Helena Frye
Basketball betting is rapidly rising in popularity, with the NBA being one of the most popular leagues to bet on in the US. The most common ways to bet on an NBA game include the winner of the match, the total points in a game, and betting against the spread. There are three main types of bets: point spread, moneyline, and over/under totals. Point spread bets are similar to moneyline bets, but the winning team must win by a certain margin of points. Moneyline wagers are as straightforward as choosing a victor in the game, with odds reflecting the chances of victory. Over/under bets allow you to bet on the combined point total between both teams. Understanding the types of bets and the odds is crucial to becoming consistent in basketball betting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of bets | Moneyline, Point Spread, Over/Under totals, Parlay/Teaser, 1st Quarter/1st Half, Halftime, Futures |
| Odds | Odds will vary depending on the country, but American odds are common in basketball betting. Odds indicate whether a team is the favorite or underdog: negative for the former and positive for the latter. |
| Favorites and underdogs | A negative spread indicates that a team is the favorite, while a positive spread indicates that a team is the underdog. |
| Payouts | Payouts are determined by the odds associated with the chosen team. |
| Timing | Odds for the following day’s games may be available in the evening, but they should be available by the morning of the contest. |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding odds
American odds are displayed as either positive or negative numbers. A positive number indicates the amount of profit on a $100 bet, while a negative number shows how much you need to wager to win $100. For example, if the Miami Heat are listed at +200, a $100 bet would result in a $200 profit if they win. On the other hand, if the Boston Celtics are listed at -150, you would need to wager $150 to win $100.
Fractional odds, also known as British or UK odds, are popular among British and Irish bookies. They are typically written with a slash or hyphen, indicating the ratio of the potential profit to the initial bet. For instance, 6/1 odds mean you could win $6 for every $1 wagered, plus your original stake.
Decimal odds, also referred to as European odds, are commonly used in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. These odds represent the total payout for every $1 wagered.
In basketball betting, you'll commonly encounter moneyline odds, point spreads, and over/under totals. Moneyline odds are based on the strength of the teams and other factors, with odds set for each team. Point spreads level the competition between teams by setting a handicap in points. Over/under totals refer to the estimated total number of points scored by both teams, and bettors wager on whether the final score will go over or under this number.
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Moneyline wagers
The bigger the favourite, the smaller the payout, and the bigger the underdog, the bigger the payout. This is because the odds reflect the likelihood of each team winning. However, it is worth noting that underdogs can present greater value, as there is a potential for higher returns on wagers.
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Point spread bets
The spread will be displayed next to each team, typically with negative odds for the favourite and positive odds for the underdog. For example, if the Lakers are favoured by 4.5 points, they are assigned a value of -4.5, meaning they need to win by 5 or more points for bets on them to win. The Raptors, in this case, are assigned a value of +4.5, so they need to either win outright or lose by 4 or fewer points for bets on them to win.
It's important to note that point spreads can change leading up to the game and are not set in stone. Public perception can impact the point spread, with bookmakers adjusting the spread if they notice higher betting for one team over another. Line movement can also occur due to sudden shifts in public betting behaviour or injuries to a team.
When placing point spread bets, it's essential to consider various factors. These include team performance metrics, previous head-to-head results, injuries and roster changes, and home-court advantage. Understanding these factors and staying informed about current form and injuries can help you make more effective betting decisions.
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Over/Under bets
For example, in an NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, the total points over/under may be listed at 228.5. Bettors can then wager that the actual combined score of the game will be either over or under this set number. If the combined score equals the exact over/under total, the bet is graded as a tie, and all wagers are returned, although this is a rare occurrence.
When placing Over/Under bets, it's important to consider the pace of the teams involved. Teams that play a slow-paced game will likely keep the overall score low, whereas a high-scoring team may be more likely to exceed the predicted total. It's also worth noting that overtime can work to the advantage of those betting on the over.
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Parlay/Teaser bets
Parlay Bets
Parlay betting is a popular and exciting way to wager on multiple NBA games at once. It involves selecting multiple teams to win (or players to reach their player props) in different matchups, combining them all on the same ticket. Each team or player added to your ticket is considered a "leg".
For example, you could place a $10 bet on four home teams (each at -200 odds) to win their respective games. If the first team wins, the money you win is automatically placed on the next team you selected, and so on. If all the teams you bet on win their games, you will receive a large payout. However, if even one team loses, the whole bet loses, and you receive no payout.
Parlay bets can consist of up to 14-15 legs, depending on the sportsbook, and the more legs you add, the less chance you have of winning but the larger your potential payout will be.
Teaser Bets
Teaser bets are also a type of wager that involves multiple teams (at least two). However, they are less common in basketball than in other sports like football. The basic principle of a teaser is moving the line in your favour. For example, if Duke is a 10-point favourite in their upcoming game, and you think they will win but aren't confident they will do so by more than the spread, you can include them in a 4-point teaser and move the line 4 points in your favour. So, instead of Duke -7, it becomes Duke -3.
Teaser bets can be placed with two or three legs, and you can build teasers with lower odds but higher chances of winning. However, basketball is a volatile, high-scoring game with a lot of close matchups, so it can be risky to decrease the point spread. It's important to do your research and understand the sport before placing teaser bets.
Typical basketball teasers are 4, 4.5, or 5 points, and they are most profitable for road favourites and away underdogs.
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Frequently asked questions
The most popular forms of basketball betting are the moneyline, point spread, and Over/Under totals. Moneyline bets are the most straightforward, allowing bettors to simply bet on which team they think will win the game. Point spread bets level the competition between two teams by applying a handicap in points. Over/Under bets allow bettors to wager on the total number of points scored by both teams, without having to predict the winner.
Odds will vary depending on your country. American odds, for example, display one team as the favourite (a negative value) and the other as the underdog (a positive value). For instance, odds of +130 mean you must bet $130 to win $100, while odds of +110 mean you win $110 from a $100 bet.
To increase your chances of placing winning bets, look out for the best available basketball odds by comparing the odds of different markets. Keep track of your basketball betting records to see what works and what doesn't.
