Sports Betting Strategies
Looking for ways to improve your chances of winning and make money from your bets?
Look no further! SportsBetting.com gives you the best sports betting strategies and tips to help you gain that coveted betting edge.
Whether you’re a novice or a professional bettor, you can use our betting strategy guide to increase your probability of banking profits over the long haul.
Best Sports Betting Strategies
Wherever bettors play, be it the poker table or the racebook, they need to be backed by sports betting strategies and statistics.
Although you can’t win every bet you place, betting strategies can help you maximize your winning percentage and potential profits.
Here are the following strategies from SportsBetting.com that you can use:
Making the Most Out of Moneyline Bets
If you’re a first-timer in the betting world, moneyline is the perfect way to start. A moneyline bet involves picking your favorite out of the two teams to win the game.
Moneyline is less risky and an easier bet to research. It’s as simple as this: if the team you picked wins, you also win your bet.
A moneyline bet looks like this: Alabama Crimson Tide (-250) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (+210).
In this case, Alabama Crimson Tide is the favorite team, as identified by the negative sign (-). Ohio State Buckeyes, the underdog team, is determined by the positive sign (+).
Alabama Crimson Tide is favored to be the winner because of several reasons. The team could have a better ranking than Ohio State Buckeyes or have a better record in their most recent matchups.
Some professional bettors avoid the moneyline because they think it is a juvenile bet. But it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Don’t ignore moneyline bets just because they’re simple.
This type of bet can be profitable if you choose the right team to win. Moneyline bets work for every sport, like football, baseball, or tennis.
Whether you’re a fan of the NHL (National Hockey League) or NBA (National Basketball Association) teams, SportsBetting.com has something for every sports enthusiast.
We offer a wide selection of sports markets on any betting platform, including basketball, boxing, soccer, and golf. Our in-house sports trading team works 24/7 to provide you with the best odds on all things sports (and sometimes politics, too!).
Betting the Point Spread
Point spread betting involves more than picking your favorite team to win. In this strategy, you bet on whether a team will win by a margin set by the oddsmakers.
Knowing how the point spread works is a great betting strategy. The favorite team would need to win the game by a set number of points, while the underdog team would need to win or not lose the game by a certain number of points.
An example of a point spread bet on an NFL game would be: New Orleans Saints -4.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Falcons +4.5 (-110).
The Saints are the 4.5-point favorite and would need to win by five or more points. The Falcons are the 4.5-point underdog and need to win or not lose the game by more than four points.
If the Saints won over the Falcons 20-17, they did not cover the 4.5 points because they didn’t win by 5 points or more.
If you picked the Saints, you would’ve lost your bet. But if you had taken the Falcons to cover, then you would’ve won your bet.
SportsBetting.com has a quick guide to help you understand more about the point spread and how NFL betting works. You can read the articlehere.
Betting the Run Line
The run line is what you get when you combine a baseball point spread and a baseball moneyline. This form of baseball betting can be profitable for sports bettors who have researched stats, trends, and pitching performances.
You can place run line bets for a better potential return instead of making a moneyline bet on an MLB game. A run line bet has a 1.5-point spread attached to the game.
If you bet on the favorite through the run line, they need to win by two or more runs so that you can win your bet. You also win your bet on the underdog if they win the game outright or lose by only one run.
Let’s use an example of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers are the favorite at -1.5, while the Giants are the underdog at +1.5.
In this case, the Dodgers would have to win by two runs or more to ensure a win for their bettors. For the opposing team’s bettors to succeed, the Giants would have to win or lose by just one run. If the Los Angeles Dodgers win 3-2, they did not cover the spread.
At SportsBetting.com, we provide you with baseball odds and updates on your favorite teams every week of the year. There’s no stopping a bettor that’s armed with ample MLB knowledge!
Shopping for the Best Lines
To get more bang for their buck, sharp bettors use various online sportsbooks and find good games to bet on at the best odds. This strategy is called line shopping.
Shopping for the best possible lines is an easy way to improve your winning percentage throughout an entire game season.
