The line in sports betting that you hear all the time is “the game is a push.” The assumption is that one team is going to win, and the other is going to lose. You either choose to back the favorite or you choose to back the underdog. If the game ends in a tie, you lose what you put down.
The truth is a bit more complicated. There are different types of draws in sports betting, and knowing which ones to use and when to use them can help you increase your odds of winning. Here’s a roundup of what you should know about all the different types of draws in sports betting.
First Downs, Fewer Than Six Points At The Half
If your team is ahead by a large margin at the half, it’s usually a good idea to stick with what you know. On the other hand, if the game is close and you’re not sure which team is going to come out on top, you might want to consider backing the underdog and taking a chance.
When the teams are level at the half, it’s called a “draw” and is scored as a tie. However, if your team is ahead at the half, you’re assured of making a profit because the favorite will win in a landslide. This type of draw is mostly useful if you’re using single-game betting to make your stake. You would not want to use it if you’re using odds-type bets, as the favorite will always win those types of wagers. If you’re not sure whether your team is going to win or lose, use the underdog and place a small wager.
Odds, First Downs, And Fewer Than Seven Points At The Half
This type of draw is exactly what it sounds like. You’re not sure which team is going to win, so you might as well take the chance and back the underdog. The only difference between this type of draw and the one above it is the point spread. In this instance, the point spread is not 6 points but 7 points. This means the underdog has a better chance of winning. If you’re using single-game betting, this is the type of draw you want to see. If you’re using odds-type bets, you’re assured of making a profit because the favorite will probably win, but the payback on the underdog is higher. This type of draw is mostly useful for long-term wagering, as you’re taking a chance on a team you believe is going to be good for the season. In rare instances, you might even make a profit on a play you make in advance of a game. If you’re sure your team is going to win, use the favorite and make a note of this type of draw in your betting logs.
Overdogs, Underdogs, And Fewer Than Seven Points At The Half
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you believe that an underdog is going to win, you can take the opportunity to bet on them. This is mostly useful if you’re using single-game betting as a means of making your profit. If you’re using long-term wagering to make your stake, this is the type of draw you want to avoid. The fact that you’re taking a chance on a losing team makes this type of draw a bad idea, especially if the team you’re backing is a heavy favorite. Not only is it hard to make a profit when the favorite wins in a landslide, but you also have to pay off the original wager, plus you have additional losses from the game. If possible, avoid using this type of draw.
Futures, Points, And Fewer Than Three Goals At The Half
This type of draw is used to make money off of games that have not yet occurred. You’re typically going to need a bit of money to lay down as a down payment on these types of wagers, so you can’t use this type of draw for any type of wagering where the winnings are greater than your initial stake. You’re taking a chance on a game that has not yet been played, but you have faith that it will end in your favor. This type of draw is mostly useful for pre-game wagering or for laying down some quick cash as a hedge against a game that you think will end in a loss. If you’re not sure which team will win, use the underdog and place a small wager.
Goalies, Half-Time Scores, And Fewer Than Three Goals At The Half
This type of draw is used when you’re not sure which team is going to be the better side at the end of a game. The idea behind this type of wager is to have a good guess as to which team is going to win, and then let the game itself decide. It is basically a 50/50 shot between the two teams. You might want to make this type of wager on a game that has already started, as soon as the coin has been tossed. This can be useful if you’re not sure which team will be the faster, stronger, or better team at the end of the game, but you have faith that one of the teams is going to win by three or more goals. Remember: this is a 50/50 shot and you’re taking a chance on a game that has not yet started. If you’re not sure which team is going to win, use the underdog and place a small wager.
Over/Under, First Downs, And Four Or More Touchdowns At The Half
As the name implies, this type of wager is used when you’re not sure which team is going to come out on top. You put down your stake and then the other team either completes a pass or runs a play, and you immediately know which one of the two teams you’re backing will win. This type of wager costs you nothing but the time to make it, and you’re assured of a profit because you have an indication that one of the teams you’re backing is going to win. This type of wager is mostly useful for short-term wagering on games that have already started. Remember: if it’s an overtime game and you’re not sure which team will score the first goal, use the over/under and place a wager. If you want to cover your bets, use the underdog and place another wager on the opposite team if your first choice wins.
As you can see, there are quite a few different types of draws in sports betting, and knowing how to distinguish between them can help you increase your odds of winning.