How to Bet on Basketball

Joe Berra
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Learn how to bet on basketball now. We have something for everyone.

Key Points

– Bettors have many choices when they bet on basketball.

– Bettors should develop a strategy to use when they bet on basketball.

How to Bet on Basketball

After football, the most popular sport to bet on is basketball. Like football, there is the professional game as well as the college game. Bettors can choose from betting on the NBA or betting on NCAA basketball.

College basketball’s March Madness is one of the most-bet sporting events in the world. In fact, the NCAA tournament generates the second-highest betting handle among U.S. sports after the Super Bowl.

There is much to learn if you are looking to bet on basketball, whether on the NBA or the NCAA. What follows is essentially everything you need to know about betting on basketball. 

NBA Betting

When it comes to betting on the NBA, there are a few things you need to know in order to give yourself the best chance of success. First and foremost, you need to be aware of the different types of bets that can be placed on the NBA. For example, you can bet on who will win the championship, which teams will make the playoffs, and even which players will be named to the All-Star team. 

There are also bets on games throughout the season.The most popular ways to bet on basketball include the moneyline, point spread, and totals. Knowing the different types of bets available will give you a better idea of how to approach your betting strategy.

Another important factor to consider when betting on the NBA is the importance of research. You need to ensure that you are up-to-date on all the latest news and information surrounding the teams and players involved. This means keeping tabs on injuries, trade rumors, and anything else that could impact the outcome of games. By doing your research, you will be able to make more informed decisions when placing your bets.

Finally, remember that betting on the NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to be patient and disciplined in order to be successful over the long haul. Don’t get discouraged if you have a losing streak; just keep grinding away and eventually you will turn things around. Maintain a strong money management strategy throughout the season. Stick to it and with a little bit of knowledge and patience, betting on the NBA can be a profitable endeavor.

College basketball

Betting on College Basketball

Betting on college basketball can be a great way to make some extra money. With so many games and so many different teams, there are always opportunities to place winning bets. 

However, before you start placing any bets, it is important to understand the odds and how they work. The odds will determine how much you can win or lose on a bet, so it is important to understand them before you start placing any bets. 

For example, when betting the moneyline, remember you are betting on a team to win. The odds will indicate the favorite and the underdog. For example, in a game between North Carolina and Boston College, the Tar Heels are a -400 favorite. 

A bettor would have to wager $400 to win $100. Now, Boston College is a +375 underdog. If you bet on the Eagles to win, a $100 bet would win $375.

Point Spreads and How To Read Them

You can also bet on the point spread just as you can in the NBA. North Carolina might be favored by 9.5 points over Boston College. The Tar Heels would have to win by at least 10 points in order to cover the spread.

Standard odds on a point spread bet are -110 meaning that a bettor must wager $1.10 to win $1.00. The extra 10 cents is the commission – or vigorish – charged by the sportsbook for taking the bet. Sportsbooks can change the odds on a point spread bet in order to encourage or discourage action on either side of a bet.

It’s the same for totals or Over/Under bets. Odds are typically -110 on both sides of the wager. Sportsbooks can alter the odds though depending upon the action coming in on the game. 

Once you have a good understanding of the odds, you can start looking for opportunities to bet on basketball games. There are many different ways to bet on college basketball, so it is important to find the method that works best for you. Some people like to bet on individual games, while others prefer futures. Don’t forget there are also props bets, which make watching games that much more exciting.

Whatever method you choose, make sure that you do your research and only bet on games that you are confident about. With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of research, betting on college basketball can be a great way to add to your bankroll.

Basketball Betting Markets

When it comes to betting on basketball, there are a number of different markets that you can choose from. The most popular bet is the moneyline bet, which simply involves picking who you think will win the game. 

However, if you want to add a little more excitement to your bet, you can also bet on the point spread. This is where you pick one team to win by a certain number of points. 

As mentioned previously, oddsmakers set a point spread to even out two teams. For example, the Golden State Warriors are having a great year and are one of the top teams in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons are not. Oddsmakers may establish a point spread of 9.5 points in this case.

The Warriors are a 9.5-point favorite over the Pistons. Golden State must win by at least 10 points to cover the spread. Detroit can lose by nine or fewer points or pull the upset and win outright in order for the Pistons to cover the spread. 

Most NBA and NCAA point spread bets are made at standard odds of -110. This means a bettor wins $1 for every $1.10 that he wagers.

Other popular bet types include betting on the total points scored in the game (over/under), betting on halftime results, and the hottest trend in all of sports betting, live betting. 

Live bets include the traditional moneyline, point spread, and totals bets; but offer so much more. Bettors can wager on if the next basket will be a two- or three-pointer. They can wager on which player will score the next basket and so much more. Live betting makes watching games very exciting.

There are also a number of props bets that bettors can make. These involve betting on specific events that may or may not happen during the course of a game. The most popular props bets involve individual players and are related to their statistics.

For example, a bettor can wager on whether or not Steph Curry will go Over or Under a certain point total. You can bet on player rebounds, assists, blocks, as well as combinations of these different statistical categories. Like live betting, wagers on NBA props make for a much more exciting game to watch.

