Detroit at Atlanta (02/12/2008)

first of all, I have no idea where you're getting 5 points... the most you can buy that I'm aware of is 3.  I placed my bet last night when the books were giving the hawks at +6. 

Secondly, i bought 3 for a bet because as i said, I'm confident that the hawks will keep it within single digits, but i buy some points just to make sure that the last few seconds of the game don't lose it for me in the instance that the hawks play it close and then lose the spread from fouling late and missing their shots as happens in games. 

Thirdly, since you care so much, what I actually do is take the spread with half of my money and buy up with the other half.  The idea there is to have insurance just in case, because as CK has said, how many times can you remember a team losing a cover by 1-3 pts where you would have been fine with a buy up.  Also, the best games are the ones you feel good about and this to me is my favorite play of the night.  The books initially moved the spread with the money, but the late movement in the other direction tells me there's a good chance this is a trap game in which case fading the public opinion is a good play.  I really feel like the Hawks could win this game, but the extra points mean that I have room for error and I feel really comfortable with this bet, again, I just split my money for security purposes.  Believe me when I say it pays off to do this because if I don't, I wind up kicking myself when I lose by a point or two and this way, I still get some of the money I lost on the straight spread back from the point buying.  Not to sound like I have my nose up CK's ass, but I trust him and his methods, I just feel more confident with hybrid of the two betting strategies so I don't lose out on too much of my profit, but I do have the degree of security.

Again ... where the hell did you get 5 points from anyways?  Even now the spreads at 5 to 5.5... 9 - 5 = 4...  If you want to challenge someone's strategies at least make sense.