Definition
A linemaker (or oddsmaker), in terms of sports gambling, is the actual person who sets the actual line for the sportsbooks. Along with other linemakers, this group determines the final lines.
Where do they come from?
As stated in another article, linesmakers usually are employed by the Las Vegas Sports Consultant (LVSC). These people are the ones who actually set the line for the world's sportsbooks. They analyze every stat for almost every sporting event in the world, most notably American sports (such as the National Football Association, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Collegiate Athletic Association [both football and basketball], etc.). Another company that produces a betting line is the sportsbook betcris (they can be found at www.betcris.com). This sportsbook prides itself as one of the sportsbooks that post the earliest lines. Other books fear doing this, in fear of being middled.
Are all lines accurate?
Fortunately for sports bettors, not all lines are accurate. Take for example college basketball Saturday. With all the games available to bet on, a savvy sports bettor can actually have an upper hand (an advantage) over the oddsmakers. Since there is a plethora of games available, not all the lines are accurate. There are simply too many games to consider for the linemakers. Games that feature small schools in unknown, smaller conferences tend to have pretty 'soft' lines. It behooves the savvy gambler, then, to study these small conferences. If one consistently follows such small schools, one may actually outsmart the oddsmakers and beat them at their own game. NFL games, though, are perhaps one of the most accurate lines that oddsmakers release. These types of games, thus, are relatively hard to bet on, and most sharps and professional sports gamblers agree that the NFL is a tough sport to bet on. NCAAF, though, is another story. Similar to college basketball, there are certain lines in college football that the oddsmakers just flat out overlook. It is at these instances where the sports gambler must take advantage and bet accordingly.