In this day and age, sports betting is commonplace. Whether it be college basketball, NBA games, the NCAA tournament, or football betting, it seems like everyone is in on the action. As it turns out, even a niche thing like knowing how to bet on basketball can feel complex.
Sports betting in both Iowa and Colorado is now completely legal so long as users are within state lines when the bet is placed. There is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to learning how to bet on basketball, so let’s get into the nitty gritty.
How Does Basketball Betting Work?
Though it can look complex to an outsider, basketball betting is really quite simple. In North America, basketball is the second most popular sport to wager on behind football betting. When the NCAA tournament rolls around, it is even more popular, and basketball betting handles skyrocket.
Betting on a basketball game typically comes down to choosing which team will win, by how much, or how many points the two teams will combine for. There are other bets available within a single basketball game, ranging from game props to player props, and more.
Understanding Basketball Betting Lines and Odds
This is perhaps the toughest part of learning how to bet on basketball. There are details to go over below, but let’s keep it simple and learn what the betting lines and odds on a basketball game might look like.
Odds are read using (+) or (-) symbols. They tell you how much you stand to win with a wager of $100. For +110 odds, you would win $110 with a $100 wager. If you took -110 odds, you would need to bet $110 to win $100.
The aforementioned + and – symbols give the bettor an idea of which outcome is more likely. The higher the – number, the more likely that it is to happen. The higher the + number, the less likely it is to happen. It gets more complex than that, but it is a good, simple way to remember what it is you’re looking at.
Basketball lines are commonplace as well, using the same + and – symbols. If you see -4.5 next to a team, that means they are 4.5-point favorites. Likewise, if a team has +4.5 next to their name, it means that they are 4.5-point underdogs.
There is information to be gleaned from looking at the lines and odds. The sportsbooks are trying to take the “safe” bets away by skewing the odds, so it is key to find value in other areas.
How to Place a Bet on Basketball
If you are ready to get started on basketball betting but don’t know how this is the place to be. ClutchBuzz is a fantastic place to enjoy the best sports betting odds around. Even better, it is simple to start making wagers.
- Start by creating a new account at a sportsbook like ClutchBuzz. You typically need to include information like your name, phone number, email address, and more when signing up. You may need to verify your email as well, but that is generally quite fast.
- When you have a sportsbook account ready to go, it’s time to get started. Log into your account and head to the home page. If it isn’t displayed there, find the NBA section and you will see a list of the games available that day (or sometimes in coming days).
- Make your picks. Though it is advised to make one pick at a time, you can keep adding selections to your bet slip as you see fit. Turn them into a parlay, wager a little on each, or pare down your bet slip as you get to the end.
- When you’re confident in your picks, head to the bet slip. For the most part, it is a popup at the bottom of the screen that shows you what your picks are. You can see odds on each as well as parlay odds if you decide to combine them.
- Risk your stake. This is where you put your money where your mouth is. You can choose to stake each game or put a bet on a combination of all those picks. Review your choices and wager amounts before finalizing anything.
- When you are confident that all of your picks look correct, click to wager. Your bet will be confirmed, and you’ll be ready to watch with bated breath. Before long, placing a bet will become second nature. Then, you can get into the world of live betting to really hone your sports betting skills.
An Example of Basketball Betting
Need a clearer example of how to bet on basketball? Let’s focus on the points spread since it is one of the most common basketball bet types. The average line would look something like this:
Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks (+6.5, -110)
So, what are we looking at here? Well, we know that the Cavaliers are favored, and the Hawks are the underdogs. We know that the Cavs are favored by 6.5 points, which means that they must win by seven or more to cover the spread. We also know that the odds of either outcome happening are about even, making it essentially a 50/50 proposition.
Wagering on either team to win means that you would have to bet $110 to win $100. Even money is one of the better values in sports betting as the odds of it happening are virtually even and you get the most back for your money.
Let’s say you look at the moneyline instead and see something like this:
Cleveland Cavaliers (-330) vs. Atlanta Hawks (+410)
Sure, the Cavs are the safer bet, but it comes at a cost. In order to win that same $100, you would have to wager $330. Is it worth it to risk that much for such a small win? On the flip side, you would win $410 for a $100 bet on the Hawks but the likelihood of their winning the game straight up is much lower than it is if they cover the spread.
