People bet on sports
for a variety of reasons. Some do it just for
fun and to make a particular game more exciting.
Some like to bet on their favorite teams, no matter
what the point spread may be. Others, however,
bet on sports for one simple reason: to make money.
Although this last segment of the betting population
is the smallest (at least the ones who are successful
at it), there are many who make money consistently
and even a few who make a nice living by regularly
beating the house.
Even if you consider yourself a member of the
first two categories (what those in the industry
refer to as "squares"), you can learn
how to change your ways and transform yourself
into a "sharp" or savvy bettor. This
is why the sports books are in business. For every
sharp bettor there are a handful of bettors who
lose on a regular basis. Here are some basic rules
that can help you increase your winning percentage.
Some of these sports betting tips are set in stone
while others should be used as more of a guideline.
Money Management
This is without a doubt the most important aspect
of betting sports and possibly the most neglected.
The first key to proper money management is to be
sure not to bet more than you can afford to lose.
If you are going to bet on sports, it is important
to set aside a certain portion of your money for
betting and to stick with that bankroll, win or
lose. Winning money on sports is not a sprint. If
you bet your whole bankroll on one game and lose,
you will be more likely to try and chase your losses.
If you spread your bankroll among several smaller
bets, you are more likely to make a profit in the
long run if you do the proper homework. Remember,
there are no locks in this business and any team
can lose on any given night. And on the subject
of chasing: Don't do it! There is no worse way to
mismanage your bankroll than to chase your bets
after a losing day. If you didn't like the game
before you lost your money, why would you like it
after your losses? Chasing bets is a losing proposition
almost every time. If you are on a winning streak,
increase the amount of your bets. Wins and losses
often come in streaks, and it can be profitable
to ride out a hot streak.
Shopping for Numbers
The second most important aspect of betting on sports
is shopping for the best number. There will be more
discrepancy in the numbers on different sports at
different sports books. The NFL, for example, will
have very similar numbers at most of the betting
shops you visit. On college sports and daily events
like the NBA, you will be able to find different
lines at different sports books. These books change
their numbers according to the betting patterns
of their customers, so it is not entirely uncommon
to find two or three point differences in the lines.
When you are betting your hard earned money, getting
the best line is a top priority. And since the lines
the bookmakers release are increasingly strong,
the difference between a point or two is usually
the difference between a win or a loss.
Never Gamble While under the Influence
There is a reason the casinos in Las Vegas supply
you with free drinks while you are gambling. Because
alcohol clouds your judgment and usually helps you
to make rash decisions you usually wouldn't otherwise
make. To be a successful sports bettor you need
to operate with a clear mind. If you have had too
much to drink, it is in your best interest to stay
away from the betting window.
Do your Homework
As a bettor, you have the advantage of streamlining
your research, which is something the sports books
are not at liberty to do. They must keep on top
of EVERY sport and EVERY game. The best way to win
money betting sports is to develop a niche and follow
it closely. If you become an expert on a smaller
conference like the WAC, you have a good chance
to beat the house because sports book operators
do not have the time or resources to follow this
conference the way you can. There is a wealth of
information on the Internet; it is just up to you
to find it and research it daily.
Check the Odds
Some sports books have better odds on parlays and
teasers. When you are betting big bucks the difference
in odds translate into a huge difference in your
payout. All it takes is a little research of the
sports books you usually bet at. Most books have
their payout odds listed in way that is easy for
the bettor to find them. It should be noted that
we advise against playing parlays and teasers for
the most part. (Especially anything over a 2-teamer)
Play Home Dogs
There is probably no better bet in sports than playing
an underdog at home. Teams play inspired ball at
home. Slim underdogs regularly win outright. Big
underdogs often find ways to cover the spread and
they rarely give up toward the end of a game in
front of the home crowd.
Bet at the Right Time
The sharp bettors tend to bet underdogs, and they
tend to bet them early. Squares usually bet later
in the day (or week, for football) and they tend
to pick the favorites. If you like an underdog,
it is best to get your bet in as late as possible,
where there is heavy action from squares on favorites.
If you are going to go with a favorite, it is best
to place your bet early in the week when the Pros
are laying heavy money on the points. Not all games
work according to this formula, but it is usually
a good rule of thumb.
There are many other important factors when it comes
to beating the books. Many people don't have the
time to study things like: statistics, line moves,
game analysis, team trends, situational trends,
Historical angles, valuable lines, inflated numbers
on public teams, etc. If this is your situation,
there is help available to you. There are many fine
sports handicapping services available. Like a good
stockbroker handicapping services can advise you
where to invest your money in order to limit your
losses and increase your winning percentage.
As with any industry there are the good and the
bad. We must confess that our industry has gotten
somewhat of a black eye. The handicapping business
has been flooded with 1-900-rip-offs, "boiler
room" sales offices and those recorded free
pick phones that get your phone number so that one
of their high pressure salesman can call back and
hound you on a daily basis. These services are often
skilled in marketing but know little when in comes
to handicapping. This is not in your best interest.
Be careful of services offering different levels
of picks. (Diamond, Gold, Silver) based on the idea
the more you pay, the better the picks will be.
The question will always remain. Why wouldn't you
give everyone your best picks? Why give out the
lower level of picks at all? At Doc's, we have only
one set of picks for one fair price, no matter what
size of player you are.
It's very important that whether you use our service,
another service, or handicap on your own that you
do your homework and always remember that this is
a marathon and not a sprint. The same principle
that apply to any business, also applies to sports
betting and in our 30+ years of experience we can
only guarantee the following four statements: There
are no 'Locks,' there are no 'get-rich-quick' schemes,
any game can lose in almost unimaginable ways, and
unfortunately you will have your losing days.
The bottom line is to win more that you lose, and
that's what has kept us in business for more than
30 years. Be sure to check out entire website. We
have many free tools available to you like our matchups,
trends, Stats, etc. Sign up for our free picks or
check out our member football picks, basketball
picks and baseball picks which are all available
for a reasonable cost and are guaranteed to show
you a profit or we'll work for free until we do
so. We hope these sports betting tips will help
out but most importantly be patient, have some fun
and enjoy the experience. Best of Luck. |
