Sports betting can seem very intriguing yet very confusing at a glance; you shouldn’t let anything keep you from learning more about it. You may find yourself starting off with many questions, but soon enough, you will be able to understand how totals work in different sports and how to move on from spreads to props. Sports betting is not only limited to football; you can bet on just about any of your favorite sports. You also do not necessarily have to only bet on the score; you can bet on how well individual players perform.
Who Can You Bet On?
It can be difficult deciding who to bet on. You could vote on the usual favorites or the underdogs. On most betting sites, the oddsmakers will release a betting line for a game – they will state who is the favorite and who is considered to be the underdog. The favorite will often have a positive sign next to their name, and the underdog will have a negative sign next to theirs. However, there can be instances where the game has a 50-50 chance of going either way – this usually leads to the oddsmakers opening up the game as a ‘pick’em’ or ‘pick.’
Totals
A total, also known as an over/under, shows the combined number of points earned in a game by both teams. From this, bettors are able to wager whether the game could possibly go under the total or go over. You do not have to try to guess that exact score – however, you may be able to find some bets that are based solely on this. This concept can be applied to many different sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball.
Here is an example of how betting over and under works:
Let’s say the Eagles-Texans game has a total of 49 – which is pretty average for an NFL game. If you were to bet the over, you would require 50+ points. However, if you were to bet the under, you would need 48 points or less. You are able to get your bet refunded if it is a push – this would be if you were to land on 49 exactly.
Spreads and Odds
When placing your bet online, you will usually see two numbers listed by it. There is the spread – this is the margin of victory that the team you bet on would require to win. There are also the odds – this is the price you would need to pay so that you can bet the spread. This might seem a little confusing, so here is an example that might clear things up:
If your spread is -7, you would need whoever you bet on to win by 8+ points so that you can win your bet.
If the odds are -100, you would need to wager $100 to win $90; you could also wager $10 to win $9.
However, if your team ends up winning but does not match how much is needed by the spread, you will end up losing some money. If they end up winning more than what is required by the spread, you will still win money, but it will be less than what would have been promised by the odds. This can be quite tricky to get your head around, so make sure you start off by betting small amounts until you get a grasp of everything.
How to Place a Bet
Placing a bet is a lot easier than it seems. Many betting sites have made it really easy due to their simple-to-navigate interface. You need to pick a sport you want to place a bet on – football is a very popular choice, as well as horse racing. Once you have chosen your sport, there is usually a clearly labeled button that will let you insert the amount you wish to bet; it is essential to note that some sites may have betting fees. Once you have submitted your bet, you can sit back and find out whether the odds are in your favor or not.
Props
Many people have recently decided to move on from spreads and totals; instead, many people have turned to props. This is short for proposition bets; this is where you can bet on a wage that does not have a standard point spread, total, or money line. Props can be a great place to start if you are looking to get into sports betting seriously.
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