Whatever type of bet you choose to make, be sure to do your research and shop around for the best odds before placing your bet. These are strategies that apply to any bet, not just a bet on basketball.

Bet on Basketball – Player & Team Props

Betting on basketball player and team props can be a great way to add to your betting winnings. There are a few things to keep in mind when engaging in these types of bets, though. 

First, research the players and teams involved. Know their strengths and weaknesses, and try to predict how they will perform in the game. Many of the player prop bets are related to statistics, which is performance-related. Oftentimes, results are related to matchups.

If a really strong offensive player is going up against a weak defensive player – and a weak defensive team as well – that knowledge may help in choosing to bet on the Over if the numbers are right.

Second, always shop around for the best odds. Different sportsbooks will offer different odds on the same bet, so it pays to shop around. On player props, the differences in odds at different sportsbooks are even more pronounced than point spread or moneyline bets. It’s not a surprise to find a player’s Points Prop at +100 at one sportsbook and +250 at another.

Finally, don’t be afraid to take a risk. Making money betting on basketball props is risky enough. Don’t be afraid to take risks on big numbers. Sometimes the underdog can surprise you and come out ahead. With a little research and luck, betting on basketball player and team props can be a profitable endeavor.

Betting Basketball Quarters

When it comes to betting on basketball, one of the most popular bet types is the quarter bet. With this type of bet, you are essentially predicting which team will win each quarter of the game. 

The odds for a quarter bet are typically lower than the odds for bet types like moneyline or point spreads. However, they can still offer a healthy return if you know what you’re doing. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started with quarter betting.

To begin with, it’s important to understand how the quarters are structured in an NBA basketball game. Each quarter is 12 minutes long, and there are four quarters in a standard game. Remember, the college game plays two 20-minute halves, so you can’t bet quarters in college basketball. This can be important to keep in mind when you are trying to predict how a team will perform over the course of a game.

Next, you need to take a look at the lines for each quarter and decide where you think the value is. The lines will typically be set based on the performance of each team in the previous quarter. That makes it important to look at how the teams have been playing recently. If one team has been consistently outperforming their opponents in the first quarter, then they may be a good bet to win that particular quarter.

Once you’ve decided where you think the value is, it’s time to place your bet. You can usually do this online through your sportsbook of choice. Simply choose the team that you think will win each quarter, and then enter your stake. If you predict correctly, then you will win your bet and receive a payout based on the odds that were set. Quarter betting can be a great way to add an extra level of excitement to basketball games. Also, it often is a better value than betting a whole game.

Betting Basketball Halves

Basketball bettors often find more value betting on halves instead of full games. The halftime break provides an opportunity to reassess the matchup and make necessary adjustments. Bettors can also take advantage of halftime lines, which are often more favorable than those for the full game. 

In the NBA and in college basketball, halftime is 15 minutes. That means that sportsbooks only have 15 minutes in which to come up with all the lines for the second half of a game. This is where the smarter bettors can find some value. Second half lines are often less efficient than pre-game lines. Bettors can take advantage. 

Here are some tips for bettors who want to get started betting on basketball halves.

  1. Pay attention to lineups. Substitutions can have a big impact on the flow of a game, so it’s important to know who is on the court at all times.
  2. Be aware of coaching tendencies. Some coaches are known for making aggressive adjustments at halftime, while others tend to play it safe. Knowing a coach’s tendencies can give you an edge when making your halftime bets.
  3. Monitor injuries. Injuries can often swing a game in one team’s favor, so it’s important to keep track of which players are sidelined.
  4. Capitalize on live betting. Live betting gives bettors the opportunity to bet on games as they are being played. This can be a great way to find value in the second half of a game.

The Basketball Futures Market

If you’re looking to bet on basketball, one option is to bet on futures. Futures bets are essentially wagers on how a team will perform over the course of a season. For example, you could bet on whether a team will make the playoffs, or how far they’ll advance if they do make the postseason.

Betting on futures can be a great way to get in on the action early and potentially cash in on some big profits if you make the right predictions. However, it’s important to remember that these bets are often based on relatively small sample sizes, so there’s always a bit of risk involved. 

The most popular basketball futures bets include betting on the NBA champion and the NCAA tournament winner. March Madness futures are extremely popular and offer bettors outstanding odds, especially early in a season.

Bettors can find potential national champions listed at odds of +1000 or even higher at the start of a season. It’s a similar story in the NBA where even championship favorites can be given +500 or better odds.

When you bet on basketball futures, it’s not limited to just champions. There are other futures categories in both the NBA and NCAA. In the NBA for example, bettors can wager on teams to win their respective conference or division. In college hoops, bettors can wager on the various conference winners.

Then, there are the individual awards. Bettors can bet on the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player. There is also the Coach of the Year futures market. Similarly in college basketball, the Naismith Award goes to the best player in the nation. There is a national coach of the year award as well.

History of Betting on NBA Basketball

Many people enjoy betting on NBA basketball games. In fact, gambling on basketball games dates back to the early days of the sport. The first recorded bet on an NBA game was made in 1947, when a group of businessmen placed a $100 bet on the New York Knicks to beat the Chicago Stags. 

