{"id":72666,"date":"2018-06-12T15:36:17","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T19:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/?page_id=72666"},"modified":"2023-07-11T00:42:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T04:42:51","slug":"how-to-bet-on-sports","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports","title":{"rendered":"How To Bet On Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For some, the legalization of sports gambling won&#8217;t change much. There will be those who abstain from the temptation, those who occasionally dabble, and then there will be those who hate themselves late on a Sunday night as they try to figure out which credit card is going to pay the Comcast bill. Still, the world of sports gambling is foreign to many, and it is likely the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s recent landmark decision that allows individual states to govern its legality will bring a significant part of the fan population into the fray. Therefore, you should read this guide for how to bet on sports.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-679316c82ec0b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-679316c82ec0b\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Why_should_I_bet_on_sports\" title=\"Why should I bet on sports?\">Why should I bet on sports?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Is_sports_betting_legal\" title=\"Is sports betting legal?\">Is sports betting legal?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Now_that_you_know_how_to_bet_on_sports_what_can_be_bet_on\" title=\"Now that you know how to bet on sports, what can be bet on?\">Now that you know how to bet on sports, what can be bet on?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#What_is_a_point_spread\" title=\"What is a point spread?\">What is a point spread?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Why_is_this_necessary\" title=\"Why is this necessary?\">Why is this necessary?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Why_do_bookmakers_want_an_equal_amount_of_money_bet_on_both_sides_Wouldnt_that_mean_they_dont_make_any_money\" title=\"Why do bookmakers want an equal amount of money bet on both sides? Wouldn\u2019t that mean they don\u2019t make any money?\">Why do bookmakers want an equal amount of money bet on both sides? Wouldn\u2019t that mean they don\u2019t make any money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#What_happens_when_the_majority_of_bettors_takes_one_side\" title=\"What happens when the majority of bettors takes one side?\">What happens when the majority of bettors takes one side?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Does_a_point_spread_shift_impact_my_bet\" title=\"Does a point spread shift impact my bet?\">Does a point spread shift impact my bet?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#This_point_spread_thing_isnt_for_me_Can_I_bet_without_a_point_spread\" title=\"This point spread thing isn\u2019t for me. Can I bet without a point spread?\">This point spread thing isn\u2019t for me. Can I bet without a point spread?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Can_you_bet_with_a_spread_on_hockey_and_baseball\" title=\"Can you bet with a spread on hockey and baseball?\">Can you bet with a spread on hockey and baseball?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Damn_That_seems_like_a_good_deal_Is_it_a_good_deal\" title=\"Damn. That seems like a good deal. Is it a good deal?\">Damn. That seems like a good deal. Is it a good deal?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Is_there_a_way_I_can_risk_very_little_money_but_make_a_lot_of_it\" title=\"Is there a way I can risk very little money, but make a lot of it?\">Is there a way I can risk very little money, but make a lot of it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#What_is_a_teaser_bet\" title=\"What is a teaser bet?\">What is a teaser bet?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#What_if_I_dont_want_to_bet_on_a_side_to_win_but_want_to_bet_on_other_elements_of_the_game\" title=\"What if I don\u2019t want to bet on a side to win, but want to bet on other elements of the game?\">What if I don\u2019t want to bet on a side to win, but want to bet on other elements of the game?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Can_I_bet_on_other_elements_of_a_contest_aside_from_winnerloser_and_total_pointsrunsgoals_scored\" title=\"Can I bet on other elements of a contest aside from winner\/loser and total points\/runs\/goals scored?\">Can I bet on other elements of a contest aside from winner\/loser and total points\/runs\/goals scored?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#Can_I_place_bets_once_the_game_starts\" title=\"Can I place bets once the game starts?\">Can I place bets once the game starts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\/#What_happens_if_I_lose_more_money_than_I_can_handle_or_I_feel_my_gambling_is_getting_out_of_control\" title=\"What happens if I lose more money than I can handle, or I feel my gambling is getting out of control?\">What happens if I lose more money than I can handle, or I feel my gambling is getting out of control?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_should_I_bet_on_sports\"><\/span>Why should I bet on sports?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because it\u2019s awesome, that\u2019s why. Yes, there is a pretty good chance that you may piss away your hard-earned money. Yes, you may ultimately develop a crippling addiction that forces you to irrationally justify your losses by telling yourself lies such as, \u201cI don\u2019t <em>need<\/em> a savings,\u201d or, \u201cIf I just eat Ramen Noodles for next five weeks and buy off-brand toothpaste, it will be like all of this never happened.