MGM Curious Decision to post totals line moves with money lines As most of us know, Robert Walker wasn't exactly a highly respected linesmaker. Too many examples to give (choosing to deal a 20 cent baseball money line) but the poster child was his ridiculous insistence to move all totals by adjusting the mline, not the total.
So when someone bet UN 140 for a limit bet he would make it UN 140-125, OV 140 +105. As every sharp here knows, books do this on key numbers like 3 in the NFL. As every sharp here also knows, square books do this on non MNF games on other spreads like 7, but it really is a dumb decision since
You would LOVE as a book to write 2 way action -6.5-110 and +7-110. Sure, you will get middled 1 in 20 games, but you will make a solid profit. The alternative of dealing +7-120, -7-100 is confusing to your bettors, and kills betting action. Further, it pisses off your square bettors since they don't understand why they have to lay -120. Having said all this, it does at least have a little merit in that it preserves your hold percentage given the same volume.
However, not moving totals is purely idiotic IMO. It pisses off your squares to show UCLA UN 139.5-145, OV +125. It is confusing to your normal customers. And your chance of being middled is peanuts if you just moved 1 point per bet at your low betting limits.
For years, I said "1 day the Mirage Owners will wake up and boot Walker/and or someone competent will take over, and this policy will be the 1st to go.......not only does it make zero sense but it is the bane of jokes from sharp bettors AND from sharp sports managers".
NOPE. The new guy has been in there for some time. SAME policy. NO CHANGE.
Mind boggling..........
And don't get me even started on how all the books treat added games, the Sunbelt. If someone can explain to me why MAC games can have 1 beting limit, and Sunbelts a much lower one, I'd LOVE to hear why.
