Why You Should Compare Proline Odds With Online Sportsbooks

Note: This article references games that were played in December, 2010

Do you like the Falcons to cover the spread against the Seahawks this weekend? How about the Raiders to cover against the Broncos?

If you like either of these bets, it’s going to be a bit tougher for you to win them with Proline.

The Atlanta/Seattle and Denver/Oakland games are the two best examples this week of how Proline occasionally features different point spreads than offshore sportsbooks. Identifying these discrepancies can sometimes mean the difference between a winning and losing ticket.

If you bet on the Falcons or Raiders on Proline in Ontario, you’ll have to lay more than a touchdown. Not so with offshore sportsbooks, however, where the Falcons are 6-point favourites and the Raiders are favoured by 6.5 points.

Seven points is one of the biggest key numbers in NFL betting, since so many games are decided by a converted touchdown. Being on the right side of the key number (getting +7.5 points with underdogs and laying 6.5 points with favourites) will make a big difference in your winning percentage.

Here’s a look at a few other games this weekend where Proline and offshore point spreads differ:

(All examples are from Proline odds in Ontario)

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (-2.5 at Proline, -3 at most offshore sportsbooks)

Seven is the second-most important key number in NFL betting. Three, the value of a field goal, is the biggest one. So if you like the Giants, taking the -2.5 at Proline is the way to go this week. But if you like the Eagles, you’ll like the +3 that most offshore sportsbooks are offering.

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5 at Proline, -5.5 at offshore sportsbooks)

Six is another key number in football. It’s not as common as three or seven, but it’s still important. It’s the total of two field goals, or an unconverted touchdown. (A touchdown in overtime, like Monday’s Baltimore/Houston game, means the game ends with a six-point differential.) Jets bettors will get the extra half point by betting with Proline this week, while Steelers bettors are better off laying -5.5 points with the offshore sportsbooks.

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (+1.5 at Proline, -1 at offshore sportsbooks)

Every once in a while, games are decided by one point. Especially with the Texans, who always seem to be in the middle of crazy endings. So you might as well take points wherever you can. If you like Tennessee, a one-point loss would win your bet with Proline. If you think the Texans will pull out a win this week, you can still push your bet at offshore sportsbooks if they lose by one point.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5 at Proline, -1 at offshore sportsbooks)

The difference here doesn’t cross the key number of 3, but an extra point or two wherever you can get it is still a nice thing to have. That’s about all we want to say about this game.

New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens (+1.5 at Proline, -1 at offshore sportsbooks)

The Ravens opened as 2.5 point favourites in this game and have been bet down to one-point favourites offshore. Proline’s gone a bit further and made the Saints the favourite. In a game that could come down to the end, you might as well be getting points with whoever you like this week.

Remember, even if you’re getting the occasional better point spread with Proline, your odds are always better when you play with offshore sportsbooks. A three-team point spread ticket pays four times your bet with Proline (it says five times, but that includes your original bet back), while a similar parlay pays six times your bet at an offshore sportsbook like 5Dimes.