Buying The 1/2 Point Yes or No?

[talkpoker2]

Ok, talked a lot about 6 point teasers, let's see if I can start another argument, err,
I mean discussion, about another topic that the same newsletter sent me today.

BUYING THE 1/2 POINT - STUFF YOUR MOTHER NEVER TAUGHT YOU

Buying 1/2 points!

When should you buy a 1/2 point in NFL football.

Some books will let you lay buy a 1/2 point in football for 10 cents
\in other worlds you would lay 120 to 100, instead of 110 to 100 and
you get to move your line 1/2 point.

When should you take advantage of the books generosity in letting
you do this? NEVER, well almost never. The two numbers that
would be no-brainers would be 3 and 7, of course no book will let
you buy on or off those numbers for 10 cents.

OK - if you are just a normal, I want to bet a few bucks on a football
game, have some fun and maybe make some money kind of guy,
you can stop reading now. Your answer is NEVER!

If you are a I'm going to go for my bookmakers throat and get every
tiny advantage I can kind of guy or gal, read on!

Exceptions to the NEVER Rule

If your book allows buying off 7 for 10 cents, (laying 120 to 100)
Always buy from -7 to -6 1/2
Always buy from +7 to +7 1/2

There are two other numbers with very slight mathematical advantages
that almost all books will allow.

Always buy from -10 to -9 1/2
Always buy from +10 to +10 1/2

Always buy from -14 to -13 1/2
Always buy from +14 to +14 1/2

(Important - You will always be better off shopping and trying to find a
line that is giving you the extra 1/2 point instead of buying it)

That's it, there are no other numbers where if is ever is in your advantage
to buy the 1/2 point. (unless of course, you just have a hunch)

Be the toughest player you can be!



Ok here is my question?

Do any of you guys believe that buying games up are down is a smart thing to
do, or, is it just something that sports services and forum posters do to
pad there Won / Loss records, since a -110, -120 or -130 loss only counts
for one L in the loss column.

I get a kick out of guys who post I bought it up to 4 1/2 like you get to do that
for free.

 

[3pointdog]

Off 3 and 7. Why not

 

[Travex]

I consider a push to be a favorable event so I do not buy the 1/2 point at 3, 7, or 10. However if it's a 1/2 point off, I would buy it towards 3, 7, and 10. So I buy the 1/2 point when it's 2.5, 3.5, 6.5, 7.5, 9.5, and 10.5.

 

[WormyPix]

I agree w/generally buying the 1/2 pt on key numbers. I'd also suggest always buying on 3, 7 or 10 on a POW or GOY type wager. W/that much at stake, why take the chance? And if you lose, it'll be a fairly large loss, so what is the extra juice really going to matter? But imagine losing a large wager by 1/2 a point?

The 1/2 pt should never be an automatic on key numbers. A day's slate of 4-6 plays w/extra juice would add up if they all lose. Esp as the article mentions if juice is extra high @ your book for buying the 1/2 pt.

 

[comrade666]

Not much else to say about it. I like to buy points sometimes

 

[smartmoneyfollower]

I think in the NFL buying points is becoming more important in the spread , but less important with totals.

 

[comrade666]

I think in the NFL buying points is becoming more important in the spread , but less important with totals.

Agreed

 

[paulfmf]

I'm a buyer. Will keep you all updated on amount up or down for the season. So far after 2 weeks am down $60.00. Was up after week 1. While 5.5 is generally a number I would leave alone, it would have paid off with Oakland this Sunday-and suddenly you have 10 more games to work with. I tend to buy to get rid of the hook like this 5.5-but I didn't Sunday and it cost me a win. I didn't lose but like I said, I would have had 10 more games to "play" with.

I know there's discussion every year about buying pts. It's generally paid off for me. Real $$$ not just theories.

 

[talkpoker2]

Off 3 and 7. Why not

So just always buy off of 3 or 7, that seems simple enough.

Since if costs at least -130 maybe more to buy off 3, would you pay -140, or -150. Just how far does that "why not" stretch.

Ever even consider that +3 -110, might be better than + 3 1/2 -130.

im going to just take a stab in the dark and say a half point move on or off 3 is worth 14 cents,
so if it cost more than -124 to buy it, you are better off in the long run not buying it.

Boy that is confusing, not sure what I mean, but I'm sticking to it!

 

[thesandman1]

I'm conservative and the very few times that I buy a half point is to get a push instead of a loss. There is a thread in this forum from B. Vegas basically saying if you can just pick the winner of a game, you will cover the spread when it's under 10 points about 80% of the time. If that continues to hold true, then you won't need to buy points, just to cover 20% more of the games.

HOWEVER, tonight I am buying PITT to +3 points, based on the following I cut and pasted about the PITT/BALTI rivalry.

"Tight games are the norm in the rivalry, with nine of the last 10 regular-season meetings decided by three points or fewer."

Now knowing how many of the nine games fell on three, I'm playing it safe and buying the half point to PITT +3 at -135. It's not
cheap, but with these two teams playing each other, it makes sense.

 

[NFLTrends]

If you have to buy a half point to be more comfortable with your bet, your better off not playing that game and looking at a different one.

 

[talkpoker2]

That might be the best post on the subject Tremds, buying the 1/2 point should be a math decision not a handicapping decision, and the math doesn't support it, at today's Vig, buying half points is a negative EV in every case but 10 and 14 and even then the positive EV is very small perhaps 2 cents.

 

[rolltide]

If you have to buy a half point to be more comfortable with your bet, your better off not playing that game and looking at a different one.

bingo

always love when you see a lang or craig davis with 100u GOY on +3 -125 (buy the half)

 

[TyBounce]

I preach not to buy points and not to lay more than -110 ...BUT , sometimes i'm a hypocrite and dont practice what i preach. .

 

[Recon792]

I've been burned enough times by not buying the 1/2 point - -so i buy the 1/2 point whenever I feel I need to.

 

[talkpoker2]

I have the same theory about roulette, I have been burned by the zero so often that I bet on it whenever I feel like it's going to come up.
Some keeps telling me that's pretty stupid though'

 

[Recon792]

I have the same theory about roulette, I have been burned by the zero so often that I bet on it whenever I feel like it's going to come up.
Some keeps telling me that's pretty stupid though'

same here

 

[Kaveman]

I have the same theory about roulette, I have been burned by the zero so often that I bet on it whenever I feel like it's going to come up.
Some keeps telling me that's pretty stupid though'

The math should tell you all you need to know about that one.

 

[MackDonald]

I preach not to buy points and not to lay more than -110 ...BUT , sometimes i'm a hypocrite and dont practice what i preach. .

But, you're a nice hypocrite....lol.....Good luck this weekend Ty........

 

[talkpoker2]

Have a great Saturday guys, don't buy any wooden nickels or half points!