The lines between sports and gambling have blurred. Gamblers can now bet on football, hockey, basketball, and baseball games, and many places actually endorse gaming. Nowadays the lines between sports and gambling are becoming more blurred, with many places offering mixed betting opportunities.
This can cause confusion for the casual sports fan who wants to follow the betting lines, especially since the lines aren’t always easy to distinguish from the games themselves. You might see a line that crosses over a basketball game, for example, but are you sure if that line is for the game or for the point-spread?
Reading a betting trends chart can be difficult, especially since the information is usually presented in a colorful and attractive way. The layman often has a hard time finding just the right colors and fonts to use, making it even more difficult to distinguish the information in the first place. For these reasons, we have decided to tell you how to read a betting trends chart in a way that is most easy to understand. Following these tips will certainly make it easier for you to keep up with the betting movements and make smarter, more informed decisions when placing your wagers.
Know What To Look For
One of the first things you should do before you start reading any betting trends is to familiarize yourself with the different types of graphs that are used and what each one represents. Here are some of the most common types of graphs and what they mean:
The Money Line
This is the most basic and most common type of graph used when it comes to horse racing and other sports betting. The money line indicates which team will win the game, with the two teams separated by a straight horizontal line. This line often doesn’t move much from game to game, so it can be difficult to determine the correct betting line without knowing what the spread is.
The Spread
The spread is used to determine the number of points that the bettor will win or lose if he bets on the game according to the lines posted at the sportsbook. For example, the Lions might be favorites in their upcoming game against the Bears, with the Bears listing a -3.5 spread. This means that for every dollar the Bears win, $3.50 will be placed on the favorite. If the Lions win the game, the bettor will earn $15.00, while if the Bears win, the bettor will lose his $15.00 stake.
Over/Under
The over/under is used to indicate how many points either team will score during the game. The over indicates that the score will be higher than the under, and vice versa. When it comes to over/under betting, the goal is to choose the total that you think will win, not necessarily the total you believe the other team will score. For instance, if you think the Steelers will score more than 20 points, you might want to bet on them according to the over/under of 20 points. This is also true if you think the Bengals will score more than 20 points; in that case, you should bet on them according to the over/under of 20 points. Knowing which team will score more points than the other is usually a good indicator of which team will win. This type of betting can be more difficult to analyze since you have to consider several factors, including the current betting trends and the spread, as well as the weather, the playing time, and many more.
Most Predictive Graph
The most predictive graph indicates which team is most likely to win the game on a specific day. To come up with this numbers, the sportsbook will take into account all the relevant stats, including recent performance, injuries, and suspensions. The graph will then be color-coded to indicate how the teams’ fortunes have changed compared to the previous meeting.
The advantage of this type of graph is that it takes all the confusion out of choosing the right betting line, as you can simply look at the historical performance and choose the blue line for the most predictive game. A disadvantage of this type of graph, however, is that it doesn’t take into account several factors that can affect the outcome of a game. For instance, the wind will be a determining factor in how well a certain team performs, as well as the overall strategy used by the opposing coaches.
Interactive Graphics
Interactive graphics, also known as live odds or live betting charts, let you choose which team you want to watch, as well as the amount you want to bet. This type of graph usually displays the money line, spread, and other relevant statistics for each team. Besides showing the essential stats, these graphics also provide an indication of the betting trends, as well as an additional column that indicates the winning percentage for each team. This makes it much easier for the bettor to keep track of the scores and odds throughout the game.
Keep In Mind
Once you’re familiar with the basics, it’s important to keep in mind a few key things. First, realize that just because a team is listed as a hot pick (an anticipated winning team) doesn’t mean that they are always going to win. Just because a team is listed as a cold pick (an anticipated losing team) does not mean that they will also lose. Second, remember that the spread can change frequently, so make sure you check the spread not only once or twice during the game, but also while the game is in progress. Third, realize that the spread is usually the best indicator of which team is most likely to win, but it is not always the case. Fourth, realize that the lines can change from game to game, so make sure you check the graphs for the correct line for the specific game you’re looking at.
One more important thing to keep in mind is that just because a team is listed as a hot pick or a cold pick does not mean that they’re going to be good. It simply means that either they’re going to be really good or really bad; there’s no such thing as halfway good when it comes to sports teams. Also, realizing that some teams are either really good or really bad can help you determine which one is going to win on a certain day. For instance, the Cardinals are usually a really great team, but on Saturday they play the Rams, who are one of the best teams in the NFL. If you don’t know much about the Rams, it’s better to assume that they are going to beat the Cardinals because they are usually a better team, and you’ll be right more often than not.
Hopefully we were able to help you understand how to read a betting trends chart. Just remember that these are simply graphs that can be very helpful when it comes to making informed decisions and following the progression of any game, but they’re not everything. Always remember that you’re betting on a game, and as fans of any sport we hope that you fully understand that not every game is created equal, so make sure you do your research before placing that wager.