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Sports Betting
On this page
Introduction
I have a ton of stuff on this website about sports betting. Way to much to fit on one page. If you're already familiar with the basics of how to make a sports bet, I invite you to go to skip this page and jump to one of my pages on a specific sport, as follows:
If you're new to sports betting, this page will endeavor to teach you the major types of bets. We'll use the photo above as a reference for some of them. In particular, we'll focus on the Rams/Vikings game, which looks like this:
Oct. 11, 2009 — Vikings Vs. Rams
| 401 | Vikings | -10 | -600 |
| 402 | Rams | 41 | +400 |
In all sports betting, the odds are on a "to one" basis. In other words, you always get your bet back, plus winnings, if you win. So, for example, if you must bet $11 to win $10, then you would present $11 at the window and the writer will give you a ticket worth $21 if it wins.
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Money Line
Money Line bets are simply on whom will win. No point spreads or any other nonsense.
Most of the time, one team will be favored over the other. So, if you bet the underdog, then you're rewarded with more than even money if they win. If you want to bet the favorite, then you will have to risk more than what you stand to win.
Consider game numbers 401 and 402 in the example above. The +400 for the Rams means that a bet on the Rams would pay 4 to 1. The -600 on the Vikings means that if you bet them, then you have to lay 6 to 1.
Examples:
- A $100 on the Rams would win $400.
- A $600 bet on the Vikings would win $100.
Point Spread
The most common way to bet football and basketball is with a point spread. Most sports bettors like a wager that has about a 50% chance to win. Less than that and you'll probably lose. More than that and you won't win much if you do win.
Compare Online NBA Odds
Basketball : Basketball Euroleague
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Wed Jan 22nd 2pm
KK Partizan NIS Paris Basketball |
KK Partizan NIS has a strong track record at home. Paris Basketball may struggle defensively. Consider Partizan as favorites, especially with their recent performance. Expect a high-energy match. | |||
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Thu Jan 23rd 12pm
Anadolu Efes Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano |
Anadolu Efes' strong home performance could challenge Olimpia Milano. Key players and recent form both play a pivotal role. Consider each team's defense and scoring capabilities. | |||
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Thu Jan 23rd 2pm
Maccabi Tel Aviv KK Crvena zvezda |
Maccabi Tel Aviv has strong home court advantage. Crvena zvezda shows consistency. Watch out for key players’ performance and bench strength. Expect a close match with potential scoring bursts. | |||
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Thu Jan 23rd 2pm
Panathinaikos Žalgiris |
Panathinaikos boasts a strong home record, while Žalgiris struggles on the road. Consider Panathinaikos to cover the spread. Key players' injuries may influence the outcome. | |||
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Thu Jan 23rd 2pm
Virtus Segafredo Bologna AS Monaco |
Virtus Bologna's strong home record challenges Monaco's solid defense. Expect a close game with potential for high scores. Monitor key player performances for potential betting edges. | |||
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Thu Jan 23rd 2pm
Real Madrid Saski Baskonia |
Real Madrid is favored with recent victories, strong home court, and key player performance. Baskonia's challenge lies in away stats and defense. Watch out for dynamic guard plays. | |||
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Fri Jan 24th 2pm
ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne FC Barcelona Bàsquet |
FC Barcelona Bàsquet is favored due to superior form and recent wins. ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne is strong at home, making it potentially a close contest. | |||
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Fri Jan 24th 2pm
ALBA Berlin FC Bayern München |
ALBA Berlin vs. FC Bayern München promises a tight contest. Consider betting on total points scored, with defensive strategies crucial. Watch key players’ performances and recent form for better insights. | |||
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Fri Jan 24th 2pm
Olympiacos Fenerbahce SK |
Olympiacos has a strong home record. Fenerbahce excels in rebounds. Consider betting on a close game, with possible advantages for home team Olympiacos. |
Basketball : NBA
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mon Jan 20th 12pm
Charlotte Hornets Dallas Mavericks |
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Charlotte Hornets have a strong home record, but Dallas Mavericks' star Luka Doncic poses a significant threat. Expect a high-scoring game with potential for an upset. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Houston Rockets Detroit Pistons |
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⇗5.00 |
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Houston Rockets face Detroit Pistons in NBA showdown. Rockets' speed vs Pistons' defense. Key players can make decisive impacts. Watch for turnovers and three-point efficiency. |