General Public Advice on NBA Betting
Betting on basketball, or any sport, is a lot easier said than done. Even the sharpest bettors win around 60% of the time, which means that they are losing the other 40%. It is about finding a betting strategy and sticking to your guns to create consistency.
While there is no one definite piece of betting advice better than the others, a few helpful tips will go a long way. Being successful is about analyzing all of the information set out in front of you and using it to put you in the best possible position to win.
Research Key Factors
When it comes to betting on a single game, the best thing you can do is to research the factors. Check out potential injuries that could impact the game, players who are hot, players who are cold, how the two teams match up against one another, etc.
For sports bettors, information is critical. It is the one thing that can narrow the gap between bettor and sportsbook, so don’t just go into betting blindly. Having the most information possible will put you in the best position to win more often than not.
Line Shopping
Sports betting is about finding value rather than making the correct pick. If you can find value, it will help mitigate picking incorrectly. The best way to find value is to shop the various sportsbooks to find the best odds.
Many of the top sportsbooks will be similar to one another, but even a few points can make a difference. Shop the odds enough and you will find substantial value in winning picks over time. Don’t just be content with whatever odds one sportsbook has.
Manage Bankroll
Bankroll management is perhaps the single most important aspect of basketball betting (and sports betting, in general). Hot and cold streaks happen for everyone, and bankroll management helps you navigate those stretches.
It is generally a good idea to limit your wagering to 1-2% of your total bankroll. If you have $100 in your account, that means no more than $1-2 per wager. It might not create the biggest wins, but it will help you stay afloat when picking a winner feels impossible.
Stay Updated
While some bettors like to just shoot from the hip, it will wind up losing you more money than anything else. For that reason, keep up to date with the NBA before placing bets. While it doesn’t guarantee a win, any additional information is always helpful.
Remember how we talked about injuries above? Staying up to date will keep you abreast of important injuries. There is perhaps nothing worse than wagering on a favorite only to find out that their superstar is out of action.
How to Read NBA Odds
Reading NBA odds is a lot easier than it might seem. Basketball betting lines are very similar to just about any sport that you will find. They will be broken down into three categories: point spread, moneyline, and total.
Next to each of those categories/numbers is another number that is denoted with a + or – symbol. These are the odds and tell us how likely one action or outcome is versus another. Let’s look at an example:
Boston Celtics (-230) vs. Orlando Magic (+320). This is a simple moneyline. It tells us that the Celtics are favored to win and are considered to be relatively heavy favorites while the Magic are sizable underdogs to win outright.
The higher the number in either direction, the more likely/unlikely the outcome. It is not uncommon to find NBA matchups where the favorite is well over -1000 to win outright. From there, betting on the point spread may be the more viable option, if not passing on that game entirely.
Choose Your Bets
A key to learning how to bet on basketball is knowing the various bet types. While the final score is important when it comes to NBA betting, it is far from the only thing to know. Let’s get into the various bet types like the money line (straight bets), future wagers, prop bets, the point spread, live betting, the over/under, and anything else you will find in spread-related sports.
Moneyline
Moneyline odds, also known as straight bets, are about which one team will win the game. Compared to point spreads, this type of basketball betting is about which particular team will win outright. It is the simplest sports betting action there is.
When it comes to basketball wagering, this is the best place to start. Choosing which team wins is a lot easier than predicting the point spread or the final score. While it is simpler to pick which one team will win the game outright, moneyline odds – particularly NBA odds – can be quite steep. That’s why it is important to pick and choose your bets when wagering on basketball games.
Point Spread
Because the betting odds are so steep when choosing who will win the game outright, the point spread is a better way to go. Rather than just choosing who will win the game outright, you are betting on how many points a team will lose or win the game.
For example, let’s say in a particular NBA game, the point spread has the Lakers favored by 7.5 points (read as -7.5, almost always a half point for the point spread to avoid ties or pushes). This means that the Lakers need to win the game by eight points or more in order to cover the point spread. One team can be quite bad at winning but it makes for a fantastic basketball bet because they lose by fewer points.
