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Solutions for Level Handicap 1
For the bookmaker, offering a level handicap generally involves three situations:
1. When both teams have similar strengths, but the impression of the away team is slightly better.
2. When the home team is weaker, the away team is stronger, but there is a storyline to consider.
3. When the away team is ranked lower and playing away, but due to the traditional strong team impression or historical advantages, they are given a level handicap.
The odds for a level handicap are generally in the 2.3-2.2 combination, but in cases where a draw is more likely or the bookmaker believes that any result is possible, they might use 2-2-3 or even 2-2-2 odds combinations. Betting on a level handicap can be challenging for punters because the teams are either evenly matched or there is a compelling storyline, making it difficult to predict.
Let's analyze several situations for a level handicap:
1. **Strong Away, Weak Home:**
- (1) If the home team has recently improved while the away team's form has declined, creating a level handicap.
- In this case, both upper and lower odds have their merits, but generally, favoring the team with lower odds is advisable. If the home team has rising odds at a quarter/half handicap, it's not favorable.
- (2) If the home team is weak and in poor form but has historical advantages.
- In this situation, the away team, regardless of the odds, is likely to not lose. If the away team maintains higher odds, it's advantageous for them.
2. **Even Strength for Home and Away:**
- (1) If the away team is lower-ranked but a traditional strong team or has historical advantages.
- In such cases, the lower odds side tends to remain unbeaten.
- (2) If the home team is lower-ranked but has historical advantages.
- The away team is likely to remain unbeaten, regardless of the odds.
- (3) If the home team is lower-ranked but the away team has historical advantages.
- If the home team has lower odds or higher odds but not much higher, the home team is likely to avoid defeat.
Additionally, in situations where the home team is weaker, and the point difference is large, maintaining higher odds for the away team without losing is common.
**Flat Handicap Odds Movements:**
- When the flat handicap has lower odds and rises to a quarter/half handicap, it's likely tempting the lower odds side.
- If the flat handicap rises to quarter/half, and the lower odds side maintains lower odds (around 0.875 or below), the bookmaker favors the upper odds side.
- If the flat handicap remains at low odds (0.85/0.80) or the initial middle odds do not change, or if the flat handicap drops to low odds, the bookmaker favors the away team.
- If the flat handicap changes to quarter/half or half, and it's turning towards the away team, it's a signal for the away team's victory. |
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