If it's significant, I have looked in the past to middle or side the bet, usually in the NBA, but since I want a sure profit, I'll bet half of the matchplay amount as the offset bet, which ensures I'll end up with at least half of the original matchplay amount - for example, betting a matchplay of $500 on the Lakers -11 and taking their opponent +12.5 for $250 - if the Lakers win by 12, I'll win both, if by 11 I'll win the other bet and push the matchplay, otherwise I'll win a little less than $250.
BUT - that's my style, rather the sure thing than the unsure.
BUT - that's my style, rather the sure thing than the unsure.
I might as well spill the beans here...
The best is to parlay it because then you have the bonus money working more times before you have to lose it.
If you make parlays which pay 100-1 (assuming they are at a fair price) then you will keep 99 percent of your match play money on average, rather than just the 50 percent in the case of a single.
Just assume you make 100 bets and win exactly one...you'll see what I mean
Darryl Parsons
The best is to parlay it because then you have the bonus money working more times before you have to lose it.
If you make parlays which pay 100-1 (assuming they are at a fair price) then you will keep 99 percent of your match play money on average, rather than just the 50 percent in the case of a single.
Just assume you make 100 bets and win exactly one...you'll see what I mean
Darryl Parsons
General - Save your match plays for football season. To get the best bang for your buck you put the matchplay on a big dog money line (at least +500). Maybe take a lead on the favorite early - get down at 2000 for 400 . Then use 450 for 2250 on the match play. If the dog wins (which you do not want) you will end up with $250 of your 450 match play in your pocket. The favorite lets you keep 400 of your 450 matchplay.
Parlays would work if you have enough time in between games to cover each side.
Be careful you don't get too big on the match play. I won 7000 once on a 1 dime match play and the place was a little crabby. I have heard of others getting the bone on a big match play like this. So, you probably need to keep them under a nickel.
Parlays would work if you have enough time in between games to cover each side.
Be careful you don't get too big on the match play. I won 7000 once on a 1 dime match play and the place was a little crabby. I have heard of others getting the bone on a big match play like this. So, you probably need to keep them under a nickel.
General,
It's not the number of teams but the effective odds that count. I would parlay 3 dogs on the money line, say, or maybe a 4-teamer with 2 dogs and two around even money.
And I would make lots of such bets, say 10 or so for $50 each if I had a $500 matchplay to use up. If the book doesn't let you make so many small bets, make the maximum allowed and make sure that the last game in the parlay starts after all the others have finished so you can buy insurance. By then the effective bet will be very large.
As a side note I have noticed a correlation between the shittiness of a book and whether or not it offers match play bonuses...ie. the shittier the book, the more likely it is to offer match plays. I wonder if others here have similar observations!?
Darryl Parsons
It's not the number of teams but the effective odds that count. I would parlay 3 dogs on the money line, say, or maybe a 4-teamer with 2 dogs and two around even money.
And I would make lots of such bets, say 10 or so for $50 each if I had a $500 matchplay to use up. If the book doesn't let you make so many small bets, make the maximum allowed and make sure that the last game in the parlay starts after all the others have finished so you can buy insurance. By then the effective bet will be very large.
As a side note I have noticed a correlation between the shittiness of a book and whether or not it offers match play bonuses...ie. the shittier the book, the more likely it is to offer match plays. I wonder if others here have similar observations!?
Darryl Parsons
Darryl: I've noticed that too, but then Bluegrass offered a matchplay when I signed up and they most definitely are not a
book!
Btw, damn good stategy for maximizing the return, had not considered it because I was looking to be 100% certain of cashing without risk - but I certainly would try it if I didn't mind the risk AND a sportsbook allowed you playing portions of the matchplay. However, the few times I've gotten a matchplay it had to be bet in its entirety, probably exactly to avoid the strategies detailed here, so I couldn't have used them.
Btw, damn good stategy for maximizing the return, had not considered it because I was looking to be 100% certain of cashing without risk - but I certainly would try it if I didn't mind the risk AND a sportsbook allowed you playing portions of the matchplay. However, the few times I've gotten a matchplay it had to be bet in its entirety, probably exactly to avoid the strategies detailed here, so I couldn't have used them.