Since then, betting on NBA games has become increasingly popular, with millions of dollars bet each year. As you have read, there are many different ways to bet on NBA games, including moneyline bets, point spread bets, and parlay bets. 

Parlay bets involve combining multiple bets into one single bet. Many bettors will often bet a “correlated” parlay. This simply means they are taking two things that are likely to happen together and combining them into one bet.

For example, an NBA game has a relatively high total at 238. The bettor really likes the Over and decides that one of the star players in the game has a great chance to go Over his point total. That would make sense since the higher point total by the player would contribute to the overall game total.

Parlays: Better Odds, Greater Risk

In the end, parlay bets offer bettors better odds. That is their lure. They are, however, harder to hit. Regardless of the type of bet you choose to make, there is always the potential to win. Just be sure to be careful and understand all the risks before placing any bet.

The history of betting on NBA basketball games dates back to the early days of the league. Professional bettors quickly realized that there was money to be made by correctly picking the winners of basketball games. 

Over the years, that still remains true. Today, there are numerous ways to bet on NBA games, including online sportsbooks, Las Vegas casinos, and offshore betting websites. 

The key to success in betting on basketball is finding an edge over the bookmakers and other bettors. This can be done through careful research, studying trends, and analyzing matchups. For those who are willing to put in the work, a bet on the NBA can be a profitable endeavor.

Pros & Cons – Betting Basketball at Land-Based vs. Offshore Sportsbooks

While there are many similarities between placing a bet on basketball at an offshore sportsbook and a land-based sportsbook, there are also some important differences to take into account. 

One of the biggest advantages of betting at an offshore sportsbook is that it offers greater flexibility in terms of bet types. For example, if you want to bet on the outcome of an NBA game, you can do so with a moneyline bet. 

Alternatively, if you want to bet on the point spread, you can do so with a point spread bet. Offshore sportsbooks also offer a wide range of betting markets. Whatever basketball bet you are searching for, you are more likely to find it at an offshore betting site.

Offshore sportsbooks also typically offer a wider range of bonuses and promotions than land-based sportsbooks. Essentially, bettors get more bang for their buck when going offshore.

Another advantage of betting at an offshore sportsbook is that it allows you to bet on international basketball games. For example, if you want to bet on a European basketball game, you can do so without having to travel to the country where the game is taking place. Bettors will also find access to Olympic and other international basketball tournaments.

Finally, offshore sportsbooks typically offer more convenient banking options than land-based sportsbooks. For example, many offshore sportsbooks allow you to deposit and withdraw funds using your credit card or cryptocurrency. In contrast, land-based sportsbooks often require you to use cash or a check.

win basketball props

Basketball Betting Strategies & Tips

There are a few things to keep in mind when betting on NBA basketball games. We have mentioned a few of these points already, but it’s important to make sure you understand them.

First, it’s important to understand the different types of bets available. You may find a niche with a certain bet type. For example, you might find that the Race to 20 Points is your thing. You have a system that works and you bet this market whenever the numbers work out.

Since the numbers might not always work out, you may have to find a couple of different bet types. Regardless, make sure you understand the different types of bets and how they work before you start placing wagers. 

We mentioned understanding the odds too. Maybe you have a strategy that involves short underdogs playing at home. You have to understand what a short underdog is. Being able to understand odds helps you determine what a short underdog is.

Differences When Betting College Hoops

Bets are similar in college basketball though there are some considerations to make when betting. It’s almost like betting on college compared to the NFL. 

There are over 350 Division I college basketball teams. There are only 30 NBA teams. The massive number of teams in NCAA basketball leads to some serious differences in talent. The best teams in the nation are exponentially better than the worst ones. This can make it difficult to bet on basketball at the college level. 

One of the easiest strategies to employ when betting on basketball is to simply bet against the public. Remember, the public is wrong most of the time. That’s why sportsbooks are still in business. You stand a better chance of winning when you are on the side of the house.

Another strategy is to look for lines that are out of sync with what you think they should be. This is why second half betting in the NBA makes sense. With a short amount of time to develop lines and odds, sportsbooks can often find themselves making mistakes. 

Finally, it’s always important to do your research before placing a bet and to never bet more than you can afford to lose. Never simply “wing it” and place a sports bet. That is what the betting public does. That’s why they lose more often than they win. By following these tips, you’ll give yourself a much better chance of coming out ahead when you bet on basketball.

About the Author
Joe Berra
Joe Berra
Sports Writer
Content Covered on SportsHub: Blog and News
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Joe takes care of the bits and pieces that sometimes slip through the cracks of the sports world. Efficiency and consistency is what makes SportsHub.com different. JB helps keep Sports Hub’s content fresh and exciting, managing its many authors. From the New York area, Joe knew he had a knack for sports betting when his uncle was always asking him which side he was on as a young boy. His meticulous approach to the numbers formed his career path as a professional handicapper. Joe is sometimes called Jimmy Bagpipes, JB or Mr. B.