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Mon Jan 20th 3pm
Memphis Grizzlies Minnesota Timberwolves |
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Monitor injury reports for star players. Timberwolves' defense could be the key, but Grizzlies have strong scoring potential. Consider both teams' recent performances for informed betting decisions. |
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Mon Jan 20th 3pm
New York Knicks Atlanta Hawks |
⇘15.00 |
⇗5.00 |
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Knicks and Hawks have strong offenses. Hawks struggle on defense. Consider Knicks' pace and Barrett's scoring abilities for betting strategies. Watch for potential injury updates. |
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Mon Jan 20th 4pm
Cleveland Cavaliers Phoenix Suns |
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⇘5.00 |
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Both teams display strong defenses. Watch out for Cavaliers' young stars and Suns' veteran leadership. Close game expected, with potential for a low-scoring affair given defensive prowess. |
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Mon Jan 20th 5pm
Golden State Warriors Boston Celtics |
⇗15.00 |
⇗5.00 |
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Golden State Warriors' strong home record contrasts Boston Celtics' solid away form; watch Curry's sharpshooting and Tatum's playmaking. Key matchup in their rivalry. Consider home-court advantage. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mon Jan 20th 8pm
New Orleans Pelicans Utah Jazz |
⇗150.00 |
⇗5.00 |
-105 (229.5)
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Watch for player injuries and recent team performance. The Pelicans' strong defense meets Jazz's skilled offense. Home court advantage could be crucial. Consider betting the under if defenses dominate. |
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Mon Jan 20th 10pm
Los Angeles Clippers Chicago Bulls |
⇗5.00 |
⇗5.00 |
-110 (227)
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Watch Clippers' strong defense against Bulls' offense. Consider individual player matchups and injuries. Analyze recent form and home-court advantage. Betting odds favoring Clippers. |
Basketball : NBA Championship Winner
| Sat May 31st 6pm | Competitor/Team | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics |
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| Oklahoma City Thunder |
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| Cleveland Cavaliers |
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| New York Knicks |
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| Denver Nuggets |
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| Dallas Mavericks |
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| Milwaukee Bucks |
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| Memphis Grizzlies |
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| Minnesota Timberwolves |
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| Los Angeles Lakers |
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| Golden State Warriors |
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| Los Angeles Clippers |
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| Phoenix Suns |
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| Orlando Magic |
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| Houston Rockets |
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| Philadelphia 76ers |
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| Indiana Pacers |
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| Sacramento Kings |
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| Miami Heat |
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| Atlanta Hawks |
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| San Antonio Spurs |
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| Detroit Pistons |
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| New Orleans Pelicans |
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| Chicago Bulls |
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| Brooklyn Nets |
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| Charlotte Hornets |
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| Portland Trail Blazers |
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| Utah Jazz |
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| Toronto Raptors |
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| Washington Wizards |
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Basketball : NCAAB
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mon Jan 20th 1pm
Wagner Seahawks St. Francis (PA) Red Flash |
⇘2.00 |
-105 (-3.5)
⇗5.00 |
⇗5.00 |
Consider player form, team stats, and recent matches before betting on Wagner Seahawks vs. St. Francis (PA) Red Flash. Study offensive and defensive strengths. Injury status could impact performance. |
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Mon Jan 20th 1pm
UNC Wilmington Seahawks William & Mary Tribe |
⇗28.00 |
-105 (-9.5)
⇗5.00 |
⇗5.00 |
