Sports betting has become more accessible than ever, but there is a learning curve to understand how different bet types work. In this article, we’ll break down the basics of straight bets, over/unders, and more, so you can start placing wagers like a pro.
Straight bets are wagers on the outcome of a single game or event. They’re also sometimes known as “single bets.” The odds of a team winning a game are represented by the negative and positive numbers that appear on each side of the spread. The lower the number, the more likely the favorite will win. The higher the number, the more unlikely the underdog will win.
The first step to becoming a successful sports bettor is understanding that most people lose more than they win. While many people dream of making a living betting on sports, the reality is that only a small percentage of bettors make it big. But don’t let that discourage you: with a little work and a good system, you can be a profitable sports bettor.
To make money betting on sports, you have to study statistics and learn how to read the odds. There are a lot of different stats to look at, from basic home/away and against-the-spread records to advanced stuff such as batter vs. pitcher matchups and coaching matchups in football and basketball. Some sportsbooks even offer props (or proposition) bets, which are bets that don’t directly relate to the final score of a game.