounds like a good method I think.

Something that is interesting about this topic is the sports that no one has any info on and that not many (if any) know anything about. The olympics bring this up with womens luge and sports like it. These sports seldom have any line move at all, my guess is that's because no one bets it. Those lines are probably not sharp at all though.

[gesiii]

nice

good suggestion

[coldhardfacts]

In college basketball, it has been my experience that the lines on the smaller conferences are on average much softer than those on the major conferences, especially with regard to totals.

Generally, though, you have to develop unique angles to identify off-lines. This requires an ability not only to handicap the relative strengths and weakness of the teams, but to evaluate the corresponding odds or pointspreads. Offlines are the result of misjudgments by the public - not the oddsmakers, who are merely setting the odds to attract action. And bargains are available virtually every night in all of the major sports - NFL, CFB, CBB, MLB, NBA, and NHL.

[Megaman]

Something that is interesting about this topic is the sports that no one has any info on and that not many (if any) know anything about. The olympics bring this up with womens luge and sports like it. These sports seldom have any line move at all, my guess is that's because no one bets it. Those lines are probably not sharp at all though.

Yes, that is a bit tricky. I also think that it has to do with the small market but also that the vig might be higher and thus the lines need not be that sharp for the books to get their edge anyway.

I guess one could factor in the vig in the calculation as well somehow. Larger vig => softer lines.

[LT Profits]

In college basketball, it has been my experience that the lines on the smaller conferences are on average much softer than those on the major conferences, especially with regard to totals.

Generally, though, you have to develop unique angles to identify off-lines. This requires an ability not only to handicap the relative strengths and weakness of the teams, but to evaluate the corresponding odds or pointspreads. Offlines are the result of misjudgments by the public - not the oddsmakers, who are merely setting the odds to attract action. And bargains are available virtually every night in all of the major sports - NFL, CFB, CBB, MLB, NBA, and NHL.

You are right about smaller conferences, but I think the OP would reach that same conclusion himself if he follows his method.