Sports Betting in Basketball

When it comes to sports betting, there is little doubt the NFL is the king, but not far behind are the bets being placed on basketball.

The pace of the games, the excitement of the finishes and the guarantee that even the best team in the league is going to lose plenty of games keeps sports bettors interested.

The NBA is one of the simpler sports when it comes to betting, but every gambler needs to know some of the ins and outs before placing their wagers. If you want to place a bet on an NBA game, then the first thing you should do is educate yourself on the main types of wagers that can be made.

Point Spread Betting

This is the most popular type of bet you can make when it comes to both NBA and college basketball.

The way it works is the point spread between the two teams scheduled to play is calculated by oddsmakers. For example, the Detroit Pistons will be playing the Chicago Bulls, and they’re the favorite by 10 points. That means the Pistons have to win the game by 10 points or more in order to “cover the spread.” If Detroit doesn’t win by 10 or more, or if the Bulls win, then a bet on the Pistons would lose and a bet on Chicago against the spread would pay out.

A typical NBA season is 82 games long, which means there are plenty of opportunities to make point spread wagers. Keep in mind that over the course of an entire season, even the best teams are going to lose, and sometimes against teams considered to be massive underdogs. Make sure to do your research and factor in team schedules, back-to-back-to-back games, injuries and star players sitting out to rest. If you do, you might just find a game where the favorite doesn’t really stand a chance.

Point Totals Betting

This is also known as betting the over/under on a game, and it is another very popular way to place a bet on a basketball game. Oddsmakers calculate a prediction of how many combined points the two teams are going to score, and you have to make a wager on if the game will result in the points being over or under that total.

For this example, let’s use the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat, in a game where the point total has been set at 162.5. As you do your research, you need to determine if these two teams have the ability to score more points than that, which means you would place a bet on the over. But if your research discovers a lack of offense or an incredible defense that is going to result in fewer points being scored, then you’ll want to place your bet on the under. If the final score ends up being 100-78, then bets on the over would pay out.

Moneylines

This is the simplest wager type you can make when betting on the NBA. The idea is simple: You decide who is going to win, and you place your money on that team. Moneyline bets are designed so that the team favored to win will have odds that pay less than those of the underdog.

In this example, we’re going to use the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are favored to win with odds of -250, while the Warriors have odds listed as +400. This means if you bet $100 on the Warriors’ moneyline and they go on to win the game, you would win $400. If you bet on the Jazz with $100, you’d get a payout of $40.

Parlays

Parlays are a little more complicated, but not by much. Basically, instead of betting on a single game, you’re choosing multiple games (it has to be two or more) and combining them on a single betting slip. You have to accurately pick the winner of each game in order to win. Your chances of getting a payout are not as good as other forms of wagers, but if you do get your picks right then the rewards are definitely better.

Tips for betting on the NBA

There is really no guaranteed way to win when it comes to gambling, and the volatility of sports makes betting on games even more risky.

The best sports betting player in the world know there are no shortcuts or easy ways to make money in the sports betting industry, but there are strategies and tips that can help you along the way.

First and foremost, make sure you research, research and research. Don’t stop just because you think you’ve found an edge for a game. Do your research right up until the tip-off. You can never be sure which players are going to be in the starting lineup, or if there is an injury that hasn’t been discussed in the news, or maybe there are some issues in the locker room. Use every resource you can, ranging from news tickers to social media, and stay up to the minute on the game you’re going to bet on.

When you’re doing your research, especially when it comes to betting on the NBA, make sure you take the team schedule into account. Over 82 games, there are going to be a few times when teams will play all the way on the West Coast for a couple of games and then back across the country for another back-to-back. Travel and so much gametime can lead to player fatigue, which will influence the outcome of a game. Research the schedule of a team, their traveling and if there are any advantages for being at home or on the road.

Finally, we suggest you keep your eye on all the stats that you can — including advanced metrics. Focus on turnovers, rebounding, how well a team is shooting from three-point range and how well players off the bench are performing. You’ll find plenty of useful information to help you in determining how to place your bets.