Amanda Knapp
Basketball is a sport that is often viewed through the lens of sports betting. The NBA, in particular, attracts a lot of betting interest, with a long season and a focus on player performance. There are several ways to bet on basketball, including spread betting, moneyline betting, over/under betting, and parlay betting. Spread betting is the most popular way to wager on basketball, where the point spread is used to level the playing field between two teams. The favourite is indicated by a minus sign, while the underdog is indicated by a plus sign. Odds are constantly changing, so bettors need to do their research and decide quickly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of bet | Moneyline, Spread, Over/Under, Parlay, Props, Futures |
| Moneyline | Wager on the team that wins outright. The minus sign (-) indicates the favourite and the amount you must bet to win $100. The plus sign (+) indicates the underdog and the amount you win for every $100 bet. |
| Spread | The most popular way to wager on basketball. The point spread is an equalizer, using the projected final margin between two teams to set a handicap. |
| Over/Under | Also known as the total. Oddsmakers set a projected total number of points scored by both sides, and you can wager on whether the final score will go over or under that total. |
| Parlay | A bet on multiple outcomes, requiring all those outcomes to occur for a payout. |
| Props | Player prop bets and player futures bets are common in the NBA. |
| Futures | Bets whose results are determined later in the season. |
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What You'll Learn
Moneyline
The larger the gap between the favourite and underdog odds, the higher the favourite's chances of winning. For instance, if a team has odds of -150, you'd need to bet $150 to win $100. If the odds are +200, a $100 bet would win you $200. In both cases, your original bet is returned along with your winnings.
When betting on the total score (over/under), consider both teams' offensive and defensive strengths. Analyze how often each team hits the over or under in their games. For example, a high-scoring team against a weak defence may suggest a higher total score, while two strong defensive teams might indicate a lower total score.
It's important to stay current with the latest team and player information, regularly checking injury reports and recent performance stats, as these can significantly impact the point spread and total score outcomes.
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Point spread
The point spread is the expected final score difference between two teams. It is represented as both a negative and positive number. The favourite team is listed with a negative number, indicating how much a bettor must wager to win $100, while the underdog has a positive number, indicating how much a bettor wins for risking $100. For example, a bettor on the favourite Boston Celtics, with odds of +/- 9.5, must wager $115 to win $100, whereas a bettor on the underdog Chicago Bulls, with odds of +/- 9.5, wins $120 for risking $100.
The point spread can also be a half-point number, such as +/- 0.5, 2.5, etc. This means there can be no tie bets, with either the favourite or underdog bettors winning. A tie is possible when the point spread is a whole number, such as 8, 10, or 15. If the final score difference ties the spread, the bettor's stake is refunded.
Oddsmakers consider several factors that affect point spread values, including team strength, recent performance, and home-court advantage. For example, stronger teams with talented rosters are more likely to be favoured with a larger point spread, while weaker teams might receive fewer points. Home teams are often given a few extra points to account for their advantage of playing at home.
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Over/Under
Sportsbooks consider a lot of factors when predicting basketball totals, including team history and statistics. It is important to study the history of the teams and their past performances, as well as the total points scored in previous encounters between the two teams. One source suggests that checking the upcoming slate of games and looking for trends in whether teams have a history of covering the over or under for the season is a useful tip for making smarter wagers. Knowing the team pace is also important, as teams that slow the game down will more likely keep games low-scoring. Referees can also influence the total score by calling fouls and sending players to the line.
It is also important to stay current with the latest team and player information, regularly checking injury reports and recent performance stats, as these can impact the point spread and total score outcomes. For example, if a key player is injured, it can significantly affect the total score.
Odds shopping, or comparing odds across different sportsbooks, can help find the best value for your bet and maximise returns.
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Parlay bets
When placing a parlay bet, it is important to consider the number of legs included. While adding more bets can lead to a bigger payout, it also increases the risk. For example, a five-to-ten-leg parlay is challenging to win consistently. Therefore, it is generally recommended to limit the number of legs to reduce risk.
To calculate the odds of a parlay bet, you can follow these steps:
- Convert the American odds to decimal odds.
- Multiply all the decimal odds together.
- Multiply the result by your bet amount.
- Subtract your original stake to get the parlay odds.
For instance, let's consider a parlay with three-point spreads, each at -110 odds. First, convert these odds to decimal, which is 1.91. Multiplying them together gives us approximately 6.23. Therefore, a $10 bet on this parlay would result in a payout of around $62.30.
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Futures bets
In the United States, odds are typically based on a bet or payout of $100. The (+) and (-) symbols indicate whether the team is the underdog or the favourite to win. For example, if the Lakers have odds of -230, you would need to bet $230 on them to win $100. On the other hand, if the Warriors have odds of +190, a $100 bet on them would return $190 if they win.
Futures odds represent the likelihood of specific outcomes in future events, such as championship winners, MVPs, or statistical leaders. These odds are calculated based on various factors, including team or player performance, historical data, expert analysis, and public perception. It's important to stay updated on team and player information, such as injury reports and recent performance stats, as these can impact the odds.
Online sportsbooks offer a variety of futures bets for basketball. Some common types of futures bets include:
- Championship Winner Bet: This is the most common type of futures bet, where you pick the team you think will win the championship.
- Conference Winner Bet: This involves predicting which team will win their respective conference and advance to the NBA Finals.
- Coach of the Year Bet: This bet is placed on the coach who you think will win the NBA's Coach of the Year award.
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Frequently asked questions
The point spread is the most popular way to wager when it comes to betting on basketball odds. It is an equalizer that uses the projected final margin between two teams to set a handicap. The favourite is indicated by a minus (-) and the underdog by a plus (+).
A moneyline bet is a straightforward wager on which team will win. The minus sign indicates the favourite and the amount you must bet to win $100. The plus sign indicates the underdog and the amount you win for every $100 bet.
An over/under bet is a wager on the total number of points scored in a game. Oddsmakers set a projected total number of points scored by both sides and bettors wager on whether the final score will go over or under that total.