Consider Seahawks' strong defense and Tribe's home-court advantage. Watch key player performances and injury updates before placing bets. Expect a close game with dynamic shifts in momentum. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Princeton Tigers Columbia Lions |
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⇘3.00 |
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Evaluate team form, player injuries, and head-to-head statistics. Princeton Tigers may have an edge. Keep an eye on live odds and potential last-minute changes affecting the outcome. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Texas A&M-Commerce Lions SE Louisiana Lions |
210
⇗5.00 |
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⇗5.00 |
Consider SE Louisiana's strong home court advantage. Texas A&M-Commerce might struggle against seasoned players. Focus on defensive matchups; higher scoring likelihood favors SE Louisiana. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Northwestern St Demons New Orleans Privateers |
⇘20.00 |
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Consider Northwestern St's offensive edge and recent performance when betting against New Orleans. Monitor player injuries and home-court advantage. New Orleans may struggle defensively against a strong attack. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Nicholls St Colonels Lamar Cardinals |
⇘5.00 |
⇘5.00 |
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Lamar Cardinals exhibit strong defense, while Nicholls St Colonels leverage fast breaks. Cardinals favored, but Colonels’ agility can shift momentum. Key players’ health crucial for betting decisions. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
LIU Sharks Mercyhurst Lakers |
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Analyze team stats, player performance, and injury reports. Consider home-court advantage and recent game outcomes. Check betting odds to assess value. Review head-to-head history for informed betting. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Prairie View Panthers Alcorn St Braves |
⇘5.00 |
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⇗5.00 |
Analyze team statistics, recent performance, and head-to-head history for betting insights. Consider the Prairie View Panthers' defense against the Alcorn State Braves' offense in your strategy. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Cornell Big Red Brown Bears |
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⇗5.00 |
Consider the strong home-court performances of Cornell. Brown's defense struggles on the road. Key players' matchups will significantly influence the game outcome. Check historical stats for informed betting. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Harvard Crimson Pennsylvania Quakers |
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⇗15.00 |
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Harvard's strong defense and Quakers' inconsistent form make a tight contest likely. Expect competitive play with potential for a low-scoring outcome. Key players will be crucial. |
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Mon Jan 20th 2pm
Yale Bulldogs Dartmouth Big Green |
-1700
⇗300.00 |
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-105 (152.5)
⇗10.00 |
Yale Bulldogs have a stronger lineup and recent better form. Dartmouth Big Green's defense struggles. Consider backing Yale for a win, but watch out for unexpected upsets. |
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Mon Jan 20th 3pm
Drexel Dragons Hofstra Pride |
⇘2.00 |
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The Drexel Dragons face off against the Hofstra Pride. Analyze team form, injuries, and historical matchup stats for informed betting. Consider home-court advantage and recent performances. |
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Mon Jan 20th 4pm
Texas Southern Tigers Jackson St Tigers |
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⇗5.00 |
The match between Texas Southern Tigers and Jackson State Tigers is closely contested. Key players and recent performances could tip the scales. Watch for betting trends and home advantage. |
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Mon Jan 20th 4pm
McNeese Cowboys Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks |
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⇘205.00 |
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Stephen F. Austin favored over McNeese Cowboys due to better recent form and strong defensive statistics. Watch key players' performance for potential surprises. |
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Mon Jan 20th 5pm
New Mexico Lobos Fresno St Bulldogs |
-4500
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New Mexico's offensive strength vs Fresno State's defense is key. Lobos strong at home; Bulldogs inconsistent. Watch for turnovers. Odds favor Lobos but expect a close match. |
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Mon Jan 20th 5pm
Incarnate Word Cardinals UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros |
-155
⇗15.00 |
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Consider recent performances, player injuries, and head-to-head record. Home advantage might impact the outcome. Assess offensive and defensive stats for both teams to make informed betting decisions. |
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Mon Jan 20th 6pm