\u201d Yes, you may also run the risk of alienating yourself from friends and incensing your significant other when you are out to dinner by compulsively checking to see if the Raptors beat the Pistons by six points. But you could also WIN\u2014and winning is fun. Nailing a game to validate your sports acumen while also putting money in your pocket that you didn\u2019t really earn is a magical feeling. I\u2019m not sure that there\u2019s anything better.<\/p>\n<p>From a practical standpoint, a diligent and disciplined bettor who understands trends, traps, and contextual factors can make money, but it\u2019s easier said than done. For the average fan, sports wagering provides a form of convenient entertainment, and it can spice up a rather ordinary sporting event. Don\u2019t care about the Angels and Astros game on <em>Sunday Night Baseball<\/em>? Now you do!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_sports_betting_legal\"><\/span>Is sports betting legal?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. In some states. Both Delaware and New Jersey have moved to legalize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\">sports betting<\/a>. Check out our guides for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/delaware\">Delaware sports betting<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/new-jersey\">New Jersey sports betting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Now_that_you_know_how_to_bet_on_sports_what_can_be_bet_on\"><\/span><strong>Now that you know how to bet on sports, what can be bet on?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>EVERYTHING! Well, almost everything. Bettors have several wagering options at their disposal\u2014point spreads, moneylines, totals, and varying prop bets depending on the sport and the overall significance of the bet. Betting options aren\u2019t limited to the four major American sports leagues. If it\u2019s a regulated and sanctioned athletic event, it is probably on the board. Have a good feeling about Juan Martin del Potro at Wimbledon, or the Minnesota Lynx over the New York Liberty? <strong>Hammer that shit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_point_spread\"><\/span><strong>What is a point spread?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Typically seen most often in basketball and football betting, a point spread establishes which team is the favorite and which is the underdog in a given contest. They are set by bookmakers to make each side an equally attractive betting option.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/what-is-a-point-spread\">what is a point spread<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_this_necessary\"><\/span><strong>Why is this necessary? <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because if a good team plays a bad team, everybody will pick the good team to win. If the Eagles and Browns play, who are you taking? The Eagles. But if the Eagles have to win the game by at least 15 points, many more bettors will be enticed by the idea that the lesser team just has to keep things within the set number. That rationalization goes something like this, \u201cThese guys suck, but that\u2019s A LOT of points. I think they can stay within two touchdowns.\u201d The discrepancy between two teams won\u2019t always be this obvious, but in the majority of contests, there is a favorite and an underdog, and bettors naturally lean towards the favorite.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at this in greater detail by examining the point spread for Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3109.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"sports betting line sample\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3109.jpg\" alt=\"sports betting line sample\" width=\"454\" height=\"177\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Cavs, facing elimination, are a 6.5-point favorite, which is indicated by the \u201c-6.5\u201d on the screen. The \u201c+6.5\u201d means the Celtics are \u201cgetting\u201d 6.5 points; therefore, Cleveland must win by seven points or more in order to win\/cover the bet. If the Celtics win the game outright, or lose by six points or less, then they win the bet.\u00a0One more note: Bookmakers usually want an equal amount of money bet on both sides of a contest.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_bookmakers_want_an_equal_amount_of_money_bet_on_both_sides_Wouldnt_that_mean_they_dont_make_any_money\"><\/span>Why do bookmakers want an equal amount of money bet on both sides? Wouldn\u2019t that mean they don\u2019t make any money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No, it actually guarantees that they make money. Bookmakers charge what is commonly to referred to as \u201cvig\u201d or \u201cjuice\u201d on losing bets. That fee is outlined prior to your bet and is typically 10 to 20% of your total wager.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the line illustration above. See the (-110) next to the point spreads? That indicates the amount a bettor needs to risk in order to win $100 dollars. In this case, a bettor must risk $110 to win $100, $55 to win $50, or $27.50 to win $25. It\u2019s simply a percentage of whatever is at risk. Let\u2019s say that the house takes $100 dollars of action on both sides of a game. This means they are guaranteed to profit on the fees alone. It doesn\u2019t always work out this way, as sometimes books kill it or get crushed on certain games when the majority of money is wagered on one side.