What Is Closing Line Value (CLV) in Sports Betting?
Monday, 21 April 2025
Imagine it’s Monday and you spot an NFL matchup with Team A favored by 2.5 points over Team B. You believe Team A is undervalued – maybe a star player is set to return, or the public is down on them for the wrong reasons. So, you place a bet at Team A -2.5 early in the week. By Sunday, just before kickoff, the line has moved to Team A -3.5. Win or lose, one thing is clear: you got line value – you beat the closing line by a whole point.
In sports betting, this scenario is pure gold because beating the closing line is one of the strongest indicators of long-term success. In this article, we’ll break down what “line value” really means, what Closing Line Value (CLV) is, and why consistently beating the closing line is considered a hallmark of sharp (winning) bettors. Along the way, we’ll use real examples and share tips to help you improve your edge in the betting markets.
Line Value vs. Closing Line Value: Understanding the Difference
Line value refers to the advantage...