Villanova Wildcats Georgetown Hoyas |
⇗20.00 |
⇗5.00 |
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Villanova Wildcats have a strong record at home. Georgetown Hoyas struggle on the road. Key players to watch include Justin Moore and Dante Harris for potential impact. |
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Mon Jan 20th 6pm
Penn State Nittany Lions Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
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Analyze team statistics, player performance, and head-to-head record. Consider injuries and line movements. Betting favorites include betting line trends, while underdogs might offer value with potential upsets. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mon Jan 20th 7pm
Chicago St Cougars Fairleigh Dickinson Knights |
140
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Chi St Cougars and FDU Knights show competitive matchup. Cougars seek home win; Knights rely on strong offense. Defensive strategies crucial. Watch player performances closely. Consider team form. |
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Mon Jan 20th 7pm
Florida A&M Rattlers Miss Valley St Delta Devils |
⇗200.00 |
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Florida A&M Rattlers favored against Miss Valley St Delta Devils. Strong defensive records stand out; closer scoreline expected. Betting on a narrow victory for the Rattlers could be fruitful. |
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Mon Jan 20th 7pm
Colgate Raiders Bucknell Bison |
⇘10.00 |
⇘205.00 |
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Colgate Raiders favor, fast pace play. Bucknell Bison needs strong defense. Betting on Colgate is wise. Monitor player statistics. Consider home advantage. Close game possible. |
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Mon Jan 20th 7pm
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions |
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Assess last performances: Wildcats' defense lacks consistency. Golden Lions strong at home. Key players' fitness crucial. Monitor odds movement. Consider underdogs for value. Research team news thoroughly. |
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Mon Jan 20th 7pm
Le Moyne Dolphins Stonehill Skyhawks |
110
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Le Moyne Dolphins vs. Stonehill Skyhawks: Analyze team stats, key player performance, recent form, and historical matchups for betting insights. Consider home advantage and injury reports for informed decisions. |
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Mon Jan 20th 8pm
Houston Christian Huskies Texas A&M-CC Islanders |
205
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Texas A&M-CC Islanders favored; strong defense. Houston Christian Huskies need to improve offense to compete. Key: Islanders' rebounding ability against Huskies' shooting accuracy. |
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Mon Jan 20th 9pm
Montana Grizzlies Idaho Vandals |
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Watch for Montana's strong defense against Idaho's offense. Key players on both teams might impact the score. Pay attention to recent performance trends in the season for better insights. |
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Mon Jan 20th 9pm
North Carolina A&T Aggies Hampton Pirates |
130
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The Aggies display strong defense, while the Pirates excel in shooting. Expect a tight contest with potential for a high-scoring game. Monitor injury updates and recent team performance. |
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Mon Jan 20th 9pm
Montana St Bobcats Eastern Washington Eagles |
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Montana State's defense poses a challenge. Eastern Washington boasts a strong offense. Look for Montana State's pace to influence game flow. Key players are crucial in tight matchups. |
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Tue Jan 21st 7pm
Alabama Crimson Tide Vanderbilt Commodores |
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Alabama has a strong home advantage. Vanderbilt struggles on the road. Consider Alabama to cover the spread, focus on their defensive prowess. Over/under could be unpredictable. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 7pm
Tennessee Volunteers Mississippi St Bulldogs |
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Tennessee Volunteers have strong defense; Mississippi State struggles offensively. Volunteers likely to cover the spread. Watch player injuries and recent form. Focus on under for total points. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 7pm
Cincinnati Bearcats Texas Tech Red Raiders |
Cincinnati Bearcats show strong defensive play but struggle with turnovers. Texas Tech Red Raiders have a potent offense, making for an exciting matchup. Analyze team form and player performance. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 7pm
UConn Huskies Butler Bulldogs |
UConn Huskies have a strong defense. Butler Bulldogs rely on outside shooting. Consider UConn's recent performance for betting insights. Check injuries and lineup changes before wagering. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 7pm