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_the_majority_of_bettors_takes_one_side\"><\/span>What happens when the majority of bettors takes one side?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bookmakers have the option of moving the point spread. Using the example above, let\u2019s say the Cavaliers opened as a 6.5-point favorite over the Celtics and bettors jump all over the Cavaliers. In response, bookmakers can move the line in the Celtics favor, giving them more points, to lure bettors to that side. I have seen certain situations in which books say, \u201cGo ahead, public. Have at it,\u201d and hold the line steady because they feel they are on the right side of the proposition. But generally speaking, slanted action will shift lines.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_a_point_spread_shift_impact_my_bet\"><\/span>Does a point spread shift impact my bet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No. Whatever the point spread is at the time your wager is confirmed is the number that you play with. Subsequent line movement does not change your bet.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_point_spread_thing_isnt_for_me_Can_I_bet_without_a_point_spread\"><\/span>This point spread thing isn\u2019t for me. Can I bet without a point spread?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most of the time, yes. A moneyline bet eliminates the point spread element dynamic and simply requires that the selected team wins. Here\u2019s the catch\u2014if you are betting on the team that is favored, then you will have to risk more money to do it. Here is the point spread and money line for Cavaliers and Celtics game:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3106.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"sports moneyline sample\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3106-1024x261.jpg\" alt=\"sports moneyline sample\" width=\"601\" height=\"153\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say you want to win $100 and that you want to bet the Cavs. In this case, it will require a $320 bet (indicated by the -320) for a $100 return. Money lines can move in response to public betting tendencies, much the way point spreads do. In simplified terms, betting on favorites to win money line bets can be expensive, but it also provides tremendous value if you have a hunch that an underdog is going to win outright. In this example, a $100 money line bet on the Celtics would pay out $260 (indicated by the +260).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_bet_with_a_spread_on_hockey_and_baseball\"><\/span>Can you bet with a spread on hockey and baseball?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, sort of. Some books offer more wide-ranging options, but standard bets are moneyline bets. These sports typically allow for \u201cpuck line\u201d and \u201crun line\u201d bets. These wagers typically mean a team has to either win or lose by two or more runs\/goals. (Soccer allows for a similar proposition, but that process is a bit more complicated and I don\u2019t care about it.) Let\u2019s say you really like the Phillies over the Blue Jays in the first game of their weekend series. Here are the betting lines on this game:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3105.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"MLB line sample\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3105-1024x157.jpg\" alt=\"MLB line sample\" width=\"563\" height=\"86\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you have a strong feeling the Phillies will win the game by multiple runs, rather than placing a $115 bet to win $100, you can bet them on the run line to receive a more favorable payout. The +172 indicates that if the Phillies win by two or more runs, the payout will be $172 dollars on a $100 bet. It should be noted, however, that betting the opposite way&#8211;for the Blue Jays to stay within two runs&#8211;is both expensive and an unwise proposition. \u201cI think they\u2019re going to lose, but only by a run\u201d is not the soundest logic. If say you think the Blue Jays are going to win, it makes far more sense to take them outright&#8211; it&#8217;s cheaper.<\/p>\n<p>To curtail the risk of betting on heavy favorites, bettors can use a run line bet to cheapen the price. Take a look at the betting options between the Giants and Cubs:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3112.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"baseball run line sample\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3112-1024x252.jpg\" alt=\"baseball run line sample\" width=\"577\" height=\"142\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Risking $245 to win $100 on the Cubs is expensive. If you have a ton of confidence in the Cubs, then the run-line option may make some sense because it would only require a $130 bet to win $100.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Damn_That_seems_like_a_good_deal_Is_it_a_good_deal\"><\/span>Damn. That seems like a good deal. Is it a good deal?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is, until you realize that baseball and hockey contests are often decided by one run\/goal. Imagine the Cubs are leading 4-2 in the ninth. The Giants have a runner on third base with one out. The Cubs, having a run to give, play the infield back. A groundball is hit to shortstop, the runner scores, and there are now two outs. A batter later, the third out is made. Cubs win! Cubs! But you don\u2019t. Often in gambling, if something seems too easy, it\u2019s probably a trap.