Risk & exposure · 3 min read
A $35,000 middle: why opposite bets can still hurt your book
Ohio −2 and Central Michigan +3.5 leave one margin where both bettors win. Here is the full payout breakdown.
One margin pays both tickets
Two reported wagers on October 10 created a costly possible result: $27,500 risked on Ohio −2 at −110, and $10,500 risked on Central Michigan +3.5 at −105.
Ohio by three would cash both tickets. The Ohio bettor would earn $25,000; the Central Michigan bettor would earn $10,000. On these two bets alone, the book would lose $35,000. The source reported the wagers; the potential loss is our settlement calculation.
Check the numbers you accepted
A current line cannot tell you the whole position. These wagers were booked at different spreads, leaving an overlap where both could win. Ohio by two also matters: the Ohio wager pushes while Central Michigan wins.
Before accepting another large wager, map its effect on the final margins around your existing lines. Add the other wagers on the game to the same worksheet. The table shows only this pair; it is not the sportsbook’s complete exposure.
Settlement breakdown
| Final margin | Ohio −2, −110 | CMU +3.5, −105 | Book net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio wins by 4+ | −$25,000 | +$10,500 | −$14,500 |
| Ohio wins by 3 | −$25,000 | −$10,000 | −$35,000 |
| Ohio wins by 2 | Push / $0 | −$10,000 | −$10,000 |
| Ohio wins by 1, or CMU wins | +$27,500 | −$10,000 | +$17,500 |
Assumes $27,500 risked on Ohio −2 at −110 and $10,500 risked on CMU +3.5 at −105, both accepted with ordinary spread settlement. Negative numbers mean a book loss. Stakes returned on wins or pushes are not book profit. Other bets, fees and promotions are excluded.
Sources: Original wager report · American odds and payouts