Purdue Boilermakers Ohio State Buckeyes |
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Purdue's defense and consistent shooting give them an edge over Ohio State. Ohio relies on fast breaks. Purdue favored slightly in tight matchup. Watch for player performances. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 8pm
Seton Hall Pirates Marquette Golden Eagles |
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Seton Hall's strong defense against Marquette's offensive power makes this an interesting match. Marquette's home advantage could be decisive in a closely contested game. Monitor injury updates for betting edge. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 8pm
Iowa State Cyclones UCF Knights |
Iowa State's defense is strong, while UCF excels in fast breaks. Key players may determine the game. Consider factors like injuries and home-court advantage when betting. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 8pm
Houston Cougars Utah Utes |
Houston Cougars have a strong defense; Utah Utes excel in offense. Consider betting on total points. Injuries on both sides could affect the outcome. Monitor player status closely. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
Texas Longhorns Missouri Tigers |
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The Texas Longhorns have a solid defense, whereas the Missouri Tigers boast strong offense. Bet cautiously, as both teams have potential to dominate. Analyze recent performance and injuries. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
Iowa Hawkeyes Minnesota Golden Gophers |
Iowa Hawkeyes have a strong offense, while Minnesota Golden Gophers rely on solid defense. Expect a close match. Key player matchups and turnovers will be crucial. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
DePaul Blue Demons Creighton Bluejays |
Creighton Bluejays favored against DePaul Blue Demons; stronger roster and home advantage. Monitor injury updates and recent performances for betting insights. Consider point spread and total points as betting options. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
Oklahoma St Cowboys Arizona Wildcats |
Expect a high-scoring game. Oklahoma State's defense is strong but Arizona's offense is dynamic. Pay attention to star players. Consider over on total points and Arizona covering spread. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
West Virginia Mountaineers Arizona St Sun Devils |
West Virginia's defense is strong, but Arizona State has a quick offense. Key players' performance will determine the outcome. Expect a close, high-stakes match. | |||
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Tue Jan 21st 9pm
UCLA Bruins Wisconsin Badgers |
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UCLA Bruins have a strong offense, while Wisconsin Badgers excel in defense. Key players will be decisive. Consider point spread and home-court advantage when placing bets. | |
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Tue Jan 21st 11pm
Oregon Ducks Washington Huskies |
Oregon Ducks have a strong offense, while Washington Huskies excel in defense. Recent form and home advantage could play a crucial role. Injuries might impact the outcome. |
To achieve about a 50/50 chance of winning a bet on a lopsided game, like the Rams vs. Vikings above, the sports books have come up with the "point spread."
Before I go on, let me clarify some terminology. Despite it being probably the most popular way to bet, there is no particular term for a bet against the spread. Many people call this a "straight bet." However, this term can also be used, and is printed on tickets for, money line bets, total bets, and any other bet involving just one game. For purposes of this page, I call such bets a "point spread" bet, and invite the rest of the world to adopt this terminology.
A point spread is simply a handicap you give the weaker team, or deduct from the stronger one, depending on how you look at it. For example, if my average scoring in bowling is 120 and I play somebody with an average of 140, then to make a wager fair, I might be given a free 20 points. In this case you would say my point spread is +20.
In the example above you can see a -10 next to the Vikings. That means that the Vikings are favored to win by 10 points. So, if you bet the Vikings you give up ten points and if you bet the Rams you get 10 points.
Usually with point spread bets you risk $11 for every $10 you stand to win.
Examples:
- A $110 bet on the Rams would win $100 if they win the game or lose by less than 10.
- A $110 bet on the Vikings would win $100 if the Vikings win by more than 10.
Both bets will push if the Vikings win by exactly 10.
Total
Total Bets are similar to point spread bets, except the bettor bets on the total points scored. In the example above the bettor bets whether the total points combined between the Vikings and Rams will be over or under 41. Like point spread bets the bettor must generally risk $11 to win $10, for a house edge of 4.54%.
Examples:
- A $55 bet on the under would win $50 if the total points in the game were 40 or less.
- A $55 bet on the over would win $50 if the total points in the game were 42 or less.
- Any bet on the over or under would push if the total points in the game were exactly 41.
