I agree with almost everything you're saying which is why I chimed in on this game to begin with, it would have been an interesting shift. Right now I see money hitting the Washington puck line like crazy. Books are moving the lines now.
The only part I disagree with is that I believe, and all valid forecasts indicate, that Pitt plus money is indeed value and the books may be playing the market participants here, even with the late line shifts.
There's nothing to indicate, GOAT, that you understand how to calculate a valid, or even "fair" line. It sounds like you are going off of what the books say and assuming the market is always efficient.
This can be a mistake long term, especially for a bettor who varies his bet size. Who's to say the series price was "fair" to begin with? What did you have the series price at? Did you figure out a money line for this game, or did you just agree with the books?
There's a lot more to the markets than a basic myth that the books are always always right on. The truth is the books are right where they want to be and bettors who trust they are always "right on" will bury their bankrolls over and over again.