1. Can You Bet On Nba Games
2. How Do You Bet On Basketball Games

How to Bet on Basketball

Basketball betting is the 2nd most popular sport in the North American betting markets each year behind football, and when the NCAA tournament arrives – otherwise known as March Madness – basketball betting handles skyrocket for sportsbooks during that three-week period.

Profitable strategy of the total bet for basketball: how to make correct forecasts on basketball? How to win and earn money with forecasts on basketball? College basketball and NBA betting info and tips plus bet strategies with Vegas hoops bets, live lines and game picks.

Generally speaking, betting on basketball is classified as predominantly a spread betting sport with the point spread for a specific basketball game being the most dissected betting aspect of a particular contest. But as is the case with other spread-related sports, money lines, over-unders, and a whole host of other betting options ranging from individual game props to team futures are readily offered in the basketball markets as well.

Understanding Basketball Odds

As a point-spread based sport, understanding basketball odds is really no different. Oddsmakers put out a particular point spread line on a game and it's up to bettors to decide whether or not they want to lay the number with the favorite or take the points with the underdog.

For example, a NBA game featuring the New York Knicks at the Boston Celtics could have a point spread of Boston -6.5. That means that Boston would have to win the game by 7 or more points for bettors backing the Celtics to win, while any other result – New York winning the game outright or losing by 6 points or less – cashes a ticket for those who picked New York on the point spread.

Again, there are money line and over-under betting odds available in basketball betting as well, and they are relatively straight forward to deal with too. In that particular example, Boston would likely be something like -245 on the money line to win the game by any margin (bet $245 to win $100) where a total could be posted anywhere in the low 200's, say 217.5, and bettors are formulating an opinion on whether or not the combined score will be over or under that number.

Decimal Odds

For decimal odds, the process is extremely easy. Say you bet on the Lakers at decimal odds of 1.5. The inverse would be 1 divided by the decimal odds, in this case, 1/1.5 = 0.66 = 66%. That means the sportsbook is implying that the probability of the Lakers winning is 66%.

Fractional Odds

Using fractional odds, things aren’t much more complicated. Let’s say you’re betting on Gonzaga at fractional odds of 6/4. To get the implied probability, divide the denominator by the sum of both numerator and denominator. Like so: 4/(6+4) = 4/10 = 0.4 = 40% implied probability.

American Odds

With American odds, the process is a little more complex. Let’s say you’re betting on the Celtics at -200. Divide the odds by the sum of the odds and 100. Like so: 200/(200+100) = 200/300 = 0.66 = 66% implied probability.

For positive odds, the process is slightly different. Let’s say the Chicago Bulls are underdogs at +300. Divide 100 by the sum of the odds and 100. Like so: 100/(300+100) = 100/400 = 0.25 = 25% implied probability.

Using implied probabilities, you can figure out how to bet on basketball in a much more effective way. It’s all about finding events where the bookies’ implied probabilities are lower than the real-world probabilities.

Best Basketball Betting Sites

Updated on :

Futures Wager (Team to win)

Like with other sports, basketball futures betting can take off and be highly popular, as the plus-money prices offered on various categories of futures can be awfully enticing.

Typically the most discussed future wager is that of which team will win the championship that particular year and that works on both the NBA and NCAAB level. Odds for winning it all often get way too much airtime in general as this type of future wager is talked about far too much relative to it's success rate, but with the game of basketball being one where one or two very talented players can impact the result much more then say one or two very talented players in sports like football or hockey, the overall futures market in basketball betting can be lucrative.

Aside from trying to predict the outright champion, there are plenty other team-related futures wagers offered for basketball at both levels. NBA bettors can look at things like which team will win their respective division and/or conference, as well as an over-under number on total number of wins a team will get in a season. College basketball bettors will have similar options with season win total projections available, and regular season and conference tournament champions odds offered as well.

If you are looking for a minimal investment to maximize your interest in action, future wagers can satisfy that urge, as you essentially have action down on every game for the teams selected throughout the year. You've just got to be comfortable with having your investment tied up for multiple months.

How to Bet on the NBA Finals

NBA Finals betting is really no different then wagering on any other basketball playoff series as bettors can go with a game-by-game approach and/or have a series wager on the outcome. Every game of the NBA Finals will have a point spread, money line, and total posted as well, and sometimes, depending on what side a bettor may prefer (favorite or underdog), going the game-by-game route does make more sense. But other things have to be considered as well like whether or not said bettor already has a future wager or two in their pocket that's still live on one of the two teams remaining.

