'Scalping'&'Middling' the Line
Scalps and middles are worth looking out for because they are basically free money - it's just that the decent ones are rare.
With the nature of the web and online sportsbooks competing for customers' business, lines are getting more and more attractive -
as each attempts to lure the bettor. This is how the opportunities crop up.
For example in a baseball game Team 1 is listed at -130 and Team 2 at +125. At another book the line for the same game is
-140 for Team 1 and + 134 for Team 2. If you bet the -130 from one sportsbook and the +134 from the other - you would be guaranteed
a profit.
By placing 130 USD on Team 1 to win 100 USD and 100 USD on Team 2 to win 134 USD, you create a
'no loss' situation. If Team 1 wins - you lose your 100 USD stake on Team 2 but win 100 USD on Team 1 - so you are no worse off.
But if Team 2 wins, you lose your Team 1 stake of 130 USD but gain your team 2 win of 134 USD - a profit of 4 USD
with no risk. If you are placing e.g 1000 or 2000 USD for your stake thats a risk free profit of 40 or 80 USD
This above example is known as a 'scalp' as it involves the moneyline. Where points spreads are concerned the term is known
as 'middle' or 'middling the line'. It's basically the same principle.
On the pointspreads, where you are going -110 on the odds e.g. for NBA - middles are not really profitable long term - unless you have
a large spread.
Football (NFL) is really still the place to find middles. If you bear in mind that most games in the NFL end
in a margin of 3 (and then 7), you can take advantage if you find books offering teams either side of 3 - since you can bet the teams
at -2.5 and +3.5.
You will lose much of time but then only small amounts, because when you lose one side of the line
you will win the other (but only at -110 odds). But statistically you will land on 3 or 'middle' (and win both sides / bets) enough times over the
long term, to make a profit.
Back to Sports / Betting Articles
