Smart Betting with Online Sportsbooks
Most bets have payouts comparable to their, as Mike Tyson would say, "ludicrosity." For
instance, if you put five bucks on a twenty team parlay to win a gajillion dollars, you obviously
know your odds of winning are slim. Making smart bets is more about your
own self control rather than the actual lines trying to bamboozle you.
Common Mistakes of New Players When Betting Online Sportsbooks
New and inexperienced players often tend to ride the favorite, when half the time the underdog,
especially a home underdog, is going to cover the spread. Remember, the favorite is the
favorite because everybody, even the blind cripple with a watermelon for a brain, thinks they are
going to win and usually win convincingly. If you ride favorites too often, you're no better player
than the blind cripple. Now that doesn't mean you should bet on Vinny Testaverde to lead
Dallas past a team like the Colts, but just be careful you're not parlaying eight favorites
together. The chances of eight favorites covering on the same day are as likely as Jean Claude
Van Damme starring in a movie and not doing the splits.
Know When to Hedge When Betting Online Sportsbooks
Sometimes you can learn more by watching the first few minutes of a game then all the
research in the world before it. Momentum, injuries, random riots and rape trials, can all effect
the outcome of a game. Therefore, taking advantage of halftime and quarter lines can be a
good way to hedge if you're having second thoughts about a
wager you
placed. The same technique can be used as a
wagering tool by simply
playing the halftime lines rather than the game itself. The disadvantage of that being that
sometimes the team you were looking to bet on may take a huge lead into the locker room.
Low Money Lines in Online Sportsbooks
Always take the points on a +3 or under money line. I know what you're thinking. What are the
chances the game will be decided by a few points? Trust me, it happens all the time,
especially with teams that are relatively even. The extra 10 to 20% of cash isn't worth the
agony. It's like playing slots and the wheels come up cherry, cherry, Jennifer Lopez. Don't do it.
Stop.
Look for Sucker Bets in Online Sportsbooks
Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't any sucker bets out there. It's not uncommon to see
teams out of the playoff race with odds to win the Super Bowl. In addition, many exotic props try
to prey on the ignorant with lines like, "Bill Clinton to win 2008 election." Strangely enough,
despite needing a Constitutional amendment allowing third terms, Clinton's odds were still
slightly better than Al Sharpton's. Hmmm...Bill Clinton, eh?...doesn't sound too ludicrous
anymore.