Betting on both teams w/ no risk (???)

[Big T]

I've heard about people making money by betting the Money Lines for both teams in a game using different books and finding lines that will work to their advantage. From what I understand, you basically win whenever an underdog wins and break even when the favorite wins. Has anyone ever done this and been successfull? It seems like books would be aware of this. Today, for example, I noticed where this system would work in the following games:

Detroit -108 at Canbet
Tampa Bay +111 at S.I.A.

Texas +135 at VIP
Oakland -130 at S.I.A.

Montreal +110 at Bodog
Florda -109 at Canbet

These are all just current lines and I understand that the system works better if you can correctly anticipate line movement. I also guess that you have to wager quite a bit on each team to see any substantial return. However, if you start doing it, the money will compound so you can make a bigger profit the longer you do it. Are there any flaws in this system? If it were this easy I suppose everyone would be doing it. Please respond if you have any more info.

Thanks,
Big T

 

[Terryray]

from Las Vegas Sun last season

from Las Vegas Sun last season

May 30, 2001

Columnist Jeff Haney: Line shopping helps baseball bettors cut edge
Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com


---
So why would a self-respecting baseball bettor give any action to a house that uses a 15- or 20-cent straddle instead of the (usually) more advantageous dime line?

Because sometimes -- surprisingly -- that's where the best value is.

As co-hosts Peter Ruchman and Andy Iskoe noted on the Lee Pete radio show recently, baseball bettors willing to shop around for the best lines have found more than a few "middles," "free bets" or nearly free wagers this season.

Often, part of the equation has involved a line posted at a 15-cent (Caesars, Hilton, Bally's, etc.) or 20-cent (Mirage properties) house -- even though these properties, at first glance, may appear unfriendly to baseball bettors.

As professional handicapper Robert Hunter once wrote: "Once in a while, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right."

This week alone, sharp-eyed baseball bettors could have found the following bargains -- if they looked at it right:


In Monday's Phillies-Mets game, both teams opened at minus 110 at the Mirage, and Philadelphia opened at plus 116 -- and closed at plus 128 -- at the Stardust. (Example: Bet $110 on the Mets early and $100 on the Phils late for a free shot at $18.)

In Monday's Mariners-Royals game, Seattle opened at minus 116 at the Stardust, and Kansas City closed at plus 120 at the Mirage.

In Sunday's Giants-Rockies game, both teams opened at minus 110 at the Mirage, and Colorado opened at plus 120 at the Stardust.
As always, betting lines can and do change by the minute. The numbers presented here are based on Computer Sports World's odds archive. In any case, "middle" opportunities like these in other sports are extremely rare in modern-day Las Vegas.

What's the point of going to all that trouble just to lock in, say, four dollars? Well, consider this approach if you don't want to play the arbitrage game: Simply comparing lines around town can pare a 10-, 15-, or 20-cent line to a virtual -- albeit homemade -- 7-cent line, nickel line or better. Makes you wonder if anyone actually "pays retail" in the sports betting world anymore.

It has been speculated that the greater built-in house edge provided by a 20-cent baseball line allows those books to move prices more aggressively, which in turn leads to a greater variety of numbers for all bettors.

Also, the tourist (read: favorite) money that pours into large, dominant Las Vegas properties like Mirage and Park Place tends to drive up the takeback on underdogs there, setting up some late "scalping" opportunities for 'dog players.

To think that serious baseball bettors who bad-mouthed the Mirage earlier this year for adopting a 20-cent straddle are now making it a regular stop on their line-shopping itinerary.

The strangest of places, indeed.

 

[superbook]

See Stag's thread "Wednesday's Plays" for some caveats.

1. Have two browsers open to make sure one of the lines doesn't move while you're betting the other.

2. Use books which you're confident that aren't going to go out of biz since you need to put a fair amount of $ at risk when scalping

 

[Valuist]

How about taking the dog on the run line and the favorite on the money line; works best with a favorite with a solid pitcher but who is somewhat offensively challenged. The Cubs won a lot of 1 run games last year; they would've been great to utilize in middles.

 

[Big T]

Thanks for the info guys.

I didn't realize this same topic had already been covered in Stag's post.

I've been betting for several years and had never even thought of this concept. A friend told me he knows a guy who's turned 8,000 into 30,000 this past basketball season. That seems a little high. I also heard about somebody betting both sides on two books owned by the same company and the company kept all of the money which was in the accounts.

I don't think I'll try this regulary anytime soon but I'll definately be on the look out for a few opportunities.

Valuist, I really like the idea of middles with the RL and ML. I know there were at least five games yesterday decided by just one run.

Thanks,
Big. T