Once a Finals matchup is set, oddsmakers put out their NBA Finals odds for the series and Game 1. That's the NBA Finals line that will get quoted in betting previews by content producers like at VegasInsider.com leading up to the game, but series prices will continue to fluctuate between each contest depending on the result from the previous contest. That leaves potential for bettors to get their preferred team at an even better price should they fall in Game 1, or perhaps start the series on the road and lose one or two of the first two games. There are always plenty of mitigating factors to consider.

How to Bet on March Madness

March Madness is the highest volume of sports betting action over a short period of time every year – the Super Bowl is the biggest one-game event in terms of betting volume – as professional bettors, semi-pro's and even the most recreational of recreational bettors find a way to get action down during March Madness.

What's interesting about the dynamic of NCAA Tournament basketball odds is the quick turnaround for teams that continue to win, as well as the sheer volume of games on those first few days of the tournament. College basketball betting lines are poured over night and day leading up to the tournament, and if you aren't working on the next day's action while the current day's games are being played, you're generally falling behind as a handicapper.

Not only are college basketball lines readily available anywhere and everywhere sports bettors can plop down action during the tournament, but the college basketball point spreads that oddsmakers put out tend to be extremely sharp numbers that can be tough to beat. Oddsmakers have a full season of data to base their numbers off of, and with a full season of knowing the general perception of particular teams in the market as well, and the nature of upsets happening in the NCAA Tournament each year, success from a bettor's standpoint during March Madness can be tough.

Popular Basketball Wagers

Anyone that bets on basketball games at any level will say that any and all wagers are popular, but the “Big Two” tend to be point spreads and totals. Those are the numbers that are referenced most often when breaking down basketball games from a betting standpoint, although in post-season play, money line options become more prevalent as well as bettors may not want to get burned by a “hook” on the point spread, or a team winning by two points instead of covering their 3.5 number. At that stage the level of competition is fairly even respective of the particular matchup, so money lines do get more love in post-season play.

Point-Spread

The point spread is always going to be the first starting point for basketball bettors as even if it's not bet on, it's a number that can be used somewhat as a gauge for what bettors can expect to see. With home court and superstar talent being so influential in determining outcomes of basketball games at any level, spreads are a critical big piece in formulating the potential puzzle of a particular game and they are the number everyone looks to beat first.

Totals : Over-Under

Totals bettors tend to prefer totals over spreads for a variety of reasons, and given the volatility in how many points are scored in a given contest, it can be argued that the numbers oddsmakers put out here are generally more beatable from a betting perspective. However, you still need a lot to go right no matter what side you're on for a total in a particular game, and as bettors that prefer 'over' wagers, a single low-scoring quarter early on can all but kill your wager. That's the chance you have to be willing to take though as it is gambling after all.

Money Line

If you are just interested in picking the outright winner of a basketball game, the money line is for you, although the price can be pretty steep and not worthy of a bet in big mismatch type contests. Later on in the year, particularly in the later rounds of the NBA playoffs or NCAA tournament, money line bets can be the better option with point spreads in the single possession range (-1, -2, -3 etc), and going the money line route does allow the bettor a bit more margin of error relative to the few extra cents they'll have to lay.

Can You Bet On Nba Games

How do I Bet Basketball Parlays?

Betting basketball parlays is all up to the bettors per usual, as you can parlay point spreads with other ones, or with totals, or incorporate some money line plays as well. One of the better parlay strategies for basketball is to use a couple of money line favorites parlayed together to reduce their overall price, and it's a popular method that oddsmakers will see daily when they assess the action they've booked.

For example, bettors could make a money line parlay on the LA Lakers (-140 money line price) with the Houston Rockets (-175 money line price) to flip to those two minus (aka chalk prices) on each team into a +170 parlay ticket where now $100 pays out $170 profit. That's a much lower out of pocket risk then putting up $140 to win $100 on just the Lakers, or $175 to win $100 on just the Rockets to win, but as is the case with any parlay, both selections must win otherwise the ticket is still a loser.

What are Prop Bets

Prop bets are otherwise known as proposition bets and in basketball wagering they can cover a wide variety of categories. One of the most popular forms of prop betting in basketball is individual stat lines for specific players as things like over-unders on total points scored by a player, total assists, total rebounds, and even combinations of specific stats for guys exist as well. For bettors that have extensive history in the fantasy basketball realm, it may be these prop bets that become highly attractive, and potentially highly lucrative to you if you are successful in that field.

