To many, “1-10” just means “evens.” But in betting odds, this string of digits serves a much more specific purpose. Here’s the lowdown on this confusing betting convention.
What Is Betting Odds?
In the world of sports betting, odds are simply the numerical odds of one team or player’s success over another. For example, a bet might be offered at +100 or −100 that the New York Yankees will score more runs in a game than the Boston Red Sox. The “100” is what’s known as the “even” (or “two-to-one”) betting line – if you want to bet on the Red Sox, you would lay an even (2.0) bet; if you believe the Yankees will score more runs, you would need to lay a (100 – 2.0) bet to win that bet.
Odds can vary widely, from seemingly impossible victories (1.0) to very long shots (500.0) to almost assured wins (75.0) or losses (25.0). Knowing how to read and use these numbers properly can dramatically change your bets from winners to losers.
Why Are Paired Odds Considered “Betting” Odds?
These are the kind of numbers you’ll find when gambling in casinos or online sportsbooks. Professional gamblers and sportsbook operators have long understood the value of paired odds. When two teams or players compete, the odds for one team or player always runs within a pair of digits of the odds for the other team or player. For instance, if you were to bet on the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees in a game, you would typically find a bunch of 1.0 and 2.0 odds on the Indian side of the bet and a lot of 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 odds on the Yankees side.
The advantage of paired odds is that the oddsmakers can accurately predict the winner of a game when the numbers are displayed in this format. They don’t need to use complicated formulas to spit out the results because the outcome is already predetermined. In a sense, paired odds is a “no brainer” for handicappers and bookmakers – whoever wins, wins, and there’s no need to consider wagers that don’t have an obvious favorite.
What Is An Uphill Slope In Betting?
An “uphill slope” is when the odds of a victory get longer as the competition gets closer to the end. This is typically the case when there is only one team or player left in the competition. When that last team or player hits the stage, the betting odds will usually head in the direction of completing an uphill climb to victory.
For example, if you were to bet on the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees in a game, you would start to see a lot of 1.0 and 2.0 odds on the Indians side of the bet and a lot of 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 odds on the Yankees side as the game draws closer to its end. A similar example would be if you put a bet on the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals. The odds favor the Spurs, but as you get closer to the game’s end, the Nuggets will pose a greater challenge.
How Do You Read Betting Odds?
To make your best guess as to who will win a game or event, you need to look at a combination of several factors. First, study the line history. These are the numbers that appear before the game has started and after the teams have been designated. Second, look at how the teams have performed recently and in which venue the game will be played. Third, consider the form (or style) of the game. For example, will it be a physical competition or a mental test or a mixture of both?
These factors largely determine whether you should go with one team or player over another. For instance, if the game is expected to be a physical contest, you might want to lay a (100 – 110) bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Anaheim Ducks, because they are both favored to win the Stanley Cup this year. But if you think that the competition will be closer to the referee’s whistle than to the steel cage, you might want to lay a (150 – 155) bet on the Chicago Blackhawks, because they are the defending champions and have been playing better hockey lately than many people think.
It’s not always easy – sometimes it just takes a little bit of research to figure out which team or player will prevail. But, as they say, “it’s all about the numbers.” With a little bit of knowledge about how to read and use them properly, you can make a lot of money (or wagers)!