Who has the "sharpest" lines?

**babaoriley** · 11-08-07, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by fivedimes

I have always considered pinnacle to be the standard for sportsbooks, and along with that go the honor of the sharpest lines. They seem to keep up with it better than the rest and they have to with the lower vig and HUGE max wagers.

I could be wrong there if someone has another opinion on the sharpest lines please let me know.

What I would really like to know is what book has the softest lines. Which book is behind the curve to update lines, and they generally reflect the squares that they cater to...

All opinions welcome.

Be careful looking for the so-called softest lines... With the soft lines come the lower limits and the shadier books. That said, out of the B books or higher, I think the major variation is the actual timing of line shifts... I agree with you that I'd love to hear an opinion on which book is the slowest to shift with, say Pinny's shifts, but I get the feeling that there is no "Loose Book" at the B or above level. Maybe I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time, and I certainly am not an expert on all the books...

**LT Profits** · 11-08-07, 07:45 PM

Actually fivedimes, your namesake (LOL) is sometimes 5 minutes behind the pinny move, although if you take advantage of that too many times, "God" will frown down on you.

**20Four7** · 11-08-07, 07:46 PM

I know of several that are behind the curve as you say, but they have shown a willingness to steal players money for winning. That is why they are D- or worse.

Of those that are rated higher Bet365 generally fits the bill but will "generally" limit you quickly if your a winner. I hope this post doesn't jinx me as I do have fairly high limits there.

**noyb** · 11-08-07, 08:12 PM

it's fascinating how one book can be the one who pretty much sets the lines in one sport, while all it can do is follow the moves in other sports. F.e. Greek is quite the big shot in American sports, but is pretty much running like a little puppy behind the moves of the Asian books in soccer.

**jjgold** · 11-08-07, 09:19 PM

Noyb Greek does not take enough soccer action to have sharp lines, ect

Asian books have to be sharp because of enormous volume, Greek lucky if they take 25 bets a day in Soccer

**louis** · 11-09-07, 06:32 AM

Interestingly, the lines use to be uniform across the main three - Olympic, Cris, and Pinnacle. Now there are up to 1 to 1.5 point differences between them, especially in college sports. All of this since Pinnacle left the U.S. market. I belive that matchbook also has some sharp lines. I don't know who to believe as the sharpest any more. I do know that Olympic, Cris, and Matchbook have posted opinions; I have disagreed with them, and have changed the line back to what everyone else has with just $1K bets. So be careful concluding that any line is sharp or correct. The lines at Olympic, and Bookmaker have become a lot easier to move since Pinnacle has left.

**jjgold** · 11-09-07, 07:30 AM

Only area you see some line differences are in college sports, the pro sports the lines are mostly the same from book to book.

**louis** · 11-09-07, 08:05 AM

Pro lines are harder to move

yes, pro lines are harder to move and more consistant.

College lines, I can easily move with a $1K bet, especially as soon as they come out. This goes for any sportsbook.

Near the end of the week the lines get sharper.

If you see the big three - Olympic, Pinnacle, and CRIS disagreeing with everyone else, get a bet down quickly with "everyone else", as these 3 are almost always the leaders, especially late in the week.

**fivedimes** · 11-09-07, 11:25 AM

I'm not really looking to lay down wagers with shady books to take advantage of a point or so. But the angle I'm lookiing for is to compare lines to infer the sharp money vs the square books showing the wrong side. I play on matchbook and will likely always do so because I feel safe there and the juice is almost non-existent.

**JED** · 11-09-07, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by fivedimes

But the angle I'm lookiing for is to compare lines to infer the sharp money vs the square books showing the wrong side.

have a look at Grande/Catalina along with Pinny

**BigBollocks** · 11-09-07, 04:41 PM

I now think the "Greek lean" is the new standard in American football and basketball. Spiro and company will often set their lines several points off of other major book's opening lines, and welcome you to come at them for whatever amounts you wish...

**Jamie_UK** · 11-09-07, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by BigBollocks

I now think the "Greek lean" is the new standard in American football and basketball. Spiro and company will often set their lines several points off of other major book's opening lines, and welcome you to come at them for whatever amounts you wish...

all vanilla on ML except for a few dogs that you can dutch to about 98.5% with Cris but always shaded on the fav.

**BigBollocks** · 11-09-07, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by Jamie_UK

all vanilla on ML except for a few dogs that you can dutch to about 98.5% with Cris but always shaded on the fav.

Hey Jamie would you mind sharing what all it takes to move to the UK nowadays when you get a chance? My grandmother was Scottish if that helps at all. I'm thinking very strongly about moving in the next year or two as I see the US continuing to decline. It has also become horrible for my gambling and investment interests. On top of this, I quite frankly don't want my kids to grow up in this country where people are not only encouraged to be ignorant, but aggressively ignorant on top of that. Any other EU suggestions will be looked at as well. Cheers mate....