Most people are pretty comfortable going over the odds when placing bets on sporting events, with some even being happy to lay down larger amounts with the hope of hitting a big payout. However, if you’re looking to get the best odds possible when betting on an NBA game, you need to look into the opposite side of the betting spectrum: the underdogs. In this article, we will outline some basic tips on how to bet the smart way with the -1200 odds in NBA betting.
Study The Spread
The first thing you should do before placing any wagers is to study the spread. When betting on sports, the term ‘spread’ refers to the amount by which the bettor’s favorite team will score on the upcoming game. For instance, if you bet on the Kansas City Chiefs and they score 28 points the money will be returned to you, assuming you meet the conditions of winning the game. What makes NBA betting different is that the spread does not necessarily need to cover the entire amount by which the underdogs will win. In other words, a spread of -3 does not mean the favorite will cover the spread by 3 points.
The advantage of understanding the spread is that you can place wagers on a team that appears to be undervalued by the bookmakers. For instance, the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently listed at -10 in the odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery on April 23rd. If you’re looking for a safe bet, backing the Timberwolves is a no-brainer since they have an excellent chance of winning the lottery and obtaining the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.
The disadvantage of studying the spread is that sometimes you’ll see a team that seems like an obvious choice for winning but the expected score line is significantly higher than the spread. In these cases, it’s best to skip betting on that team and look for another option.
Don’t Place Multiple Wagers On The Same Game
When betting on sports, most people will place a single wager on the game and then move on to the next game. However, this is not necessarily the best approach when betting on NBA games. Just like with most other professional sports, sometimes multiple games involving the same teams will be played in a single day, creating opportunities for people to place multiple wagers on the same game. For example, the New York Knicks will be playing the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers on April 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST. Those who are interested in placing a wager on the game should do so only if the money they are spending will not affect their chances at winning.
What this means in practice is that if you’re looking to place a wager on the Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks game, you should do so only if you’re willing to wager the same amount for the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks game as well. In this case, you would be better served by studying the spreads for both games and placing a separate wager on each.
Use The Odds As A Guide
Another important thing to do when betting on sports is to use the odds as a guide. This means you should always keep in mind that even though you’ve found a team that you believe is a good choice to win the game, the odds will often dictate that they are not as strong as they seem. In other words, even though the Chicago Cubs are +200 to win the World Series, this does not mean they’ll necessarily win the World Series. The key thing to keep in mind is that if you follow the odds, you’re bound to win money in the long run. In these cases, betting on each game is likely to generate a higher ROI than simply placing a wager on the World Series winner. In most cases, the difference will be marginal, but it’s still important to follow the odds and not the other way around.
Some people will suggest that you should always bet on the favorite, regardless of whether they are underdogs or not. While this may be true in some instances, it is not always the case especially when it comes to NBA betting. As we’ve established, the spread for an NBA game gives you an idea of how likely the underdog is to win, so it’s important to take this into consideration before placing a wager on a team that you believe will win the game but is listed at a low odds.
Place Smaller Wagers On The Least Competitive Games
Most professional sports leagues will have an opening game that does not involve any of the teams you’d usually find in the NBA. These are the exhibition games that give players a chance to shine and earn a spot in the starting lineup for the regular season. While watching these games might be interesting from a fanatical standpoint, they usually feature low scores and very little action. This means you should avoid betting on these games and instead place smaller wagers on the more competitive outings in the NBA.
As an example, consider the NBA preseason. Generally speaking, the preseason games are much more relevant and give you a better idea of how a team will perform in the upcoming season when compared to the exhibition games. However, since they are played out of uniform and involve players who are not at the level of the regular starters, the preseason game odds are much more inflated. This is why you should avoid placing any sort of wager on these games and instead find more competitive matchups, such as the Knicks vs 76ers game we just mentioned above. Of course, this does not mean these games are easy tasks and you’ll always have the option to place a wager on the exhibition game if you’re feeling adventurous.
Keep Your Eye On The Prize
Last but not least, we have the most important rule of all: you must keep your eye on the prize. This is something that can be easily forgotten when betting on sports, especially since so many times you’ll find yourself in a situation where you win some but lose a lot as well. This is why it’s important to keep in mind the odds and what they mean instead of just going with your hunch when betting on sports. If you’re looking to winnings, most cases the best approach is to follow the odds, avoid over-betting and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Hopefully, these tips on how to bet the smart way with the -1200 odds in NBA betting will help you make the right choice more often than not. If you’re looking for a safe and reliable way to make money online, you can’t go wrong betting on NBA games, especially since you can place these wagers from the convenience of your home. Just be sure to keep all of this in mind so you don’t end up losing more than you can afford to.