Parlays
Parlay bets are a good and popular way to potentially win big with a small wager. The way they work is the bettor picks two or more events, which all must win or push to win the bet. One or more loss will cause the whole parlay bet to lose. In the event of a push, that "leg" of the parlay bet will be ignored and the win will be reduced to whatever it would pay if that selection were never made.
The way the win on parlay bets is calculated is as follows:
- If the player made two or more picks that are at -110 odds, then a parlay table will be used to determine to determine the win for just those events. These tables offer stingy odds, except for the two-leg parlay.
- After that, a mathematical calculation will be used for the other legs, as if the player made each bet independently.
As an example, consider the following parlay bet I made at the Golden Nugget, for the purposes of example only.
Note the parlay above contains four legs at -110 odds and one at +210. The Golden Nugget pays 11 to 1 for a four-leg parlay. The total return of a parlay, including the return of the original bet, is the product of what every bet would be on a for one basis. In this case, $10 × 12 × 3.1 = $372.20.
My advice on parlays is to never include more than two legs at -110 odds.
For more information on parlays, please see my section on parlay bets the NFL. You can also find a survey of Las Vegas parlay tables at Wizard of Vegas.
Compare Online NFL Odds
American Football : NFL
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sun Jan 26th 3pm
Philadelphia Eagles Washington Commanders |
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⇘205.00 |
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Philadelphia Eagles likely favored over Washington Commanders due to better recent performance. Consider Eagle's strong offense. Monitor injuries, player form, and weather for informed betting. |
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Sun Jan 26th 6pm
Kansas City Chiefs Buffalo Bills |
⇗4.00 |
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Expect a high-scoring game. Chiefs' dynamic offense faces Bills' solid defense. Watch for Mahomes vs. Allen battle. Important turnovers will determine the winner. Spotlight on both teams' star players. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sun Feb 9th 6pm
Philadelphia Eagles Buffalo Bills |
Eagles' strong defense challenges Bills' dynamic offense. Both teams show playoff potential. Eagles excel in rush, Bills have aerial strength. Key player matchups could decide the game's outcome. | |||
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Sun Feb 9th 6pm
Washington Commanders Buffalo Bills |
Bills favored with strong offense. Commanders' defense needs to counter. Weather and injuries could impact game. Turnovers might be decisive. Betting on the over/under could be smart. | |||
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Sun Feb 9th 6pm
Philadelphia Eagles Kansas City Chiefs |
Eagles boast strong defense, but Chiefs' explosive offense is hard to counter. Watch key matchups: Mahomes vs. secondary, Hurts vs. Chiefs’ pass rush. Turnovers could decide the game. | |||
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Sun Feb 9th 6pm
Washington Commanders Kansas City Chiefs |
The Chiefs are favorites, boasting a strong offense. The Commanders need a solid defense to stand a chance. Key players will be vital in this matchup. |
Teasers
Teasers are similar to parlays except the point spread on each game moves a certain number of points in the player's favor. In football the player gets 6 to 7 points, and in basketball, 4 to 5 points. The player pays for this in the form of much lower winnings. For example, if the Vikings were part of a 6-point teaser, then they would only need to win by more than 4 points to cover. If the Rams were part of a teaser, they could win, or lose by less than 16, and cover.
More information:
- Teaser bets in the NFL.
- Vegas sports book comparison for the teaser odds at all the Vegas sports book groups.
Buying Half a Point
In football and basketball, the straight bet player has the option to move the point spread 1/2 point to his advantage. The cost of this half point is laying 120, as opposed to 110. Not all sports books allow this, and if they do, they usually don't let you buy off of the common three-point margin of victory in football.
Futures
Futures are a bet on who will win the championship when there are still more than two possible teams to bet on. The house edge on futures varies substantially from one sports book to another. However, in general, they are a sucker bet.
More information:
- For information on who does offer the best futures in Las Vegas visit my sports betting appendix 5.
- You can also use my sports futures calculator to calculate the overall house edge of a set of futures bets.
