There is a lot of information out there on different sports betting strategies, but what often matters most is how you apply those techniques. The best way to do this is to learn and test them, but also understand that profit potential is not a guarantee.
The most important thing to remember as you begin betting on sports is that you should always bet with your head, not your heart. Unless you are a professional sports gambler (or know one), it is unlikely that your knowledge of the game will be better than the market’s. That is why it’s important to keep an eye on the lines throughout the day/week and understand what causes them to move.
When a team covers the spread, it means that they won by more points than the sportsbook set for them to win or lose by. This is also called a “push” and results in the sportsbook taking less money than they would have otherwise, essentially charging a fee (known as the juice) on every bet.
Odds can seem like Greek or Chinese language at first glance, but once you get the hang of them they’re fairly straightforward. A minus (-) sign in front of the number indicates that they are the favorites, while a plus (+) sign indicates that you stand to win more money than you wager. You can also place a straight bet, which is a simple bet on which team will win.
