The sportsbook is one of the busiest and most exciting areas in the casino. It is also one of the few areas where players can go home a winner. However, there are several steps that must be mastered in order to be consistently successful.
Bet size, bankroll management, bet types (margin vs. money line), basic knowledge of the sport you are betting on, and research for each game have been covered in my previous articles. Today, the focus will be on betting college basketball games (NCAA).
There are several factors to consider before risking your hard-earned money on a basketball game. These include whether to bet the margin or money line, where the game is played, determining which teams are playing well and which are not, and if there are key players who are unable to play due to injury.
Bet types
There are two types of bets to consider, the spread and the money line.
The money line bet is preferable when betting on the loser. A money line bet could read “UCLA + $ 160 / Oregon – $ 180”. This means that for every $ 100 bet at UCLA, you win $ 160! However, if you bet on the Oregon favorite team, a $ 180 bet is required to win $ 100.
Bet on the local team
Always bet on the underdog who is playing at home. Always. Home court advantage is very important in college basketball. However, if the money line is + $ 300 or more, do not bet, because such a large line usually means a mismatch that is too difficult for the home team to overcome.
Who is playing well?
Make sure the team you are putting your faith in is playing well at home. Check their scores at home for the season and if they haven’t won at least 60% of their games, it’s not worth your investment.
You will also want to check your opponent’s road record. If the opponent has won more than 35% of their away games, you don’t want to bet on this match.
Key injuries
If you have found a loser who is playing a home game, and your record and your opponent’s record are within the parameters above, and you are nothing more than a $ 300 + dog, the last piece of the puzzle is injuries. .
If your team has recently lost a key player due to injury, or if your opponent has a returning key player, it is a good reason to put your money back in your pocket.
By following this simple formula, along with proper bet size and fund management discussed in previous articles, you should be a winning player when betting on college basketball.
Good luck!