Finding the Best Odds and Lines

Updated: September 27, 2026

As crazy as it sounds, finding the best odds can be an afterthought for some bettors. They're often too interested in the handicapping aspect of betting, the number of markets a sportsbook offers, and bonuses, rather than the value of the odds at a particular sportsbook. This is a big mistake to say the least.

The betting market must be viewed as, well, a market. This concept doesn't seem to escape sports gamblers in other aspects of their lives, but it's as if some of them turn off their brains when it comes to shopping for odds. There's little practical difference between shopping for the best odds in online betting markets and shopping for the best price on any product or service. If you were shopping for a new television, would you order from the first store or website you came across, or would you compare prices?

Almost everyone would compare prices and shop around for the best deal before making a purchase. The same process should be used for just about every good and service, if possible. Even basic grocery shopping is similar to line shopping. Taking advantage of sales and buying products where they are least expensive compared to other stores that may mark up individual items is standard practice for most shoppers in America.

Sportsbooks Aren’t Created Equal

Experienced bettors may already know this, but there are many amateurs and lifelong gamblers who fail to consider the differences between bookmakers. Aside from reputation and payouts, the quality of odds offered by a bookmaker should also be taken into consideration. If all sportsbooks were equally reliable when it comes to administration and payouts, odds and markets would be the ONLY things that matter.

While most would understand that getting +3 or +3.5 on a football side offers a massive edge, they sometimes fail to take this into account when it comes to other markets. For example, sportsbooks differ in their parlay and teaser odds. A +EV play at one sportsbook with a two team teaser may be a -EV at another sportsbook.

The same goes for other markets, especially futures, live bets, and propositions. These are all susceptible to being "juiced" far beyond the reasonable 10% vig charged on most straight bets. Many sports bettors continually bet at poor odds and choose not to line shop, which can easily cost them thousands of dollars a year depending on how much they bet.

The Importance and Ease of Shopping Odds

Line shopping is easier than ever these days. The Internet has made the odds of any sportsbook available online in an instant. There are many sites that offer live odds from a number of sportsbooks that are easy to view.

One of the reasons we recommend that players have an adequate bankroll is so that they can shop between different sportsbooks.

However we realize this isn’t always possible, particularly for those that have smaller bankrolls.

Deposit at a sportsbook that has excellent odds and if possible, one with reduced juice markets.

The break-even percentage in sports betting is 52.4% if we bet with standard -110 odds or 10% vig. If we bet with reduced juice, base -105 pricing, that percentage drops to 51.22%. Bettors probably won't be able to place all of their bets at the -105 price, but even placing some of their bets at this price reduces the biggest advantage sportsbooks have over bettors, the vig.

Line Shop Religiously

Getting the best price available on a particular bet or market is simply the best way to improve your bottom line when betting on sports. The best way to do this is not by becoming an expert handicapper or trying to "beat the oddsmakers", many have tried and failed at that game.

The job of the oddsmaker is directly related to how much their sportsbook wins or loses. There are very few times that they are asleep at the wheel when it comes to their odds. There's a lot to be learned from watching games, incorporating other stats, and adding to your bankroll through bonus clearing, but none comes close to the value of line shopping and consistently getting the best price.