We hear the term "steam" thrown around loosely, and we're going to take a closer look at what it is or what it could be. Steam is nothing more than a significant change in the market as a result of a lot of action on one side or the other. More often than not most all the sportsbooks are hit with action at the same time, causing the screen to light up.
More often than not that is indeed syndicate "sharp" money that is moving the line, but not always something you should be eager to follow. Often times syndicates will move a line in one direction, only to come back and bet the other side at a better number and for more money. It's call a set-up move. Here is a great example of one.