Propositions
Often big games will have "proposition" bets on things not directly related to the final score of the game. These are usually abbreviated to "prop" bets. For example, in football whether or not the first score will be a touchdown. In baseball whether a run will be scored in the first inning. In hockey/soccer, whether anybody will score a hat trick. The odds on these are expressed like point spread bets. For example, as I write this the Golden Nugget has the following proposition bet on Super Bowl 49:
Will there be a safety in the game?
Yes: +500
No: -700
This means a bet on the "yes" pays 5 to 1, and on the "no" pays 1 to 7.
More information:
Basic Strategy
I could talk all day about betting sports but I know some of my readers just want it simplified to nice sound bites. For them, here is my basic strategy for sports betting:
- Money lines: Bet underdogs.
- Point spread bets: Bet underdogs.
- Totals: Bet unders.
- Parlays: Bet off the board as opposed to the cards. Either do a three-team parlay or mix in one event that doesn't pay -110 odds.
- Teasers: Unless you know to cross the key numbers (namely 3 and 7 in football), avoid teasers completely.
- Futures: Avoid them, as they carry a high house edge of about 30%. If you must bet them, for entertainment reasons, do so in strict moderation.
- Propositions: Bet unders and things not to happen.
- All bets: Shop around. Lines can vary from one sports book to another. It pays to compare lines for extra points or better odds.
Internal Links
- Betting the NFL In-depth look at betting professional football.
- Betting College Football In-depth look at betting college football.
- Parlay Bets in the NFL
- Teaser Bets in the NFL
- Pleaser Bets in the NFL
- Betting the MLB In-depth look at betting professional baseball.
- Betting the NBA In-depth look at betting professional basketball.
- Appendix 1 Comparative study on who has the best lines in Vegas.
- Appendix 2 Various topics in sports betting.
- Appendix 3 List of Las Vegas sports book families.
- Appendix 4 Fair prices to buy and sell points in the NFL.
- Appendix 5 Explores sports futures in greater depth.
- Appendix 6 Lost and expired tickets.
- Appendix 7 Companion to appendix 1, showing NFL money line pairs from several Internet sportbooks.
- Appendix 8 Comparative study on who has the best lines offshore.
- Appendix 9 Companion to appendix 8, showing NFL money line pairs from offshore sportbooks.
- Appendix 11 College football money lines.
- Total number of kickoffs in Super Bowl 43. Were there 9 or 10?
- Vegas sports book comparison at WizardOfVegas.com. Who offers what odds on parlays and teasers, as well as rebate percentages.
- NFL proposition bet calculator: The fair line on lots of common props, given the spread the total.
- Sports parlay calculator: To see what an off-the-board parlay pays, that isn't all -110 legs.
- Straight bet calculator: Calculate the house edge of any straight (two outcome) bet.
- Sports futures calculator: Calculate the house edge of a set of futures bets.
Sports Book Reviews
- 18bet
- 1xbet
- 22Bet
- 888sport
- bet-at-home
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- Betfred Sportsbook
- Betiton Sport
- betObet Sports
- BetOnline Sportsbook
- BetOwi
- Betsson
- BetUS
- Bodog Sportsbook
- BookMaker Sportsbook
- Bovada
- CampeonBet
- CloudBet
- CobraBet
- Everygame Sports
- Gbets
- GTbets
- Horse Racing Betting
- LeoVegas
- Linesmaker - No new players
- LV Bet
- Melbet Sports
- Mr.Play Sports
- MyBookie
- Neobet Sports
- OddsMaker
- Paddy Power Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sports
- Ruby Bet
- Sapphirebet
- Shangri La Live Sportsbook
- Sports Betting Online
- SportsBet
- Sportsbetting
- Sportsbook.ag - No new players
- SuperBoss Sports
- TigerGaming Sports
- Titanbet
- Top Bet
- Unibet Sports
- WagerWeb
- William Hill
Outside Links
- For a simplified explanation of sports betting, please visit my companion site Wizard of Vegas.
- My sports betting advice in Spanish at LasApuestas.mx.