[Dark Horse]

the SHADED lines.

Not complaining, but I've never seen such a consistent diet of shaded lines as with Skybook. Almost funny.

[Mudcat]

Could you please explain what you mean by shaded lines?

[Dark Horse]

They seem to be concerned about one-sided action (the downside of offering a free 1/2 pt, which allows bettors to middle the game somewhere else?).

For the four NBA games today the three dogs are offered at: -113, -115, and -114. The pk game is slanted -105/-115.

[Mudcat]

I have often found them to be in lock-step with Pinnacle. Sometimes I wonder if they have a guy whose only job it is to watch Pinnacle and make sure Skybook's lines are right in line.

I've been getting some decent MLB numbers there so far this season though. That's been a pleasant surprise.

[Dark Horse]

I noticed the same thing. But they seemed more careful with the NBA playoffs. Lines have changed already, so not a problem.

[BuddyBear]

their lines are clones of pinnacles....as soon as pinn changes, Skybook will change seconds later.

However, the value a free 1/2 point can't be overstated. The juice there is not very kind but it is still worth having an account with and keeping some funds in there.

[freebie]

skybook is pretty useless after basketball. Can't use 1/2 on football where lines fall on 3 and 7. So what good is the 1/2 point for football?

[Dark Horse]

It is mostly a basketball advantage. I have won quite a few middles with the help of the 1/2 pt, so it has been very valuable.

David (?) Hertz told me before the playoffs started that they didn't put up lines until game day because pros might jump all over them otherwise. They must have changed their mind, because now the lines are up early, but it definitely looks like the juice is used as a balancer.

[Mudcat]

skybook is pretty useless after basketball. Can't use 1/2 on football where lines fall on 3 and 7. So what good is the 1/2 point for football?

3 and 7 are definitely the most valuable middling numbers for football but I have had some big scores on other numbers. You have to look for a tighter straddle on other numbers but pushes can happen on all numbers. One of my biggest windfalls last season was a football middle on 11 of all things.

[pags11]

yeah, a lot of their sides are -113, -117, -120...damn, just move it a half point skybook...

[Dark Horse]

I'm starting to think that A- is a very generous rating for this book. Right now the Pistons -10 is evenly matched with Cleveland +10, except at Skybook, which has Pistons -10 -115. This makes the free 1/2 point still more expensive than at Pinny. (Pistons -9.5 -115 versus -113 at Pinnacle).

Does anyone know if these tilted lines are only offered to accounts that get a free 1/2 pt?

Same with the other game.
Skybook SA -2.5 -115, which is -2 -115 if you get free half point.
Pinnacle SA -2.5 -104, and SA -2 -114.

This free 1/2 pt is starting to look a bit fishy to me.

[Terris]

well what do you expect, they would get bombed with scalps 1 sided. Of course it just means that its 1 reduced juice bet per day

[Dark Horse]

Wasn't my idea to offer a half point for free. They call themselves "the home of the free half point". So either they offer a free 1/2 point or it is all smoke and mirrors.

[pags11]

darkhorse,

I agree that Skybook's somewhere in the B+ range... a good book that you won't have to worry about getting paid at...but I had the line shading and charging for withdrawals, amongst other things...

[BuddyBear]

in football skybook is of little value b/c numbers 3 and 7 can't be moved but still there are other key numbers like 4 or 10 that can be moved so it's worth having some money in there for those type of numbers...

It seems skybook is more suited toward basketball...i know it's saved my ass a few times and if you have the opportunity to turn pushes into wins and losses into pushes then that's a good thing...

Also...skybook can be very useful for middling if you are into that kind of stuff....

But the reality is the A- ranking is a bit generous....given that there is no free monthly withdrawal, no overnight lines, high juice, limited/no bonuses. and the software is less than spectacular...it's in the B/B+ range IMO.

[Dark Horse]

I won several sweet middles using their free half point, and would like to keep doing so.

If they're going to be all paranoid and manouver the half point so that their line ends up the same, or worse, than Pinny's, why don't they just say so?

On the positive side, they are willing to listen to criticism. They just became overconservative. Maybe it was the NBA playoffs. I'll play the WNBA with them. Love those soft, err, lines.

[Terris]

yep, decent marketing strategy thou.
I agree that they are no A book, CS wise they are - but the lines come out late, -110 and lots of betting options missing.

[joe blow]

When they lowered the free 1/2 max to $300.I lowered MY rating for them to a c-

[bigboydan]

i don't know if i would lower them to a "c-" joe. although, i do agree with you though, my rating went down a little due to that move as well.

[Doug]

Anybody concerned about all the free money they gave ( still are) away with the BJ promo ? A lot of RX guys hit them for 1-4k each.

[RickySteve]

But the reality is the A- ranking is a bit generous....given that there is no free monthly withdrawal, no overnight lines, high juice, limited/no bonuses. and the software is less than spectacular...it's in the B/B+ range IMO.

Umm...false.

[BuddyBear]

why is it false Ricky????

[pags11]

Doug,

Only thing with this promo (I believe), was that you had to be qualified (meaning you had to have lost money there), whereas if you had one before you wouldn't qualify for the bonus...

[Doug]

Doug,

Only thing with this promo (I believe), was that you had to be qualified (meaning you had to have lost money there), whereas if you had one before you wouldn't qualify for the bonus...

Not true, IMO. I'm up on Skybook have been denied bonuses for a long time, I think the only qualification this time was to have created account before 5/1/ 06. I haven't heard of one person getting refused this bonus.

[pags11]

thanks for the clarification doug...

[tacomax]

I haven't heard of one person getting refused this bonus.

You have now.