Sports betting is a complicated business with many factors at play. No one becomes a sports betting expert overnight. It takes months, if not years to learn the language and become comfortable with the strategies and tactics that make up successful sports betting.
The goal is to find value bets that pay out better than they should. This is called expected value (EV, for short). This is the mathematical foundation of all smart sports bets. It is the reason you’ll see professional bettors talking about the number of points they expect to win on a given wager.
In addition to money lines, bettors can also place a total bet on a game. A total bet is a bet on the amount of points scored in the game, including overtime and extra innings. Sportsbooks adjust the over/under totals before each season based on past performance and current trends. If you think a team will win more games than the total set by the sportsbook, bet on the over. If you think the teams will score fewer points than the total, bet on the under.
It’s important to spend time studying upcoming matchups. This includes evaluating the team’s recent play, injuries, and other relevant information. It’s always better to put in the work than to throw a bunch of bets based on hunches and flyers. This is why it’s also important to establish a bankroll and stick to it. This ensures that you don’t end up losing more than you can afford to lose.
