Trap Lines

Hey everyone,

Im not new to sports capping, in any sport really. I simply don't post much, but I read a lot.

That being said I conduct my own research and have my own systems, but one thing I was curious on that I read on here a lot is trap lines. I try to avoid taking those hints but now im just curious after watching it happen a couple times.

For example the other night in the Wright - Detroit game. Every where I read everyone is hammering Detroit on every website, Wrights top shooter is out yadda yadda. Then I read on someones comment that a large percentage of $$ is on Detroit minus the points (6 or something) so somehow Vegas will find a way to screw everyone and make the cash. Sure enough Wright is up like 15 the whole game and wins by 11.

What im pretty much saying is can Vegas actually have that affect on sports? and how could you possibly find any statistics on percentages on wagers. I wouldn't mind factoring this into my system to maybe avoid a bad beat.

Ive always read about these situations but paid no mind to them. Any info would be cool.

I think some of it has to do with the definition of a "trap line".  Some people define it one way and others another way.  Personally, I don't believe there is such a thing as a "trap line" by any definition anyone would use.  It seems to me that handicappers give too much weight, in the college game especially, to any one player being out for any one average team.  Unless you are talking about some college superstar player that is the MVP of the team and their backup just can't play at all, Vegas will figure in for the missing player and the line will be adjusted accordingly.

No...they do not.  But what they can do is lead you to the right side often with how they set the lines.  Vegas didn't have anything to do with Wright performing how they did against Detroit.  But they did tell you is the wager was Wright or no play.  The lines are what they are for legitimate reasons and they love the fact the majority of the wagering public has no idea why.  Hence they end up with many more bets on one side and generally are of with that.  Helps offset the sharp money on many occasions.

I completely agree, hence why I try to pay no mind to whats considered a trap. I guess the moral of the story for myself is to stick with my own gut & research.

Sometimes its just hard to get over seeing that ridiculously juicy line that you cant believe you're getting, borderline confused with the spread and then that team gets hammered. It doesn't happen too often, but those are worst beats, and ultimately when you lose the most $.

Well put

Thats what im looking for - to know when to hit Wright due to Vegas setting that line. I want to learn how to add that statistic into my research.

I will tell you what I wish for....I wish someone with the computer skills would back test a system that looked at opening lines vs closing lines. It would be a lot of work but I would love to add that system into my bag of tricks.  Probably would not be a great stand alone system but as a correlative system would be very valuable.

Trap line and "game fixed" spew comes from a paranoid weak gambler.

Amen, if you love the play, hammer it.

The phrase " trap line" is NOT the sign of a weak gambler!  ITS THE SIGN OF A SMART GAMBLER!     Every night their are a few lines that all the squares look at and say ohhhh that ones easy!!   And 90% of the time they are wrong!   If u look deep into the lines u can pull 2-3 out a night depending on games being played!   The other big trap in all sports are the injury reports!  75% of the time when a teams star player is out they WILL WIN.   But most people will look and see oh so and so is out for whomever their is no way they can win!   BUT THEY DO!!!!   Vegas definitely sets traps on a daily basis!  Like throwing out a line and bait and reeling in a ton of money!   U just have to be smart enough to figure out the trap!!