The world of sports betting can be a tricky one. Just when you think you’ve got the hang of things, along comes the next challenge. But that’s what makes it so interesting. At least, that’s how my colleagues and I at OddsBets.com think. We like to imagine that everyone is a potential friend when it comes to sports betting, and not just those you share a language with. So here are some tried and tested ways to make the most of your betting instincts. Hopefully, this article will help you develop your betting intuition and become a more confident, successful, and entertaining gambler. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Decide On The Type Of Soccer You Support
If you’re new to soccer betting, the very first thing you need to do is decide what type of football you support. The answer to this question will color your entire experience as a sports bettor. Whether you like practical, attacking football (i.e. soccer) or you favor a cautious approach (i.e. “park the bus”), there is a type of soccer betting line specifically designed for you. Below, we’ll discuss the various types of soccer bets and which one is right for you.
Home Vs. Away Team
One of the simplest and most commonly placed bets when it comes to soccer is whether the home team will win or lose. This is often referred to as a ‘soccer’ or ‘football’ betting tip since the game is usually played at a neutral site (i.e. not necessarily in your hometown). If you are dead set on placing a bet on a football team, the most convenient and, arguably, safest option is to bet on the team you support, whether that’s the home team or the away team. Your money will be safe, and you won’t have to worry about whether you’re placing a fair bet or getting the runaround from unscrupulous bookmakers. Bookmakers are, in general, nice people, but they can be insistent when it comes to settling accounts. If you are an avid gambler and have established yourself with a few well-placed bets, you might consider looking into depositing funds into an account where you can protect your bets with a ‘bonding’ service. This way, if you do happen to lose a bet, you’ll only lose what you’ve winnings from other bets to cover. In such instances, it’s usually best to walk away rather than try and fight your way out of a hole. In any case, the home/away team betting option is definitely the simplest and most straightforward option out there.
Total Goals
If you are a fan of attacking soccer, then you’ll likely love betting on the total goals scored in a match. The idea is to predict the total amount of goals (over or under) that will be scored by either team in a contest. Think of it as ‘over/under’ on the number of touchdowns Scrabble™ will throw at you. The main drawback to this wager is the lack of clarity on exactly what kind of soccer the total goals bet will represent. For instance, if there are 24 goals scored in a particular game, will it be a normal full-strength match, or will it be some kind of exhibition or international match? These are important questions that you must ask yourself before placing this wager. If you want to be sure you are getting the full experience of an attacking match, then go for it. However, if you want to venture into the world of soccer betting and are looking for a safe and fun experience, then consider looking into the total goals option.
Team To Score First
When you are deciding which type of soccer bet to place, the first thing you’ll want to do is decide who will score the first goal. Normally, this is the type of bet you’ll want to avoid since it requires quite a bit of knowledge about the timing of when the goals will be scored. This kind of bet is normally reserved for more experienced sports bettors who have some idea of when the goals will be scored and understand the factors that will determine the end result. For example, if you’ve got Spain against, say, The Netherlands, then this is the type of bet you’ll want to avoid since Spain is normally a very offensive team and will look to score as soon as possible, while the Netherlands will try and defend every bit of territory and wait for the counterattack.
Double/Nothing Bet
If you’re a fan of college football, then you’ll probably be familiar with the term ‘double-or-nothing’. This kind of bet is usually placed when a team is ranked highly in the polls, but there is quite a bit of uncertainty about just how good they really are. If you’re not familiar with this type of bet, then it’s basically an ‘over/under’ bet on whether the opposing teams’ combined scores will be higher or lower than a particular average. For example, say you’re backing Clemson to beat Georgia this coming Saturday. Obviously, you’re hoping for a high score but don’t want to risk too much since the outcome is very much up in the air. The simplest and probably the most common way to lay this type of bet is to choose two college football teams, put your money on the over, and if Clemson wins, your money will be doubled; if they lose, then you’ll lose what you initially put down. The key to this type of bet is selecting two teams that either have a high combined ranking or are highly likely to meet in the semifinals (if they make it that far). Once you’ve got your double-or-nothing bets going, it’s imperative to keep an eye on them since this is when the fun begins. For those who like to dabble in the world of sports betting and are looking for something new and exciting, then the double-or-nothing option is for you. As long as you keep an eye on your bets and follow the rules of betting (i.e. betting on the favorites, avoiding big bets if you’re not sure of the outcome, etc.), then this is a safe and fun way to make some extra cash.
Spread
Another popular option among sports bettors is to take a side in a game and then have the bookmaker make the spread (i.e. the difference between the ‘point spread’ and ‘line’ in American sports books) smaller. For example, let’s say you’re a Penn State fan and you’ve got them as 4.5 point underdogs in the upcoming football game against Ohio State. You’ll want to get this spread as small as possible, preferably down to about 3 points, since anything larger and the bet might not be worth it. The downside to this option is that sometimes books will make the spread larger, which can result in you losing a little bit of money. Still, as long as you keep an eye on your betting slip and only bet on games you’re confident about, then this is a safe and fun option for sports fans who want to take a side in a game without risking a large amount of money.
In-Play Betting
An in-play bet is one that you’ll want to avoid if you’re a first-time sports bettor. The concept behind this type of bet is to place a wager on the outcome of an event that is currently in progress. Unfortunately, this is the type of bet that is often promoted in movies as being very easy and something even a layman can do. While it is certainly possible to make some money from betting on in-play events, it’s very difficult to do so safely and efficiently. Professional gamblers avoid this type of bet in general, and especially in sportsbooks, since it’s extremely difficult to make decent money from it. This doesn’t mean you should never bet on in-play events, but rather that you should only do so when you know exactly what you’re getting into and can afford to lose should the bet go wrong.