Originally Posted by
indio
The "spread" between the lay and the payback on heavy ML's result in much lower hold rates, and rarely get balanced action.
Which has more house take? A -800/+600 line, or a -250/+200 line? Answer, the -250/+200 line.
How much theoretical hold on a -2000/+1000 line? Answer: 4.15%, still less than a -250/+250 line
I believe these types of games often end up with expanded liability for books catering to recreational bettors because the money line chalks are used in parlays, and the double digit dog is used in teasers, usually leaving the book with massive 17-25 pt spreads that they can lose on.
Four -500 ML favorites are often parlayed for +107 by the players, while those same games (baskets for an example) can see the dogs sweethearted to +18 by them.
Do you know the bookmaker hold on a -4000/+2000 line is 2.27%? That's less than a -160/+140 line.
If successful books aren't hanging heavy ML, you can rest assured they have a reason for it.