Basketball Betting Preview and Terms to Upgrade Your Game

While every sport offers something unique to the betting community, some always get more spotlight. Basketball betting happens to be among mainstream ones and has a wealth of reasons that justify the betting craze over the game.

For one thing, major basketball events always drive a significant number of eyeballs and bets all around the globe. However, the universal popularity of events and the extreme fun are not the only reasons behind its success.

While the major NBA games are rolling around, a quick betting preview and some basic lingo will help you place an informed basketball bet.

Quick Preview on How to Bet on Basketball

When it comes to betting frenzy, all sports have some things in common. Whether you’re betting on basketball, tennis, or football, you need to know a thing or two about the game, markets, and odds. You might even devise a strategy that will drive the results you crave.

Here’re some insights into the common questions to set you up for success. The main three concepts to keep in mind while trying to understand basketball odds and markets are point spread, money line and over/under.

What is a Spread Bet in Basketball

The point spread bets feature a predetermined number that indicates the points bookmakers think the team will win by.

The essence of NBA point spread betting is to provide the underdog team with additional points while taking them from the favorites. This creates fair competition and balance between the two teams. Summing this all up, the favored team must cover the spread—win the game by the setpoints or exceeding them. Any outcome in which the underdog team wins or loses by getting a result that is less than the predetermined points will result in a winning bet against the point spread.

Observing and researching can make a severe difference in your point spread bets if you’re really into the game.

How does Over/Under Work in Basketball Games?

In basketball games over/under or total bets work basically the same way as in any other sport. The oddsmakers predict and set a number for the combined score of both teams. The essence is betting whether the final score is going to be over or under the set total, predetermined by the bookie.

What is a Moneyline Bet in Basketball

If you’re making your first steps in NBA betting, you might want to kick off with easier bets. Topping the list are the Moneyline bets. Your mission is to predict who will win the match without any set numbers or points involved.

The only factor to consider is basketball odds. The team you bet on needs to win the game outright. The odds for the favored team are indicated with a minus, the underdog with a plus.

For instance, while reading the American odds, the favorite team odds with a minus(-) imply the amount you need to bet to win $100. In the case of underdogs, the number that comes after the plus sign (+) shows the amount you can win for every $100 bet.

What is a 3 Way Bet in Basketball

A 3-way bet is a common variation of money line bets in basketball. Instead of the original two-way bet, you can wager on three possible outcomes—Team A wins, Team B wins, and the draw.

Given the risks of losing increase, the odds become more appealing. While NBA games are eligible for three-way bets, not all sports can offer this option depending on the possible outcomes.

Common Basketball Betting Terms

While you may not need to research all the betting opportunities at once, you can at least start by knowing the terminology. Here’re some of the common ones to help you get the gist of the game:

First Half/Second Half Betting — Bets that imply wagering on only the first or only the second half of the game.

Proposition or Prop bets — Market that allows you to bet whether a certain event or situation will or will not happen during the match.

Parlay(Accumulator) Bets — Betting type in which you can combine several bets in one for better payouts. To win, all your bets you’ll need to succeed in all your selections. The bets allow you to have selections from different NBA events.

Teaser Bets — A market that is very similar to parlay bets, however, with teaser bets bookies offer you points to improve the point spread, reducing your payout.

To place a dime — place a $1000 bet (three dimes will be a $3000 bet)

To bet a buck — bet min. $100

While this is just a quick cheat sheet to keep at hand, it’ll definitely help you get things rolling. Once you master some basics, keep your finger on the pulse of the season and stay tuned for the major NBA craze.