In sports betting, the number -5 has many different meanings. It can be used to denote various sporting events, as well as a certain kind of wager. But what does it mean exactly? Let’s dive in and explore the various usages and interpretations of this interesting number.
The 5th Floor
If you’ve ever played the game _Madden NFL_ on the Xbox, then you know the significance of the number 5 in football betting. On the fifth floor of a building, players 1 through 5 are generally considered outsiders or knuckle-caps. In other words, they’re the ones you have to beat in order to achieve team success. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the number 1 is generally considered the best of the best; they’re considered floor-leaders or “the guys” by other players and are usually the first to receive the ball when the offense starts up again after a defensive stop (or “breakdown”).
In basketball betting, the 5th floor is considered the least favorable bet, primarily due to the fact that few, if any, guarantees can be made regarding the outcome of a game that’s still yet to be played. Since it’s difficult to rank individual basketball players based on their overall contribution to the team, the 5th floor is usually reserved for wagers involving the over or under (respectively) of a certain score. In other words, you can’t lay a 5th floor bet unless you’re willing to both win and lose money on your bet.
Money-Line Bets
Basketball is a game that’s all about strategy and team-work, and as a result, most fans and bettors prefer to bet on the money line. This is a wager where the bettor is willing to wager either money or nothing at all on the outcome of the game. In other words, this is where you place a wager on the favorite team to win, or the opposite (against the spread or over/under) in the event that they don’t meet the required target (total).
When placing a money line bet, you have to decide how much you’re willing to wager. The minimum amount is usually set by the bookmaker, and the maximum varies by individual state and province. Typically, the maximum is set at twice the minimum amount. For example, if the minimum amount is $10 and the maximum is $20, then your maximum bet would be $40, and you would have to win $20 in order to break even. Bookmakers usually don’t like to take losses on money line bets, so you’re usually safe in assuming that they’ll ask you to put your money on the next game in order to continue wagering.
Point Spread Bets
The point spread has traditionally been considered the most popular and most reliable way to bet on sports, especially football. This is because unlike most sports where the outcome is largely determined by the individual performances of the players, football is determined by the teams’ performances relative to one another. For instance, if Team A goes on a scoring streak while Team B struggles to put points on the board, then Team A will likely end up winning the game.
In order to make a point spread bet, you have to decide which team you think will have the better outcome. For example, if you believe that Team A will score the most points, then you would likely bet on them (A+B). However, if you think that Team B will have the better scoring chance, then you would likely bet on them (B+A). If you’re unsure which team will emerge as the clear-cut favorite, then you should probably avoid betting on either one, but instead take another route and opt for a neutral bet (A or B).
When placing a point spread bet, the maximum amount that can be bet is usually set at 5 times the minimum. So if the minimum amount is $10 and the maximum is $20, then your maximum bet would be $50 and you would have to win $20 in order to break even. Bookmakers usually don’t like to take losses on point spread bets, so you’re usually safe in assuming that they’ll ask you to put your money on the next game in order to continue wagering.
Handicap Bets
In case you’re concerned that the bookmaker might gouge you on the vigorish (the commission the bookmaker takes from your winnings), then you should probably avoid them and go with another bookmaker. On the other hand, if you’re interested in handicap betting, then you should probably opt for a point spread or money line bet, as these are the most popular varieties of handicap betting. In other words, placing a handicap bet entails determining the exact opposite of a game’s original line (for example, if the line is 5 and you decide to put a +5 on the opposite end, then your bet will be termed a “handicap” or “against the spread” bet).
The term “handicap” is sometimes used interchangeably with “point spread,” although in practice they can (and sometimes do) have differing requirements. When placing a handicap bet, the minimum amount that can be bet is usually set at twice the amount that can be wagered on a point spread bet. For example, if the minimum amount is set at $10 and the point spread bet is $20, then the minimum handicap bet would be $30. In order to qualify for the higher minimum, you have to wager the greater amount on the point spread bet. In other words, a $20 point spread bet would require you to wager at least $40 on the handicap bet in order to get the higher minimum. You would then have to win $20 in order to break even.
First Half/Full Odds
Certain bookmakers will give you the option of placing your wagers on either the first or second half of the game, or on the full amount that will be played. If you’re interested in betting on the second half only, then it’s usually a safe bet, as there are rarely any shocking outcomes that occur in the second half, and most games tend to wind down in a relatively even fashion. This makes the second half a good opportunity to pick up a small profit, if you’re lucky enough to get a winning ticket in the second half. However, if you’re looking to make a quick gain and won’t be satisfied with a small profit, then it might be a good idea to lay some wagers on the full amount of the game, as there are often several upsets in any given year that cause basketball fans to rejoice.
Since the first half of a game can be pretty chaotic (due to stoppages for injuries, for instance), it’s usually not advisable to wager on this portion of the game. The same can be said for late-game rallies in both halves, as it’s usually not clear who will emerge victorious after the game has entered this stage. For these reasons, it’s usually best to wait until the entire game has been played before laying any bets.
As a general rule, don’t overextend yourself when betting on sports, especially those involving skill and/or a large number of participants. For instance, if you’re not experienced or lucky enough to have good instincts when it comes to interpreting odds and probabilities, then it might be a good idea to sit out on sports events until you get the hang of it.