Teasers

Teasers in basketball betting are just the same as teasers in football betting where bettors can manipulate the point-spread to gain/lose a handful or so of points to make their bet more attractive. Basketball teasers typically only come in the four and six-point range, and what that means is a four-point teaser wager on the favorite would have you taking away four points from their point spread (a spread of LA Lakers -6 would then become LA Lakers -2) and adding four points to the underdog's line (the Lakers opponent would then by +10 from the original +6 line).

Teasers function like parlays though in the fact that you've got to tease at least two outcomes and both selections have to win in order for the ticket to cash. Totals can also be teased up or down too depending on what the bettor prefers.

Live Betting and In-Game Wagering

With the nature of basketball being a sport where points are scored at a much higher rate then any other sport, in-game wagering has plenty of growth potential, and plenty of fans in the betting world already. Scoring runs are the name of the game in a basketball contest, and depending on the team you like for a contest, a scoring run for or against them presents some interesting live betting opportunities.

If the team you're looking to back gives up a scoring run, all of a sudden the point spread you are offered in live betting becomes much more favorable, especially if it's still relatively early in the contest and your team has plenty of time to come back. A team like the Dallas Mavericks could have entered the game as -3 favorites, but find themselves trailing by 6 or 7 points after the first quarter. In that scenario, in-game wagering will likely have the Mavericks as underdogs for the game (+1, +2 +3 etc) and you can also get them at an underdog money line price as well. They'll still have three quarters to make up for the slow start and instead of laying a -140 pregame ML price or the -3 points pregame, you've now got much better prices, albeit losing the game at the time.

Another scenario involves the team you've already backed going on a run to establish a big lead which then presents what's known as a potential 'middle' opportunity. That same Dallas Mavericks team could be up by 10 after the 1st quarter, and with a Dallas -3 ticket already in pocket, you could come back and take the other team at +8 or +9 for the game. Then you'd hope that Dallas ultimately wins the game by 4-7 points and you'd win both wagers.

If there is ever one particular sport made for live and in-game wagering, basketball might be it. The nature of the game with all the scoring swings enables bettors to be quite profitable no matter what side they land on for a particular game, and when the competition is relatively even later on in the year – say, during March Madness, or the NBA playoffs – countless profitable situations can arise for astute in-game wagers.

It's a discipline that's seen a huge amount of action during the Sweet 16 and Final Four games the past few years, as it also allows bettors the potential to get themselves “out of” a bad pregame wager as well. You do have to understand what you are doing though and still practice bankroll discipline, because there are plenty of times where live betting can be extremely dangerous as well if you end up on the losing side after firing multiple times on that team throughout the game. You then turn what would have been a one unit loss (your pregame wager) into one where three or four units are lost and that's where the dilemma is.

How Do You Bet On Basketball Games

1st Half and Second-Half Bets

Just like the usual full game point spread and over-under numbers that are offered by sportsbooks, basketball bettors have the option to beak the game down by halves and even quarters as well. First half and second half wagers add another dynamic to how a bettor envisions a game playing out, as maybe the underdog is one that is likely to get off to a hot start against a potentially sluggish and tired team for example. That's where you'd want to take the points/money line with the underdog in the first half, as maybe the talent disparity that that team is on the wrong side of is able to play well for 20-24 minutes but not the full game.

At the same time, second half bets allow you to get a feel for what's happened already and formulate a conception of how the final half will end up going. Maybe that powerhouse favorite that was sluggish in the first half is one you ultimately believe will win the game, and trailing at half gives you a much better price to back said squad to ultimately come back and win the game. Again, there are so many different scenarios to consider with wagers like these, but 1st and 2nd half wagers should be a tool every basketball handicapper is willing to use when they deem fit.

Best Strategies for Betting on Basketball

Tunnel Betting

Tunnel betting means capitalizing on differences in betting lines offered at the same odds by different bookies. For example, let’s say Bookie #1 has the total for a game at 200, and Bookie #2 has it at 205.

If you take the over 200 and the under 205, if the game ends at anywhere between the two, you’ll win both bets. Best of all, if you miss that range, you’re guaranteed to win one of your bets. It’s a relatively low-risk way of how to bet on basketball.

Middling

Middling is a more advanced approach to how to bet on basketball. It’s based on the fact that sportsbooks will adjust betting lines during a game in reaction to player action.

