Sportsbook lines are generally handicapped and wagered on as they are, with sportsbook bettors looking for the best value based on how the sportsbook odds are established. Nevertheless, sportsbook bettors should remember that there are two very simple methods of altering the odds. The first method involves placing a teaser and the second involves buying points to change the sportsbook odds.
Sportsbook sites vary with regards to the different teaser options they provide, but essentially every sportsbook site allows its members to place teasers. A teaser is a special type of parlay in which the sportsbook bettor gets to shift the odds in his favor for each play that is used. For example, Vegas teasers allow one to shift the sportsbook odds for basketball plays four points or football plays six points. Therefore, if one created a two-team teaser with the Knicks +5 and the Bills -1, then the odds in the teaser would become Knicks +9 and Bills +5.
With special teasers one is offered greater flexibility in choosing options that can shift the odds for basketball plays by as many as 12 points and football plays by as many as nine points. Naturally, such shifts in the odds make it much more likely that an individual play will win. As a result, betting with teasers can be very useful in situations in which you perceive moderate value in the odds but feel as though it will be worthwhile to move the sportsbook odds to a number offering even better value.
A second option that sites provide that allows bettors to change the odds is the opportunity to buy points. Buying points involves paying a somewhat higher price to shift the odds for football or basketball in your favor. Generally, one must pay ten cents extra for each half point change in the odds. For example, Knicks +5 -110 could become Knicks +5½ -120. Using this strategy a sportsbook bettor is allowed to move the odds by up to two full points. However, when wagering on football the cost of shifting the odds is slightly higher when one is moving the odds on or off of a three or seven.
The cost of this shift in the odds is greater because a relatively high portion of football games are decided by three or seven points, so moving on or off of these numbers can be especially advantageous. Buying points certainly is not a wagering strategy one should use with great frequency, but in some situations it can help provide additional value to the odds.
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