[Ganchrow]

Basketball is right around the corner and I know many of us are trying to put together our sportsbook rosters.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm looking for four of five books with Pinnacle as a given, and so too likely Hollywood. But what else? Obviously all the top books need to be considered, but I personally would rather forgo a "name" book (CRIS and WWTS automatically spring to mind) in favor of reduced juice.

So, to get this conversation going does anyone have any feelings in re any of the other reduced juice books for b-ball? Does anyone know if Skybook is going to extend their free half-point to hoops again this year? Has anyone here used Cascade? B+ may be a bit low as ratings go, but more dime lines?

[jjgold]

I guess

mansion maybe
carib
wagerstreet
canbet
skybook is fine

[Ganchrow]

Originally Posted by jjgold

I guess

mansion maybe
carib
wagerstreet
canbet
skybook is fine

Why?

[Bill Dozer]

Ganch,

Since you told me what type of player you are, I will first say that you probably do not want to overlook CRIS. They are a great out for hoops and sometimes give you options worth more than reduced juice. You will be able to get your high limits.

Cascade is looking to be a major low-vig player as the 2nd -105 book. You have to like that for those NBA totals. I'm eager to see if the line will come out just as early at the half but should be a nice addition regardless.

That puts you with Pinnacle, Hollywood, CRIS and Cascade. Any of the others that are labled "Best for P" will be viable options.

[Mudcat]

I'm finding a few surprises with early season NCAAF and books not doing the same as last year - so I'm hesitant to make a lot of recommendations for hoops until I actually see what is on the boards.

Last year Mansion was an absolute must.

Apart from what has been mentioned, if you use moneylines, Las Palmas was a must (although they are an example of a book that looks like they might be changing. Relatively low limits too). ABC Islands throws up opinionated lines at times.

And it has to be said, Royal was just unbelievable for lines that were close to a pick 'em. I can't tell you how many times everyone would have one side at +1 and Royal would have the other at +1. I hit on a bunch of middles at Royal last year.

But, as you probably know, Royal has a down side.

[Ganchrow]

Well, there's always going to be a lot of viable options, but obviously what we're looking for are the best options. My problem with CRIS is that in many ways they're the worst of both worlds, i.e., their lines are hellishly sharp AND their markets are not particularly tight. This means that one might expect that more so than with most other books when one does make a bet with CRIS, one may wind up regretting it. In fact one might even make the argument that to at keast some extent a really good line by CRIS may well be a contrary indicator.

There's no question that a CRIS account is an invaluable asset for the very high-limit player, but unless I'm missing something (which is always a possibility for me), for the standard high limit player CRIS seems mainly the book of last resort. No?

[Mudcat]

Again, I don't know if you play moneylines, but I would find my share of moneyline bets on hoops at CRIS.

[jjgold]

I think Cris is not really getting the square player but the whales and more advanced sports bettors