If you bet $110 on 250 games at -110 odds, you need to win 131 games to break even. If you bet $105 on 250 games at -105 odds, you only need to win 128 games to break even.
This example shows the difference three games make throughout 250 games. Sharp bettors have to beat the books approximately 53% to 56% of the time to maintain a winning percentage.
The importance of finding the best moneyline is readily apparent. The more favorable the odds, the more money you stand to win.
Sportsbooks often shade the moneyline in either direction to encourage equal action on both sides of an event. They adjust based on how much of a favorite or an underdog a team is.
Sportsbooks can also affect potential payouts on either side, usually in the lead-up to big tournaments or games, like March Madness or Super Bowl.
We recommend looking for reputable line shopping tools that let you easily compare and contrast the best lines.
SportsBetting.com offers sharp odds, a vast range of lines, props, and futures. Our in-house tools are backed by state-of-the-art data security and encryption for maximum sports betting experience.
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Betting Against the Public
One of the best betting strategies is fading the public because all you need to do is bet against everyone else. This strategy is primarily used for spread and totals betting in football and basketball.
Sportsbooks usually know which teams are going to be the most heavily bet favorites from week to week. After all, a sportsbook's primary objective is to set lines that draw 50-50 action, not predict game outcomes.
Sportsbooks adjust the spread and totals accordingly to get sports bettors to bite on their numbers. When they do so, sharp bettors get the opportunity to go the other way and take the least popular side.
This strategy leads to soft lines where you’ll gain an edge if you go against the public. But how will you find out which team the public is betting on?
Since sportsbooks don’t release reports on betting patterns, you’ll need some guesswork. An excellent way to figure out which team the public is backing involves asking yourself these questions:
- Is a perennial winner involved, like the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, or New York Yankees? Successful sports franchises get more attention and betting action.
- Are there teams with passionate fan bases? Fans of the Boston Red Sox, Green Bay Packers, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia Eagles are more likely to bet on their favorites.
- Does a team have an outstanding player who gains a lot of attention? Players like LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers draw attention and bettors alike.
- Does a team get enormous sports coverage? You can quickly spot these teams just by watching ESPN.
The key is to find matchups where you think public bias drives the betting action, then you bet the opposite way. Fading the public is a good strategy to use if you don’t want to spend too much time researching games or analyzing statistics.
You just need to look for perennial winners, big-market teams, clubs with passionate fans, and major superstar players to get started. If you’re really good at spotting which teams are overvalued on lines for the public’s sake, you can win some profits.
The advantage of fading the public strategy is also its biggest drawback: it’s too simple. There’s a notion that if anybody can employ this strategy and it works, then everybody would be doing it.
Another drawback of fading the public is that online sportsbooks have software to spot bettors who use this strategy.
If a sportsbook believes that you’re a sharp bettor who only fades the public, then they may refuse you service or even withhold your winnings.
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Sports Handicapping
This betting strategy covers preseason, in-season, and offseason moves. All these moves are equally important and should be closely followed so that you remain on top or even ahead of the latest news.
Did a team lose their star player to a free agency? How does a free agency or trade affect a team’s old and new roster? Did a team hire a bad or good head coach? Was there a critical injury that could affect a team’s future, or can they overcome the loss?
All these examples are moves that can and will happen over a year in any sport, especially the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL.
If you do your research on the teams you’re betting on, you’ll gain inside info to help you beat the book.
SportsBetting.com is a one-stop-shop sports betting site. We have your favorite league’s futures, favorite local team’s props, and boosted odds every week of the year on a wide range of events.
Focusing on One Sport
If you’re a newbie in betting, try to concentrate on one sport. This way, you won’t spread yourself too thin by trying to bet on many different sports simultaneously.
You can get a betting edge when you narrow your focus, especially if you’re not researching every game played and putting your money on everything.
Keeping up with hundreds of college basketball or football teams along with the pros is more than just a grind. Even oddsmakers know that it’s nearly impossible to win at everything.
