What to Research When Betting on the MLB

With the start of the new MLB season quickly approaching, sports fans are buzzing about their favorite baseball teams and players. Unfortunately, not all sports betting sites are created equal. Some sites may offer great betting odds, but deep down they might not offer the best betting experience. Therefore, it’s important to do your research before placing any bets this coming season. Here are some things you should know and consider before placing any wagers on the upcoming MLB season:

MLB Odds And Line Movement

The main thing to monitor when betting on the MLB is line movement. You don’t want to place a bet on a game that’s already decided and the line has moved against you. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you also don’t want to miss out on a game because the line hasn’t moved enough in your favor. Fortunately, you can often times find MLB lines which are in the middle of the road and thus, ideal for placing a wager on. The key is to check the movement frequently and adjust your wagers accordingly. For example, if you’re visiting the sites which offer the best odds, but the line is constantly in motion, you may want to explore other options. Going back to ideal wagering conditions, the line should move in the direction of your favor around 80% of the time. If it doesn’t, then you might want to consider sitting out on some games or taking a chance on the underdog.

Point Spread Movement

The point spread is how much your betting counter will move in your favor when the totals come in for a given game. For example, if the over under is 7.5 and you bet on the under, your point spread will be +3.5. This number will fluctuate throughout the day and for some games it can move in either direction, but over time it will tend to move the same way as the majority of games. For the purpose of this article, assume that point spreads move the same way as most games. This simplifies things considerably.

Payout Percentage Movement

Another factor to watch when betting on the MLB is payout percentage movement. Simply put, payout percentage movement measures how often the actual payout for a wager matches the advertised payout. The problem with this number is that it can move in either direction and it’s often difficult to ascertain whether or not it’s moving in your favor. However, if you’re frequently misinformed about the payout for a particular game, then you may want to consider cutting your losses and taking a walk. On the other hand, if you’re seeing the advertised payout percentage and it doesn’t seem to be moving in your favor, then you might want to consider putting in an order for some Jamba Juice or a lottery ticket.

Season Win Totals

The final thing you want to keep an eye on when betting on the MLB is season win totals. This is simply the aggregate amount of wins that will be achieved by each MLB team this season. The problem with season win totals is that they can also move in either direction and it can be difficult to ascertain the direction they’re moving in. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to monitor the progress of your favorite MLB team, then this is the metric to check. In general, you want to see your team win close to 50 games this season, preferably more. Anything less and you might want to consider cutting your losses and taking a walk. On the other hand, if you’re seeing winning streaks and dollar signs dancing in your head, then you might want to consider placing a wager. The main thing is that you keep an eye on these numbers and adjust your wagers accordingly because with the start of the new MLB season just days away, the betting world will be resetting itself as we know it.

With the start of the new MLB season quickly approaching, sports fans are buzzing about their favorite baseball teams and players. Unfortunately, not all sports betting sites are created equal. Some sites may offer great betting odds, but deep down they might not offer the best betting experience. Therefore, it’s important to do your research before placing any bets this coming season. Here are some things you should know and consider before placing any wagers on the upcoming MLB season:

MLB Odds And Line Movement

The main thing to monitor when betting on the MLB is line movement. You don’t want to place a bet on a game that’s already decided and the line has moved against you. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you also don’t want to miss out on a game because the line hasn’t moved enough in your favor. Fortunately, you can often times find MLB lines which are in the middle of the road and thus, ideal for placing a wager on. The key is to check the movement frequently and adjust your wagers accordingly. For example, if you’re visiting the sites which offer the best odds, but the line is constantly in motion, you may want to explore other options. Going back to ideal wagering conditions, the line should move in the direction of your favor around 80% of the time. If it doesn’t, then you might want to consider sitting out on some games or taking a chance on the underdog.

Point Spread Movement

Another factor to watch when betting on the MLB is point spread movement. Simply put, point spread movement measures how much your betting counter will move in your favor when the totals come in for a given game. For example, if the over under is 7.5 and you bet on the under, your point spread will be +3.5. This number will fluctuate throughout the day and for some games it can move in either direction, but over time it will tend to move the same way as the majority of games. For the purpose of this article, assume that point spreads move the same way as most games. This simplifies things considerably.

Payout Percentage Movement

Another factor to watch when betting on the MLB is payout percentage movement. Simply put, payout percentage movement measures how often the actual payout for a wager matches the advertised payout. The problem with this number is that it can move in either direction and it’s often difficult to ascertain whether or not it’s moving in your favor. However, if you’re frequently misinformed about the payout for a particular game, then you may want to consider cutting your losses and taking a walk. On the other hand, if you’re seeing the advertised payout percentage and it doesn’t seem to be moving in your favor, then you might want to consider placing in an order for some Jamba Juice or a lottery ticket.

Season Win Totals

The final thing you want to keep an eye on when betting on the MLB is season win totals. This is simply the aggregate amount of wins that will be achieved by each MLB team this season. The problem with season win totals is that they can also move in either direction and it can be difficult to ascertain the direction they’re moving in. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to monitor the progress of your favorite MLB team, then this is the metric to check. In general, you want to see your team win close to 50 games this season, preferably more. Anything less and you might want to consider cutting your losses and taking a walk. On the other hand, if you’re seeing winning streaks and dollar signs dancing in your head, then you might want to consider placing a wager. The main thing is that you keep an eye on these numbers and adjust your wagers accordingly because with the start of the new MLB season just days away, the betting world will be resetting itself as we know it.