Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of participation from fans of varying levels. It is an exploding market— but what prevents many from getting involved is not knowing how to get started and what bets will earn the most money. Line shopping in sports betting is one of the most important ways of winning more money.
Here are a few simple and easy tips to follow to maximize your profits in sports betting.
Assess the Matchup [Line Shopping in Sports Betting]
The most important part of placing a bet is knowing basic information about the teams that are playing; check the day’s list of games and search for a few that you think have the greatest disparity in ability, and then take a close look at those.
Once you have your list of games that you feel strongly about, examine the odds on both the moneyline and spread and see if you can find at least one that has positive odds, which will be indicated by a “+” before the odds. Positive odds return the most profit on winning bets and are more desirable if they are also logical picks, though it is important not to let the odds sway your opinion on the matchup.
How Do I Decide Which Bet to Take
Picking between the moneyline and the spread can be difficult, especially if the odds are drastically different; it is best to avoid negative odds that have large sums unless you are combining multiple picks into a parlay, so pick the line that has more valuable odds, as long as you are confident in the pick.
If you are unsure about the final outcome, do not forget to check the points total. Most odds on the total are between +100 and -120, though there are exceptions; in a way, these over/under bets are the most consistent, as they end up being 50/50 picks, so make sure that you have a very strong gauge on the matchup before blindly picking.
What If I Cannot Find Odds That I Like?
If your favorite sportsbook is not offering valuable odds on the picks you feel the strongest about, simply go check out other sportsbooks.
There are plenty of companies that are invested in the betting world, and you will be able to find someone that can make the reward worth the investment. You will also start to figure out tendencies of different oddsmakers with time and experience, so if you feel overwhelmed at first, know that it will get better.
If you still are not comfortable with the odds that are given, simply try waiting and seeing if the market moves the lines; if it does, then you will have an even better chance at earning money.
What If There Are No Bets That I Like?
If you have gone through lines for different games and multiple websites and still cannot find any that you like enough to take, then start looking for props; these oftentimes end up having the best odds and can also be tailored to your expectations with alternate lines that match your willingness to gamble on a particular prop.
Different sportsbooks also offer different props, so it is essential to look around and see what is available before you take the plunge.
Futures can also have huge payouts and vary by the sportsbook, so if you are a long-term gambler, make sure you look at the availability of future bets, which typically offer greater odds the further away they are from their date of completion.
Final Takeaway
Above all, bettors must get used to looking around; use your information and research as supplements to clicking around and searching different sites for different odds. Once you have put in enough time, decide where to bet and on what line.
Not all lines are created equally, so do yourself a favor and get a leg up on everybody else.