In the world of sports betting, few names are more synonymous with success than Doug Drabble. For nearly 40 years, Drabble has been providing the industry with advice on sports betting and analysis of sporting events. He has helped countless gamblers understand the betting landscape and has been responsible for countless winning bets. Noted for his encyclopedic knowledge of sports, Drabble is often referred to as the “Godfather of Odds” and the “Father of Parlay Analysis.”
Though he is best known for writing and analyzing football betting strategies, he has also authored several seminal works on hockey, baseball, and basketball betting, respectively. In 2019, Drabble was responsible for nearly $1 million in wagers made with the sportsbooks he monitors.
In any given year, there are dozens of new bettors searching for guidance on where to put their money in sports and how to read the betting lines. For those who want to get started in betting or are looking for an expert to help them out, here are some top tips on how to read the daily fantasy sports (Dds) scores and how to use them to your advantage.
Know What To Look For
As a beginner in betting or an intermediate player who wants to become more informed, you first need to learn to identify what to watch out for and what to ignore when reading the odds in sportsbooks. The main thing to keep in mind is that the odds are always with the house, so it is always best to bet on the underdog or pick an event that the odds are skewed toward. You should also be careful not to overanalyze the data and get too engrossed in the numbers without having a proper understanding of the game itself. There are lots of variables that can influence the outcome of a game and, as such, the odds may not necessarily reflect the true strength of the opposite teams.
For example, in the 2019 regular season, the New York Jets were an underwhelming 4-12 and the Buffalo Bills were 4-11. The Jets were given 16.7 odds to win the Super Bowl while the Bills were given 18.9 odds. However, if you had watched football in the past, you would know that the Bills had one of the best defenses in the league and that they always went on the road and had trouble scoring points, while the Jets were coming off a strong season and played great at home, particularly upsetting the betting public. The underdogs in this case were the Bills and not the Jets because the line was heavily in their favor.
How Do The Dds Work?
The daily fantasy sports industry grew out of gambling sites that offered fantasy football leagues and tournaments where players could compete against each other and win prizes. In 2014, the major sports leagues began sanctioning the contests as they saw fit, but the majority still have banned them. However, as long as they are legal, fantasy sports are here to stay.
Although the contests are illegal in most states and countries, the fantasy sports sites remain afloat thanks to the effective laws that have not yet been able to keep up with the changing technology. These websites allow players to create user accounts, log in, and then enter contests where they can draft teams of NFL players and choose from a variety of fantasy football scenarios, such as head to head competition or a best of three scenarios. Points are usually awarded for successful completions, and everyone from the biggest star to the most anonymous benchwarmer can participate in the contests. The main difference between traditional fantasy and daily fantasy sports is that the latter offers more structure and less individualism.
Thoughts On Managing Risk
The second most important thing for a beginner is to learn to manage their risk when betting. Simply put, the more you know, the more you can win, but the more you risk losing. It is important to keep in mind that every investment has its risks, and betting is no different. You need to know how much you can afford to lose before you start making any bets. For those who want to get started in sports betting but lack the funds to do so, the next best thing is roping in a buddy or two who has the cash to spare. Having a partner reduces the risk in case you lose as well as the potential profit if you happen to hit on a winning horse race or football game.
Knowing when to stop betting is also important. Many people get involved in sports betting as a way to escape from the stressors of everyday life. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing. If you find yourself regularly losing money betting on sports, you should probably take a break and come back when you have put some of your money away. It is also always a good idea to make sure you have enough funds to cover your losses before you bet any more. It is fairly common for people who start out small and then get addicted to betting as the losses mount. In those cases, it is usually best to walk away. Though it may be tempting to keep betting in order to recover your losses, you will only end up further in the hole. Plus, at that point, it is often too late to walk away without severely jeopardizing your finances.
The Basics
As mentioned, there are numerous variations of betting, and some of them can be extremely profitable. However, before you get started, you need to learn the basics. The following will provide you with an overview of the various types of bets available and how to make the most of them:
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are simply bets on the outcome of an event. In American football, there is typically just one prop bet per game, and it involves picking the winner of the game. For example, if the game is between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, and the line is currently in favor of the Patriots, you can bet on whether or not the Patriots will cover the four points spread. In most cases, the payout on those bets is relatively small, but it is still a good idea to consider them since they usually result in smaller debts. Most sportsbooks will offer various prop bets for every game and event, and they can be quite profitable if you know how to bet on them.
Moneyline Bets
Moneyline bets are simply bets on the amount of money that one player will win or lose. For example, the bet “New York Jets +7 vs. Buffalo Bills” is a moneyline bet on the game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. The +7 represents the amount of money the bettor is willing to wager on the Jets (short) winning the game. If the line is currently settled in favor of the Jets, you can place this bet with ease. Most sportsbooks will offer various moneyline bets for every game and event, and they can be quite profitable if you know how to bet on them.
Point Spread Bets
Point spread bets involve picking the winner of an event with multiple outcomes. For example, if the Seattle Seahawks are playing the San Francisco 49ers, and the line is currently settled in favor of the 49ers, you can bet that the Seahawks will cover the spread with two outcomes: they will either win the game outright or cover it by the smallest margin possible. Most sportsbooks will offer various point spread bets for every game and event, and they can be quite profitable if you know how to bet on them.
Win Total Bets
Win total bets are simply bets on the total number of wins for a particular team or player. For example, the bettor may wager that the Philadelphia Eagles will win the regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. The exact amount of the win bet is usually displayed along with the wager (typically in the form of teasers or trailers). Most sportsbooks will offer various win total bets for every game and event, and they can be quite profitable if you know how to bet on them.
Progressive Picks
Progressive picks are simply bets on the ultimate outcome of an event. For example, in the 2019 World Series of Poker, there was a $10,000,000 jackpot available for the best overall poker hand. That is a staggering amount of money, and it’s no wonder why so many people were interested in making the ultimate bet. The idea is to choose five cards from a standard deck of cards (usually using only the hearts and spades) and then see which five cards come up most often in winning combinations. Most sportsbooks will offer various progressive picks for every game and event, and they can be quite profitable if you know how to bet on them.