Alternative lines (alt spreads/totals): what they are & when to use them
Comprehensive guide to alternative lines in sports betting and how arbitrage betting offers a risk-free approach.
Alternative lines (alt spreads/totals): what they are & when to use them
Alternative lines, also known as alt spreads or alt totals, are betting options that offer adjusted point spreads or totals different from the standard lines.
These alternative lines allow bettors to customize their risk and potential payout by choosing more favorable or challenging margins than the standard lines.
While selecting the right alternative line can be tricky and requires careful calculation, arbitrage betting removes this guesswork by guaranteeing profits regardless of the outcome.
What Are Alternative Lines?
Alternative lines provide bettors with expanded options beyond the standard point spreads or totals offered for a game. Instead of betting on the traditional line set by sportsbooks, bettors can choose lines with bigger or smaller margins, which usually come with adjusted odds. This flexibility allows bettors to seek higher payouts by taking on more risk or to reduce risk by accepting lower payouts.
- •Alternative spreads adjust the point margin for the favored or underdog team.
- •Alternative totals adjust the combined score line for over/under bets.
- •Odds change to reflect the altered probability of these adjusted lines.
💡Example of Alternative Spread
If the standard spread is -3 points for a favorite, an alternative line might offer -5 points with higher odds or -1 point with lower odds, allowing bettors to tailor their risk.
Standard Line: Favorite -3 points at -110 odds; Alternative Line: Favorite -5 points at +120 odds
When to Use Alternative Lines
Betters use alternative lines when they have a strong opinion about the margin of victory or total points scored that differs from the market consensus. They are especially useful for managing risk preferences or capitalizing on perceived value in games where the standard line does not align with the bettor’s expectations.
- •When you believe the favorite will win by a larger margin than the standard spread.
- •When you want to reduce risk by choosing a safer line with lower payout.
- •When looking for better value in totals based on game pace or weather conditions.
💡Using Alternative Totals
If the over/under is 45 points but you expect a defensive game, choosing an alt total of 43.5 points with adjusted odds might be more profitable.
Standard Over 45 at -110; Alternative Over 43.5 at +105
Risks and Challenges with Alternative Lines
Alternative lines come with a trade-off between risk and reward. While they can offer higher payouts, the chances of winning may decrease as the line moves away from the standard. Calculating the true value and managing bankroll becomes more complex. These challenges can lead to mistakes or poor decisions if bettors rely solely on intuition.
- •Higher risk with wider margins leading to potential losses.
- •Complex odds require careful calculation to determine expected value.
- •Difficulty in comparing lines across different sportsbooks.
How Arbitrage Betting Helps
Arbitrage betting eliminates the guesswork inherent in alternative lines by allowing bettors to place multiple bets on all outcomes across different sportsbooks. This guarantees a profit regardless of the final score, making it a superior strategy to relying on risky alternative lines alone.
- →Removes risk by covering all outcomes.
- →Automates complex calculations, especially with tools like ArbitUp.
- →Allows exploitation of line discrepancies in alt spreads and totals.
Calculating Value in Alternative Lines
Evaluating alternative lines requires understanding implied probabilities from odds and comparing them to your own expectations of the game's outcome. This process involves converting odds to probabilities, assessing risk versus reward, and determining whether the payout justifies the likelihood of winning. Manual calculations can be time-consuming and prone to error.
- •Convert odds to implied probability to assess expected value.
- •Compare different alternative lines to find the best risk/reward balance.
- •Use bankroll management to avoid overexposure on risky lines.
Automation with ArbitUp
Tools like ArbitUp help automate the complex calculations needed to identify valuable alternative lines and potential arbitrage opportunities, saving time and reducing errors.
- →Instantly compares odds across multiple sportsbooks.
- →Highlights profitable alt spread and total combinations.
- →Simplifies bankroll allocation for multiple bets.
Strategies for Using Alternative Lines Effectively
Successful use of alternative lines depends on disciplined strategies such as focusing on games with high confidence in outcome margins, combining alt lines with other bet types, or using them as part of arbitrage opportunities. Being selective and managing risk is critical to long-term success.
- •Target games with strong statistical or insider insights.
- •Use alternative lines to reduce risk or increase payout selectively.
- •Combine alt lines with arbitrage betting to guarantee profits.
Common Sports and Markets Offering Alternative Lines
Alternative lines are most common in sports like football, basketball, and baseball where point spreads and totals play a major role. Many sportsbooks offer a range of alt spreads and totals to accommodate different bettor preferences.
- •Football and basketball are the most popular for alt spreads and totals.
- •Baseball alt totals focus on runs scored.
- •Some sportsbooks offer alt lines in soccer and hockey as well.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠️Choosing alternative lines without understanding the changed odds and risk involved.
- ⚠️Failing to calculate expected value leading to bets with negative returns.
- ⚠️Ignoring bankroll management when taking on riskier alt lines.
- ⚠️Relying solely on intuition instead of data or statistical analysis.
- ⚠️Not comparing alt lines across multiple sportsbooks to find best value.
- ⚠️Overlooking arbitrage opportunities that can eliminate risk.
- ⚠️Underestimating the complexity of calculating combined bets involving alt lines.
The Power of Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting eliminates the guesswork and risk associated with alternative lines by guaranteeing a profit through simultaneous bets on all possible outcomes across sportsbooks.
- ✓Removes uncertainty by covering every outcome.
- ✓Allows bettors to exploit discrepancies in alt spreads and totals.
- ✓Automates complex calculations, making it accessible to all bettors.
Get Started with ArbitUp
Ready to start earning guaranteed profits?
ArbitUp is the best and most affordable tool to find and execute arbitrage opportunities, especially involving alternative lines.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Sports betting involves substantial risk. Only bet with money you can afford to lose. See our Terms of Service for complete legal disclaimers.