Why do Books Have So Many Pushes?

Why not put the # at the 1/2 every time so there are no pushes. It might be slightly less accurate but wouldn't it better for everybody?

Because if the book thinks it's going to be a 3-point game, making the spread 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 is asking - well, not so much asking as begging and pleading - for money to be put on the favorite (at 2 1/2) or underdog (at 3 1/2).

OP- Books don't really make the point spread. They post an opening number and the market determines where it goes.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Because if the book thinks it's going to be a 3-point game, making the spread 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 is asking - well, not so much asking as begging and pleading - for money to be put on the favorite (at 2 1/2) or underdog (at 3 1/2).

More on this point, wouldn't it be great to lay -2.5, and then take +3.5, back and forth all week long?

If you could get an extra half point in every NFL game, you could just bet the numbers with no handicapping needed and make a lot of money. Read the Wizards discussion of parlay cards.

Quote: HowMany

More on this point, wouldn't it be great to lay -2.5, and then take +3.5, back and forth all week long?

You can. You'll just be laying -130 on each bet

I didn't clarify my question well. A line set at 3 is not a good example of what I'm talking about. How about the totals. Nobody is going to be able to say that 48 is not a good deal but 47.5 is a great deal. Or how about basketball games when the total is set at 220. Come on. It's especially irritating when a baseball total is set at 9. Baseball is so very unpredictable that nobody is going to have a big reaction to 8.5 or 9.5.

Quote: lilredrooster

I didn't clarify my question well. A line set at 3 is not a good example of what I'm talking about. How about the totals. Nobody is going to be able to say that 48 is not a good deal but 47.5 is a great deal. Or how about basketball games when the total is set at 220. Come on. It's especially irritating when a baseball total is set at 9. Baseball is so very unpredictable that nobody is going to have a big reaction to 8.5 or 9.5.

You are contradicting yourself. If there are a lot of pushes, than the extra half-point is a big deal. Many places have alternate lines anyway, so bet those if you are so desperate to avoid the possibility of a push