Betting "the window".

[Dave Gray]

A buddy of mine brought up an interesting idea the other day, that I'd never really thought of.  It's called "betting the window".  It's where (when you have a decent spread), you bet the favorite to win outright, and you also bet the underdog w/the points.

Take the Superbowl for example:

You'd bet 1000 on the Seahawks to cover.
You'd bet 1000 on Pitt to win.

The risk is that if Pit wins and covers, you lose a little bit of money (the juice, plus the money line).
If Seattle covers, you win a little bit of money.
But if Pitt wins "in the window", within the spread, you win both bets, and take in a heaping ton of cash.

The risk seems fairly low for the reward.  Am I missing something here?

[JVides]

I don't know...I no speako da gambling

[Phishfan]

My experience with bookies is that there are not straight up bets unless that is where they set the odds. If the game has a line on it I have never heard of anyone ebing able to place a straight bet. I am not big in the scene, so I could be wrong.

[Dave Gray]

My experience with bookies is that there are not straight up bets unless that is where they set the odds. If the game has a line on it I have never heard of anyone ebing able to place a straight bet. I am not big in the scene, so I could be wrong.

Yes, this is wrong.  You can place a straight bet even if there is a line, but it just doesn't pay even money.

For example, if Pitt is favored and you bet $100 on Pitt, you might only get $70 if they win.
But if Seattle wins, and you bet $100 on them, you might win $130. 
(those are just made up numbers)

[Spider-Dan]

Yes, this is wrong.  You can place a straight bet even if there is a line, but it just doesn't pay even money.

For example, if Pitt is favored and you bet $100 on Pitt, you might only get $70 if they win.

Do you mean your original $100 back + $70 in winnings ($170 total), or just $70 (so, net of -$30)?

[ADeadSmitty]

My experience with bookies is that there are not straight up bets unless that is where they set the odds. If the game has a line on it I have never heard of anyone ebing able to place a straight bet. I am not big in the scene, so I could be wrong.

This is basically right. You will get a straight-up bet vs. the spread, but you won't get even-money on Pittsburgh to win, as you said below. If you win the Steelers bet you will win less than what you bet.

So the three possibilities, ignoring the juice, are:

1. Seattle wins. You break even (win your even-money bet on the Seahawks, lose your uneven bet on the Steelers).

2. Pittsburgh wins and covers. You lose a little money (lose your even-money bet on the Seahawks, win your uneven bet on the Steelers.)

3. Pittsburgh wins but Seattle covers -- "the window". You win a lot (win both even-money on the Seahawks and uneven bet on the Steelers).

This bet is basically a "lottery ticket" style bet. You are almost certain to either break even or lose money. But if you hit the window, you will win a lot. But it's a pretty small chance that you would hit it.

[Denver_Bronco]

A safety is +600. Worth a shot !