question for linesmakers about teasers

[drunkguy]

Usually line movement for games is based on total action on each side (I realize sometimes the linesmaker will look for unbalanced action and a decision, but that really doesn't effect this question).

The question is: does action on teasers effect the line movement, or are teasers such a small percentage of total action that they are ignored? It seems that some pointspreads would attract a lot of teaser action (e.g. moving +2 to +8 in NFL), so would the line move to account for all this extra wagering? Or does the linemaker generally ignore the teasers and just try to set the line based on straight bets?

Replies from linesmakers are appreciated!

 

[corey]

Do teasers affect line movement - no. Maybe in some way bizarre circumstanace, but generally no.

 

[Fishhead]

Lines may be swayed by large 2 and 3 team teasers absolutely. The same applies with large parlays. As a bookmaker I was always aware of EVERY parlay and teaser that was for $100 or more believe it or not. I always had them on a seperate sheet of paper. I would cross out the losers as they went by the wayside or mark a W beside a winning team. The situation in the offshore world is different obviously, but in Vegas, I had time to do this and it comes in handy.

 

[drunkguy]

Thanks for the responses guys. I thought that it should be taken into account, but with all the "cloned" lines and variety of teaser rules/payouts, seems like some (or most) offshores probably aren't taking teasers/parlays into consideration.

 

[corey]

Parlays, definitely. Teasers just aren't big enough for us compared with straight or parlay action.

 

[Seven]

Teasers should never move a line. A true bookie tries to balance a bet by moving the line but a teaser can't be balanced because there is too much room for a middle. Teasers are a losing bet for most players so the books usually just let it ride and hope that teasers don't cover.