We've often heard the best things in life are free, but eventually reality sets in and we usually learn that you get what you pay for. Show Me the Odds free line service (ShowMeTheOdds.com) is doing its best to change that perception, however, and offer a line service that rivals those costing as much as $600 a month. And the best part for sports bettors is that it's absolutely free.
Line Services
Line services today are quite a bit different than they were many years ago, when private bookmakers would receive one set of odds and then adjust them to their individual or collective bettors' wagering habits. If the odds changed on a game nationally, many times the local bookmaker was unaware of the movement, having already received the odds.
Today, line services display odds from a number of different offshore sportsbooks and line moves are displayed instantly. As soon as one sportsbook changes its odds on a particular game, the betting world knows immediately. That can be important information for both bettors and bookies.
ShowMeTheOdds.com
Show Me the Odds officially launched in October, 2009, but the people behind the company are no strangers to the sports betting world. The company is providing a valuable service for sports bettors by saving them plenty of money that could be added to the betting bankroll, while at the same time introducing bettors to new sportsbooks, including those consistently ranked among the most reputable, such as Bet Jamaica, Pinnacle, 5 Dimes, The Greek, Legendz and many others. There are odds displayed from nearly 30 different sportsbooks.
Shopping For Odds
Regular readers of this site have no doubt heard me mention the importance of shopping for the best line available. Betting into the best number is nearly as important as handicapping ability and can have a dramatic effect on a bettors' bankroll at the end of the year.
While I'm writing this, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, there are just three NHL games and one college football game on the schedule, but it's easy to see how valuable shopping for odds can be.
The football game, Rutgers at Army, has a consensus line of Rutgers -10.5 and a total of 38.5. But a quick glance at ShowMeTheOdds.com lets bettors know that Carib has Rutgers -10, while Easy Street has Rutgers -11. A bettor wishing to back the Scarlet Knights would be much better off wagering at Carib, while those wanting to back Army should take the 11 points at Easy Street. The total is no different, as Carib has it posted at 39.5, while several others have it at 39.
Moving to the NHL, we'll see that the Pittsburgh Penguins are -199 over Florida at Pinnacle, while Wager Street has the Pens -240. It isn't hard to determine where a bettor should look depending on which team they like.
Public Percentages
One feature that is nice about ShowMeTheOdds.com is the public betting percentages, which also includes totals. Many of you know by now that I try not to be on the same side as the betting public whenever possible.
It only makes sense that if most bettors lose, you should look to bet the opposite side when you can.