Let’s say you bet on Miami Heat as favorites against the Chicago Bulls, with a spread of -2.5. At halftime, following intense betting on the Bulls, bookies shift the line so the Bulls are the favorites, at -4.5. This creates a happy middle.

If you take both sides of the action, you could stand to make a substantial profit with the right result. If the Heat win by a 3 point lead, both teams will beat the spread. In most other possible outcomes, at least one of your bets will pay off, too. It’s a rather low-risk strategy. Middling is not just a popular way of how to bet on basketball. Many people use it to figure out how to bet on football as well.

The NBA and college basketball seasons are well under way. Both deserve your attention as both offer daily opportunities to make a profit.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: when it comes to betting on basketball, take the pundits’ picks with a grain of salt. Don’t rely on their “insider” knowledge. The folks who have the statistical data and predictive models necessary to accurately forecast game outcomes aren’t sharing them with the public. They keep their picks close to their chests to maximize their returns.

Having said that, you can improve your odds of winning your basketball wagers by using a number of time-proven tactics. I’ll showcase the top 10 below. These are the tips that’ll have the greatest impact on your NBA betting success.

1. Check (And Double Check) The Starting Lineup

As you know, a team’s starting lineup is instrumental to the team’s scoring potential. The coach understandably wants his best players in the game from the outset.

Check odds here:

But there’s one thing that can throw a wrench into the works: late injuries.

A starter who suffers an injury serious enough to keep him on the bench might have a huge impact on his team’s performance. For example, suppose Kyrie Irving sustains a torn ACL at the last minute. With him warming the bench, the Cavs might have trouble if they’re playing an aggressive team, such as the Warriors or Lakers.

The takeaway: always check a team’s starting lineup before placing your bet. Make sure all starters are accounted for, and absent from the injury list. A corollary to this tip is to avoid placing your bet too early.

2. Don’t Overestimate The Home Court Advantage

Most teams do better on their home turf than on the road. They’re playing in front of their fans, who are rooting for them to win. The refs are sometimes biased. And they’re often more rested than visiting teams. The players are sleeping in their own beds and probably enjoying their favorite meals at home.

That’s a far cry from the experience of staying in a hotel.

Of course, the home court advantage doesn’t guarantee the home team will win. In fact, this article on ESPN argues that the advantage has become less and less pronounced over the last 40 years.

The takeaway: home court advantage is still important when it comes to betting on basketball. But don’t overestimate its value.

3. Forget Your Favorite Team

If you’re a fan of the sport, you undoubtedly have a favorite team. And if you’re like most NBA fans, it’s probably the team in your city or county.

The problem is, having a favorite can bias your betting decisions. You want your team to win. You’ve followed them for years and are emotionally invested in them. Understandably, when the time comes to place your bet, you’re inclined to bet with your heart.

That’s fine if you’re just betting for fun. It’s like betting on your child to win his karate match, even though you’re certain his opponent is more skilled. Again, you’re emotionally invested.

But that’s a losing proposition in sports betting. Emotions are almost guaranteed to lead to poor long-term results.

The takeaway: if you want to make a profit, set aside your favorites and bet with your head. Cold, calculated logic, preferably supported with solid data, trumps emotion every time.

4. Keep Your Eye On The Important Stats

You can really go into the weeds with statistics when it comes to basketball. It’s not quite as bad as baseball, but you can still literally waste hours chasing data that fail to move the needle in any significant way.

That doesn’t mean you should ignore stats altogether. Rather, identify the important stuff and disregard the rest.

What basketball stats should you focus on? Here are several that can have a big influence on the outcomes of games:

• turnovers
• offensive rebounds
• free-throw percentage
• tempo (or pace)
• true shooting percentage
• offensive/defensive rating
• home/away stats
• how many starters are named Lebron James

The takeaway: be wary of pursuing stats that don’t matter. Zero in on the ones that do, starting with those listed above.

5. Watch For Big Line Moves

This is something that most novice basketball betters miss. Oddsmakers adjust the lines on games as action pours into one side or the other. Their goal is to balance the action. When a lot of action flows in, that balancing act occasionally requires big, sudden line movements.

Such movements reveal opportunity.

For example, let’s say the Cavs are scheduled to play the Warriors. You notice that the line has shifted abruptly in favor of the latter. A smart play at that point would be to follow the line.

What’s happening behind the scenes? What’s causing the line to move?

Often, it’s smart, well-heeled sports bettors identifying and acting upon mistakes they perceive the oddsmakers to have made. Sometimes, the movements stem from major changes in personnel – for example, Lebron James yanking a hamstring during game-night practice.