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Over/Under
The over-under is about guessing whether the two teams will have a combined score in a particular game. The total points scored in NBA betting is often quite high – generally around 200 points. It isn’t about a team winning or losing, just how many combined points the two account for.
Betting on points scored can be a fun way to bet. While it might not be the best basketball betting strategy, it does provide a much simpler rooting interest. You still have an interest in the final score, but you’re more interested in points scored rather than one team winning.
Props
A prop bet, otherwise known as proposition bets, provides a more granular basketball betting option. In sports betting, game props and player props can run the gamut. When you check out NBA odds, you will find point spreads, points scored, and moneylines, then you will find individual and team prop bets.
Essentially, a prop bet in basketball markets has to do with a specific achievement. Betting markets can include individual team basketball point totals. It can include an over/under on how much each team will score in a quarter. It can also include individual players and how many points they score, how many assists they rack up, and more.
Parlay
Basketball parlays are arguably the most fun when it comes to basketball betting options but are also the quickest way to lose money. A parlay is when you take multiple single bets – points scored, point spread, team futures, etc. – and roll them into one ticket.
Let’s narrow it down to basketball parlays specifically as you will find parlays in other sports like football betting. Let’s say you’re betting on the NBA Finals and think that Jayson Tatum will score 20+ points, Luka Doncic will have 30+ points, and Jalen Brown will have 10+ rebounds. Those three bets can be rolled together to create a parlay and will only pay out if each of those things happens. One wrong move and the parlay will lose.
Futures
Basketball futures are an interesting way to bet on basketball. Rather than focusing on a single basketball game, you take a look into the future. Have a good feeling on who will make the NBA Finals? Look to team futures for your bet.
Sports bettors and basketball bettors will often tie futures bets together. Whether it be a particular team to make the playoffs, win their division, or win the whole thing, it is a much different way to wager than something more traditional like point spreads. It is a great way to tie other spread-related sports together as well.
Live/In-Game Betting
Looking for another way to learn how to bet on basketball? Live betting is a great way to enjoy a game after it starts. Maybe two basketball teams are matched a bit too closely for you to make a wager on.
When the game starts, live betting allows anyone to take advantage of always-changing odds. Get a feel for the game, watch the ebbs and flows, and place your bets as the game unfolds. It is maybe the most action-filled basketball betting option to choose.
NBA Betting Tips
It is important to know the basics of how to bet on basketball, but there are some helpful tips to follow as well. In basketball betting – and sports betting, in general – you should be prepared to lose money. The odds are always against you. That said, a few helpful tips can help put you in the best position to win.
While some tips for how to bet on basketball are covered above, there are a few additional ones to be aware of. Keep in mind that things might look different for NCAA tournament basketball odds versus NBA odds, so that’s another beast entirely.
One of the best basketball betting tips is to avoid historical traps. If things are getting into the latter stages of the season, don’t focus on what happened months ago. Look at recent streaks and trends to see who has been playing the best of late.
Also, live betting is a great way to bet. Making picks before the game, you may miss out on key information like a player being out of the lineup. After the game starts, you can see how the game is moving along and pick your spots. It isn’t foolproof but it is a great way to feel more confident in your wagers.
Always Wager Responsibly
At the end of the day, basketball bets are meant to be fun and responsible. It takes time to find a basketball betting strategy, to learn that there is more than the final score to be concerned with. With prop betting, moneyline bets, individual game props, and other basketball bets, you can take the next game to a whole new level.
If you feel like your basketball betting is getting out of hand, it is time to seek help. Your online sportsbook may offer options, but you can also contact the national gambling helpline as well. Get back on track and get right before you start sports betting again.
FAQ
What is the best basketball bet?
The best bet on basketball is the one that gives you the best odds. Sports betting is about narrowing the sportsbook’s edge. Have a betting strategy going in so that you can make bets consistently on NBA basketball and college basketball.
Are point spreads or moneylines better for basketball betting?
The safest basketball bet is typically the moneyline, but moneyline odds can be a bit skewed for basketball games. The point spread is as close to even money as you will find from a betting standpoint.
How are basketball odds and lines read?
American odds are read based on two numbers: plus odds and minus odds. Plus odds indicate that a team or outcome is less likely to occur. On the flip side, minus odds indicate which is more likely to be the winning team or outcome.
