Betting Halftime Lines For Profit
By Dan Perkins
Unless you know how to bet halftime lines profitably, you should stay away from them at all times. Halftime betting has become very popular serving as a last chance effort for the bettor to bail out his losing pick. However, with some simple calculations that are common sense you can turn a chase bet into an extremely profitable betting tool. In the following sections of this article you will learn how to gain an edge on the sports books and begin to bet second half lines for profit.
You Know What The Books Know.
Linesmakers have a substantial advantage over public bettors when setting lines for full time wagers in any professional sporting event. The books can ball park every single NBA game final outcome with pinpoint accuracy usually 48 hours before tip. Linesmakers know how NFL games will end up often 7-10 days before kickoff. All that changes when you are betting the second half of games.
Assuming you watched every minute of the first half you have seen everything that the Linesmaker has seen. There are no hidden stats or secrets to burn you. The goal of the Linesmaker is to split the public money 50/50. Often times the lines will be set on his hunch on what number will split even money and not the final outcome. Setting your own lines before looking at the official ones is a great basic winning strategy. As time goes on you will know what to look for and narrow the margin of difference between your line and the books line. By doing this you will gain an initial lean as to which side or total to wager on for the second half.
Getting Better Price At Halftime. (Reverse Hedging)
Oh no, your wager came into the game as a 7 point favorite and trails by 6 at halftime, unless there is a big 14 point comeback in the second half, your in trouble right? Wrong. This situation is exactly what you want to look for in order to take it to the books during the second half of play. Say halftime line is released and the 7 point favorite before the game is set as 6.5 point favourites in the second half. Your 7 point favorite is now only a half point favorite. Here is how,
Pre Game: Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards (-7)
Halftime: Golden State Warriors 56 Washington Wizards 50.
The Wizards are tailing at halftime by 6 at halftime, to cover the -7 spread they must win the second half by 14 points.
Halftime Line: Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards (-6.5)
If you were to bet the Washington Wizards at -6.5 for the second half you have bought them down to -0.5 for the game. (-7) - (-6.5) = (-0.5).
If your analysis from watching the first half leads you to believe that Washington has a chance at coming back to win this game you should definitely take the Wizards in the second half. The Reverse Hedge is great for home favourites who are trailing at half time since they re focus and get motivated in the locker room to avoid being embarrassed on their home court.
**************************************** *********
Assuming you watched every minute of the first half you have seen everything that the Linesmaker has seen.
**************************************** *********
The Dream Situation
So you know the reverse hedge and how to gain an edge on the book by setting your own lines. Now second half wagering seems like a reasonable way to earn consistent profit. If you are lucky, Every once and a while there are second half lines that will guarantee you a profit an extremely high percentage of the time. I’m serious, on every time I have played these wagers, I have came out winning both the side and the total. Here is what I am talking about.
If a football game calls for a low scoring 2nd half with the underdog sporting a big lead coming into the half you may see something like this,
+10
O/U 16.5
By playing both the Underdog and the Over you give yourself an extremely good shot at winning both wagers. If you are calling for Oakland to score a touchdown in the second half, play them +10 and over. This way, if Oakland does score a touchdown you are guaranteed to win 1 of the bets. Here is how,
Oakland 17 Denver 6 (Halftime Score)
Halftime Lines: Oakland Raiders +10 Over/Under 16.5.
If Oakland were to score first the score would be 23-6, Denver would need to score 17 points to cover the second half, 17 points scored will put the total at 24 points. If Denver fails to score 17 points then your Oakland +10 bet will win.
You can also parlay these two bets to get a return of 2.6:1.
This strategy can be used with other score total combinations, If you think a 3 point favorite will score 14 points in the second half with a total of 17, you guaranteed your self a split and most likely a sweep.
By Dan Perkins
Unless you know how to bet halftime lines profitably, you should stay away from them at all times. Halftime betting has become very popular serving as a last chance effort for the bettor to bail out his losing pick. However, with some simple calculations that are common sense you can turn a chase bet into an extremely profitable betting tool. In the following sections of this article you will learn how to gain an edge on the sports books and begin to bet second half lines for profit.
You Know What The Books Know.
Linesmakers have a substantial advantage over public bettors when setting lines for full time wagers in any professional sporting event. The books can ball park every single NBA game final outcome with pinpoint accuracy usually 48 hours before tip. Linesmakers know how NFL games will end up often 7-10 days before kickoff. All that changes when you are betting the second half of games.
Assuming you watched every minute of the first half you have seen everything that the Linesmaker has seen. There are no hidden stats or secrets to burn you. The goal of the Linesmaker is to split the public money 50/50. Often times the lines will be set on his hunch on what number will split even money and not the final outcome. Setting your own lines before looking at the official ones is a great basic winning strategy. As time goes on you will know what to look for and narrow the margin of difference between your line and the books line. By doing this you will gain an initial lean as to which side or total to wager on for the second half.
Getting Better Price At Halftime. (Reverse Hedging)
Oh no, your wager came into the game as a 7 point favorite and trails by 6 at halftime, unless there is a big 14 point comeback in the second half, your in trouble right? Wrong. This situation is exactly what you want to look for in order to take it to the books during the second half of play. Say halftime line is released and the 7 point favorite before the game is set as 6.5 point favourites in the second half. Your 7 point favorite is now only a half point favorite. Here is how,
Pre Game: Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards (-7)
Halftime: Golden State Warriors 56 Washington Wizards 50.
The Wizards are tailing at halftime by 6 at halftime, to cover the -7 spread they must win the second half by 14 points.
Halftime Line: Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards (-6.5)
If you were to bet the Washington Wizards at -6.5 for the second half you have bought them down to -0.5 for the game. (-7) - (-6.5) = (-0.5).
If your analysis from watching the first half leads you to believe that Washington has a chance at coming back to win this game you should definitely take the Wizards in the second half. The Reverse Hedge is great for home favourites who are trailing at half time since they re focus and get motivated in the locker room to avoid being embarrassed on their home court.
**************************************** *********
Assuming you watched every minute of the first half you have seen everything that the Linesmaker has seen.
**************************************** *********
The Dream Situation
So you know the reverse hedge and how to gain an edge on the book by setting your own lines. Now second half wagering seems like a reasonable way to earn consistent profit. If you are lucky, Every once and a while there are second half lines that will guarantee you a profit an extremely high percentage of the time. I’m serious, on every time I have played these wagers, I have came out winning both the side and the total. Here is what I am talking about.
If a football game calls for a low scoring 2nd half with the underdog sporting a big lead coming into the half you may see something like this,
+10
O/U 16.5
By playing both the Underdog and the Over you give yourself an extremely good shot at winning both wagers. If you are calling for Oakland to score a touchdown in the second half, play them +10 and over. This way, if Oakland does score a touchdown you are guaranteed to win 1 of the bets. Here is how,
Oakland 17 Denver 6 (Halftime Score)
Halftime Lines: Oakland Raiders +10 Over/Under 16.5.
If Oakland were to score first the score would be 23-6, Denver would need to score 17 points to cover the second half, 17 points scored will put the total at 24 points. If Denver fails to score 17 points then your Oakland +10 bet will win.
You can also parlay these two bets to get a return of 2.6:1.
This strategy can be used with other score total combinations, If you think a 3 point favorite will score 14 points in the second half with a total of 17, you guaranteed your self a split and most likely a sweep.