The takeaway: when lines move, there’s good reason. Follow the smart action.

6. Look For Signs Of Court Fatigue

Eighty-two games per season makes for an exhausting grind. The fact that starters manage to move themselves up and down the court late in the season is impressive. When they manage to post big numbers night after night, it’s downright remarkable.

But they’re human and subject to the same physical laws as you and I. They get tired, particularly after playing several nights in a row. They suffer fatigue.

The effect is even more pronounced on the road. Not only does the court time take its toll, but sleeping in hotels, eating out, and being away from the comforts of home does, too. Burnout is common after a long series.

The takeaway: think twice before betting on a team suffering from court fatigue. There’s a good chance the players’ minds and bodies are operating at a suboptimal level.

7. Bet Against The Spread On Losing Streaks

No sportsbook in its right mind would offer straight win/loss bets on basketball. That’d be a surefire recipe to lose money.

For example, imagine if the Warriors were scheduled to play the 76ers. If Bovada were to allow folks to bet on which team was likely to win, all of the action would flow to the Warriors. And if, as most people would predict, the Warriors were to beat the 76ers, Bovada would take a major drubbing.

Spreads exist, in part, to prevent that from happening.

When you bet against the spread (ATS), you’re not as interested in which team will win. Rather, you’re interested in how the teams perform with regard to the spread.

When it comes to betting ATS in basketball, a lot of bettors focus on teams’ winning streaks. They figure a hot team is likely to maintain its momentum and cover the spread. But data show that’s actually untrue, especially for streaks that extend beyond three games.

As the streak lengthens, more action pours into the side favoring the team enjoying the streak. Oddsmakers respond by adjusting the lines and point spreads. That makes it more difficult to bet against the spread on the favored team.

The takeaway: if you’re going to bet against the spread, look for increased value among teams suffering losing streaks. These teams are avoided by most bettors, which means oddsmakers may give you an extra point or two in an attempt to balance the action.

8. Ignore The Betting Trends

While matchups, both in terms of teams and positions, are important to take into account, trends are all but irrelevant in basketball. Sure, you want to be familiar with a team’s track record. You want to be aware of its performance throughout the season.

But trends in basketball betting refer to something completely different. Trends point to whether a team has managed to cover its spread in the last three games. They point to the volume and percentage of action favoring one team over another, according to the money line, the point spread, and the over/under.

These numbers can be informative, but they’re far from predictive. They won’t help you to accurately forecast a game’s outcome. They merely give you general insight into what other bettors (many of them misinformed or uninformed) are doing with their bets.

The takeaway: it’s fine to look at betting trends, if only to satisfy your curiosity. But don’t rely on them as useful data. It’s like examining a city’s annual population migration data to predict whether a certain family will move to another city this week. The trends don’t provide any insight to that end.

9. Keep Your Eyes Peeled For “Value” Bets

Oddsmakers are adept at setting lines. They use mountains of data and vetted predictive models to accurately forecast outcomes.

But they’re not perfect. They make mistakes.

Learn to identify these mistakes, and you can uncover significant value that’ll increase your odds of winning.

Fair warning: it’s not easy. It requires deep analysis and relatively good math skills. But if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and put in the work, you can find value bets that pay off.

The takeaway: making smart basketball bets involves keeping your eyes open for hidden, unexploited value. Sometimes, you can find such value by noting big line movements. Most times, however, you’ll need to put in more effort.

10. If You Bet The Over/Under, Do Your Research

Betting the over/under in basketball is one of the simplest bets you can make. You don’t need to worry about money lines or point spreads. You don’t even care which team wins the game. The only thing you care about is the total number of points scored by the two teams.

The simplistic nature of basketball over/under bets poses a downside: it tempts a lot of bettors to place them without doing even a modicum of research.

Before you bet an over/under, take the following into account:

• whether each team plays offensively or defensively
• each team’s offensive efficiency
• each team’s defensive efficiency
• which sportsbook offers the best over/under odds
• each team’s pace or tempo
• each team’s level of fatigue
• injuries sustained by starters

The takeaway – Don’t place an over/under bet without doing basic research. Handicap the totals using the factors above.

Conclusion

Basketball betting, both NBA and college games, attract a lot of action at places like Bovada, MyBookie, and BetOnline. But much of the action is uninformed or misinformed.

You can do better. Use the 10 tips highlighted above to give yourself an advantage at these and other top online sportsbooks.