Go with what you know best and do your homework on every team player to ensure that you’re not just blindly placing bets on sports you don’t know enough about. By specializing in one sport, your betting confidence can grow along with your bankroll.
Whether your favorite sport is basketball or football, SportsBetting.com offers daily and weekly promotions to promote a fun customer experience. You can get your hands on both real money and free bet credits up to $50 as you bet.
SportsBetting.com provides tips for responsible and enjoyable sports gambling. Learn more about them here.
Betting Only 1% to 2% of Your Bankroll
Many low-stakes sports bettors put a large amount of their bankrolls into a single bet. These bettors don’t make huge bets, so they aren’t as concerned about losing money.
Let’s say you have a $100 bankroll and bet $25 on a single game. To take your sports betting to the next level, you should limit the amount of money you spend on every contest.
Sports betting is a streaky activity, and even the best bettors go through lengthy losing streaks. Pro bettors only put 1% to 2% of their bankroll into each contest, which dramatically reduces their risk of ruin.
“But what if I only have a $200 bankroll?” You might ask. In this case, you can meet the minimum bet by betting $5 to $10 per contest. You’re only risking 2.5% to 5% of your bankroll, which will still reduce your risk of ruin.
If you have at least $1,000 in your bankroll, there are immense benefits of betting 1% to 2% only per game. With this conservative strategy, you’re more likely to earn profits as long as you put in the work and have good betting skills.
Another benefit of betting 2% or less of your bankroll is that you don’t have to stress out on games as much. Betting 25% or more can make you more anxious when the game or line isn’t going your way.
Let’s face it, the average bettor doesn’t have $1,000 lying around to bet on sports, making it difficult to be conservative. Either 1% to 2% of your bankroll will fall short of the minimum bet or result in an insignificant amount of profits once you do win.
SportsBetting.com has tips about bankroll management to help you succeed in betting on your chosen sport. Read more about themhere.
Creating Advanced Strategies With Software
There are software programs to help you develop your own strategies.
The software amounts to huge databases that include the following categories: conference team rank, opponent rank, team vs. team, money line range, what month or year they played in, and if a particular team is the favorite or underdog.
You can see how specific teams fare against opponents and spot trends unknown to the public by inputting some variables.
Besides software programs, you can also find free database calculators that give you a fair amount of options.
Here’s an example using football betting. You enter these details:
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- October games between these teams
- Last ten meetings
- Regular season matchup
- How the Steelers fared against the Ravens as a +3 to +7 favorite.
After you input the info, you can find out how often the Steelers covered this spread range in the last ten meetings with the Ravens.
With all the sports betting tools available, serious bettors use databases and software programs to put strategies together and find trends.
These programs may seem intimidating at first because you have so much information at your disposal. But you can get the hang of things quickly by playing around with the tools and sorting out the most important data.
As you become more experienced, you can spot advanced trends that can give you a serious betting edge.
Although it’s beneficial to gain advanced statistics for games, it does not always guarantee success. Instead, you’re looking for any statistic that will increase your odds of winning.
Another downside to using software in creating strategies is that they can sometimes take the enjoyment out of sports betting.
Most sports bettors get involved because they envision picking winners by watching games from their couches. Sorting through tons of available statistics to gain a long-term edge is the complete opposite of this vision.
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Betting Against the Spread
How teams fare against the spread (ATS) is one of the most-emphasized pieces of information as determined by Las Vegas lines. ATS records are easy to find because they are published on various sites for all major professional sports leagues.
For instance, the Boston Celtics have a 17 – 12 win-loss record. Although their win-loss looks promising, you look up their ATS record and find out that it is only 11 – 18. Judging solely by their ATS record, the Boston Celtics would be a poor bet.
You can check ATS records and trends to aid in your betting decisions. An example is that the NFL underdogs went through a five-year period where they were 29 – 57 – 2 or 33.7% under the following conditions:
- Underdog by less than seven points
- Playing a non-divisional opponent
- Playing next week’s game on the road
You can’t just find these advanced trends anywhere, so you’ll need to work with a software program. ATS is a vital stat, especially since the spread betting goal is to correctly guess who covers the spread.
But you shouldn’t ignore other data. ATS should be in your top five criteria that determine your bet.
Although looking at past ATS can be helpful, these records aren’t always indicative of what will happen in the future. Every new opponent presents different challenges that aren’t covered by how a team performed ATS in previous games.
Like fading the public strategy, betting off ATS records is an easy strategy that anybody can use. It’ll only take you seconds to search “team ATS record” on Google and determine how they’re doing against the spread.
To put more context behind a team’s ATS record, SportsBetting.com recommends using software rather than blindly making all your bets off this one stat.
Betting Based on Weather Stats
Try looking up sports betting strategies, and you’re going to come across advice about checking weather reports. There’s a simple reason behind this: you’ll want to know if offenses will be slowed down by inclement or cold weather on game day.
When you’re making totals bets, knowing this info is especially helpful because extreme weather has a definite impact on the score. Since anybody can check the weather report, you can use it to dig for deeper trends.
If you’re betting on a team that relies on the passing game or totals, it’s helpful to know these weather stats. But keep in mind that this stat may not guarantee you a sure win.
Offenses will be less effective when rain is pouring. But handicappers also take this info into account when forming their lines.
Which Is the Most Profitable Sports Betting System?
Betting systems, also known as staking formulas, provide bettors with a calculated strategy to maximize their earnings and reduce major losses. These systems offer checks and balances to your bankroll.
Some systems offer high-earning potential by getting you to bet more while you’re on a winning streak. Others work by getting you to bet less to minimize your losses.
For example, if you decide that you’re going to bet on all state champion wrestlers during their Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, you’re using a sports betting system.
When it comes to winning and losing streaks, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. Sticking to a betting system and leaving your emotions out of the equation creates a higher likelihood that your goals will be reached.
SportsBetting.com discusses each betting system to help you determine the most profitable methods and which ones you should avoid.
We break down each system’s pros and cons, so you can make an informed choice on which one best suits your unique strengths and needs.
Martingale System
The Martingale is the most common example of a betting system. It encourages you to double your bet after every loss so that the first win would recover all previous losses and a profit equal to the original bet.
If your original bet on a game is $100 and you lose, your next bet should be $200. If you lose again, your next bet should be $400. If you hit that one, you’re up even if you won just 33% of your bets.
If you lose your $400 bet, your next bet should be $800. If you also hit that, you’re up $100 despite nailing only one out of four bets.
While Martingale helps you win back losses and collect winnings in the end, this system is extremely risky. You’d need a large bankroll to ensure that you won’t go bankrupt when you double bets after every loss.
Fixed Amount Betting
This system requires you to set a fixed amount on each bet. For example, you choose a bet size worth $100. You stick with this size no matter how many bets you win or lose in a row.
With a 55% probability of winning, you won’t lose your entire balance quickly with this method. But it also means your likelihood of losing will be slow but inevitable.
The key advantage of fixed amount betting is that it helps you mitigate short-term risks. You can survive downswings better since you don’t increase bet sizes.
Another disadvantage of the fixed amount system is that you can’t maximize your hot streaks or win back losses easily. Everything happens gradually.
Proportional Betting
A proportional betting system requires betting a certain percentage of your bankroll. You then increase your bets by the same percentage following a winning bet.
Let’s say you have a $2,000 bankroll, and you bet 5.5% ($110) of this amount on an outcome with -110 odds. If you win, you add $100 to your bankroll, making it worth $2,100.
Your next bet will be worth 10% of $2,100. Calculate by multiplying $2,100 by 0.1, and you will get $210.
You should return to betting the original percentage of your bet after any loss. You can also choose when to stop before a loss so you can bank profits.
After winning three straight bets, you can return to the original percentage. The third winning bet, or 20% of your bankroll, is a good stopping point to prevent risking 40% of your funds.
With proportional betting, you can quickly increase your winnings after just a few successful bets. But by increasing the percentage you bet after each win, you’ll also be risking more of your winnings.
Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci offers a random sequence of numbers that tell you how many units to bet on each game. This numbered system is in the following sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144…
You move up one number on the sequence for each loss and move down one spot for each win. To determine your next bet, you add the first and last number of each sequence.
If you win, both numbers get crossed off. If you lose, you add the losing amount to the end of the number string and proceed accordingly.
For example, your number string is 11, 22, 33, 22, 11, and you bet $22 (11 + 11). This bet is a winner, so your new sequence becomes 22, 33, 22.
If you bet $44 (22 + 22) on -110 odds and the bet loses, your new sequence becomes 22, 33, 22, 44. If you bet $66 (22 + 44) and the bet is a winner, your new sequence becomes 33, 22.
Lastly, if you bet $55 (33 + 22), you win and create a new number string when you wish to bet again.
The Fibonacci sequence offers flexibility by allowing you to create whatever sequence you’d like.
We advise you to use numbers that let you place reasonable bet sizes. Instead of actual bet sizes, you can also use unit sizes (one unit = $10) to fill out your sequence.
Aside from flexibility, this betting system also helps you earn back losses and eventually end up with a profit.
Note that the Fibonacci system suffers from the same drawbacks as the Martingale system. You can experience massive losses and hit table limits when things go awry.
Bet It All
This go-all-in system is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. It involves betting your entire bankroll balance on each outcome.
This system’s advantage is that you can win big. Let’s say you have $1,100 in your bankroll, and you decided to put the entire amount on a single outcome with -110 odds. If you win, you now have a $2,000 bankroll.
But if you lose, you can also lose all your funds. This strategy is not recommended for the long-term sports bettor.
Choosing the Best Strategy for Sports Betting
With enough knowledge and skills and the right approach, it’s possible to become a successful bettor. While there is no perfect betting strategy, you can choose the best method to employ based on your strengths and preferences.
SportsBetting.com provides some tips on how you can improve your betting skills:
- Make sure that you research the sport you’re betting on.
- Find a betting strategy that suits you best and stick to it.
- Stay conscious of your bankroll management and bet only within your means.
- Have enough knowledge to back your estimations.
Sports Betting Strategy FAQs
Can I make money through sports betting?
A lot of people make a living off of sports gambling. Although it’s not always the case, an increasing number of casual bettors make money off modern betting apps or sports betting sites.
Can I place a bet casually?
Yes, you can! The majority of sports bettors are casual players that only tune in to major sports matches and events to add a level of excitement to their overall experience.
With the ease and convenience of betting apps, newcomers can easily bet on any kind of betting market.
Do I need to like sports?
It’s not exactly a requirement to like sports. But it’s certainly an advantage to have enough knowledge about the sport you’re betting on. You can casually bet on major sporting events and make a profit out of it.
What types of sports bets can I place?
There are different types of sports bets available to bettors at almost every sportsbook. You can choose from a wide range of options, including moneyline, parlay, futures, teasers, over/under, and prop bets.
What does vigorish mean?
Vigorish (also known as vig or juice) is the amount charged by the bookmakers for each bet placed. Bookies add this value to the bet to ensure that they make money regardless of the outcome and whether the bettor wins or loses.
How much money should I bet?
It’s best to start small and gradually work your way up. If you’re a rookie bettor, you can bet anywhere between 1% to 5% of your total bankroll amount.
It’s really up to you, your bank balance, and how much money you can afford to risk.
What is a small bet?
Generally, a small bet is any amount between $5 to $10. But it is also based on the bettor’s personal preference.
What is a big bet?
Like small bets, big bets are subjective and dependent on the bettor. You’ll often see big bets ranging from $50 to $100. High rollers even bet tens of thousands on some bets.
What are the types of odds?
The three main types of odds available to bettors through various sportsbooks are fractional (British), decimal (European), and American (moneyline). These odds reflect the probability of a particular outcome and depend on where the oddsmaker is based.
Which sportsbook should I choose?
We advise shopping around different online sportsbooks and find one that suits you. At SportsBetting.com, we help make betting easy for you. You can bet on sporting events, like basketball, tennis, golf, and football.
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