Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

What Is An Alternative Line In Football Betting and Wagering?

by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

bookie

Generally speaking, when betting on sports, we are all at the mercy of the sportsbooks. Whatever lines or prices they put out, we must abide by them and decide if they are worth betting or not. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way around this and it comes in the form of “alternative lines.” This option allows us to find a line we would like to bet and bet it. Easy, right? The setback to this is that the lines we choose typically come with very high odds, thus draining the bet of any real value.

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

What is an Alternative Line?

When you hear someone using the term “alternative line” in relation to football, they are referring to an opportunity in which the bettor can wager on a different point spread than originally offered at a sportsbook.

The concept of the “alternative line” is similar to that of a teaser in that it gives bettors a more favorable point spread in exchange for less favorable odds. However, an “alternative line”wager is a bet on a single game, where as a teaser must involve multiple options.

An “alternative line” is similar to buying points, but offers bettors a much bigger selection than just your standard half point or full point.

How Do Alternative Lines Work?

The standard “alternative line” is just an extension of the original point spread listed for a particular game. For example, if the Chiefs are four-point favorites against the Chargers, some books will offer up “alternative lines” of KC -1.5, -6.5 or even -11. If you decided to take the alternative line of -1.5, the price to pay will be much higherthan the standard -110 point spread price. If you decided to lay more points and take the Chiefs -11, the price would be better than even-money which could make this alternative line appealing. This “alternative line” option is available for both the favorite and underdog, but with the underdog the prices are reversed (you pay a higher price i.e. -250 to get 11 points or even-money to get 1.5 points.)

Some books even extend their “alternative lines” as high as 15 points in either direction on both the favorite and underdog. The prices are adjusted accordingly, but if you want to bet the underdog and lay three instead of get three points, you will be looking at juicy odds.

Are Alternative Lines Worth Betting?

Just like every other betting option available to bettors, “alternative lines” have pros and cons associated with it. “Alternative lines” are not better or worse, but often times they won’t offer much value than the original point spread line. If you asked any successful handicapper to give you a tip on how to be successful, they will tell you to find out the risk and cost of your bet and then compare it to the reward. If the reward outweighs the risk, it’s worth making a play. If not, move along.

Alternative lines can also help you get around key numbers when betting on the NFL. These numbers are three, four and seven, so sportsbooks will tend to keep their lines on one side or the other and never cross it. Using an alternative line can help you get around that and give you a better advantage to cash your ticket.

 

Another positive with betting alternative lines is that this option seems to get very little attention. Most squares bet into the standard point spread line which can change the line or juice. With the “alternative lines” this very rarely happens, which means smart bettors have an opportunity to find value.

Get college football picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

Get all of Doc's Sports How To Articles Here.

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers