Sports Betting Basics

sports betting

If you’ve ever placed an over/under bet on a sporting event, you know it can be a great bet. The over/under bet is based on the combined score of both teams in a game. For example, if the combined score is 48.5, the total score should be over the total score, while if the combined score is less than 48.5, the under/over bet should be placed. These bets are easy to place, since the sportsbooks do a great job of setting their lines. However, picking a winner is a different story.

Over/Under bets

One popular form of sports betting is the Over/Under bet. Over/under bets are placed on the total points scored by a team. If the team scores more points than the total value, it wins. If the team scores fewer points, it loses. For example, a game featuring the Bengals versus the Rams could have an over/under of 56.5 points. The “over” team would have -106 odds, while the “under” team would be slightly favored at -114 odds.

In addition to totals, you can also make bets on individual team goals. In hockey, for example, individual team totals are typically 2.5 or 3.5. If a team is a favorite, you may want to consider betting on them to exceed this total. On the other hand, if you think that the underdog will contribute, you can bet on the over.

Futures bets

Futures bets in sports betting involve betting on events that will occur in the future. Most often, these events are long away. For example, the winner of tonight’s game would not be considered a futures bet, while the winner of the next Super Bowl would. These bets are also known as proposition or prop bets. They are a way for sportsbooks to make special bets.

Futures bets in sports betting are a great way to add excitement to a game. They’re typically less risky than other bets and offer greater value. For example, if you’re looking to make a lot of money watching a big game, you might consider placing a futures bet on how many games a team will win over a certain period of time.

Circled games

When a contest is circled, it is likely because the oddsmakers have limited action on that game. This occurs for a number of reasons, including pending trades, a key injury to one of the teams, adverse weather, and other factors. If you can identify a game in this condition, it is important to avoid betting on it.

Circled games are an excellent opportunity to take advantage of value. For example, if a star player is out of the game, the NFL or NBA odds for an underdog might drop to +8. If you know about these issues ahead of time, you can pounce on the value and bet on the game when the odds are lower.

Co-favorites

In sports betting, a co-favorite is a team that has equal odds against the favorite. They are listed next to the favorite on the betting line and must have equal odds in order to be considered a legitimate bet. A prime example of a co-favorite is the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Their odds might be lower than other favorites.

Teaser bets

A teaser bet is a type of bet in which you place a bet on two different games at the same time. This allows you to adjust point spreads and realize a lower return on your bets if you win one of the games. It is a very common strategy among sports bettors.

Teasers are popular in basketball and football. The totals for these games are usually over 200 points combined, making them good choices for teasers. A standard teaser in either sport moves the spread by 4.5 points or six points. However, you will have to pay a higher price for the extra points.