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_way_I_can_risk_very_little_money_but_make_a_lot_of_it\"><\/span>Is there a way I can risk very little money, but make a lot of it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, you can accomplish this through a parlay. This is a series of multiple bets that are linked together. If every bet made wins, you win. If even one of the bets lose, you lose. For instance, let\u2019s say you do a four-bet parlay with a $20 risk. Three games of the parlay win and then the fourth game loses\u2014you\u2019re still beat. The parlay payout depends upon how many games are involved and the odds on each individual game. It\u2019s a good betting option if you are looking for action on multiple games and don\u2019t wish to wager much, but still want a chance at hitting for a quality payout.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_teaser_bet\"><\/span>What is a teaser bet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Good question. We answered it in detail in our section on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/teaser-bet\">teaser bets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_if_I_dont_want_to_bet_on_a_side_to_win_but_want_to_bet_on_other_elements_of_the_game\"><\/span>What if I don\u2019t want to bet on a side to win, but want to bet on other elements of the game?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go back to the Cavaliers and Celtics game:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3106-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"sports over under sample\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3106-1-1024x261.jpg\" alt=\"sports over under sample\" width=\"960\" height=\"245\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You have no idea which side will win or cover, but you have a feeling that scoring is going to be hard to come by. You can bet on what is referred to as the \u201ctotal,\u201d or \u201cover\/under.\u201d In this particular game, the total is set is at 201.5 points. If you have a hunch that it is going to be a low-scoring game, then taking the under makes sense. If you think it is going to be a shootout, then take the over. Game totals are available in all four major American sports, and the same principles apply for betting totals in each of them. This wager exists in soccer, too, but again, that ain\u2019t my game.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_bet_on_other_elements_of_a_contest_aside_from_winnerloser_and_total_pointsrunsgoals_scored\"><\/span>Can I bet on other elements of a contest aside from winner\/loser and total points\/runs\/goals scored?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Welcome to the wonderful world of prop betting! Each sport has its own set of traditional props.<\/p>\n<p>In baseball, you can bet on whether or not a run will be scored in the first inning and individual player matchups such as who will have more total bases, among other options.<\/p>\n<p>With football, you can bet on things like who will score the first touchdown, or if the first score of the game will be a touchdown or a field goal\/safety.<\/p>\n<p>In basketball, bets can be made on which team will score the first 10 or 20 points of the game, which team will win the opening tip, and individual player matchups.<\/p>\n<p>In hockey, who will win the opening face-off, and individual player matchups are commonly bet. Which team will score first is also a popular prop bet in all four major sports.<\/p>\n<p>These are just surface level props. Several places offer wagers on other components of the game.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_place_bets_once_the_game_starts\"><\/span>Can I place bets once the game starts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, you can. There are in-game or \u201clive\u201d betting apps available. If you want to see how the game is playing out in the early going before getting involved, or if you think you have identified an in-game trend and have a feel for what will go down, then this is a good option for you. In-game betting allows for bets to be placed on a contest\u2019s winner\/loser, game totals, and individual quarters\/periods\/innings among other things. Some apps will even allow for bettors to place bets about the outcomes of individual plays.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_I_lose_more_money_than_I_can_handle_or_I_feel_my_gambling_is_getting_out_of_control\"><\/span><strong>What happens if I lose more money than I can handle, or I feel my gambling is getting out of control?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I did not post this question to be funny. Gambling makes for great talking points, can spice up a game, and is an exciting form of entertainment, but it can also be dangerous for people with addictive personalities. If you lose more money than you can handle, the worst thing you can do is continue to chase a win in order to score a bailout. If you find yourself firing off bullshit bets on Russian soccer games that you know nothing about because it\u2019s Tuesday afternoon and you\u2019re bored at work, you\u2019re probably in trouble.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s some more pro tips: The worst thing you can do is think your luck HAS to change during a bad streak. No it doesn\u2019t. It can get way worse. Also, if you find yourself covering losses by skipping bill payments, or abstaining from the purchase of necessities, then stop. Don\u2019t get yourself so jammed up by losses that it changes your present and future. Maybe you can handle losing a few hundred dollars every once in a while, then cool. Whatever. But never bet outside your means to the point where you\u2019re flushing entire paychecks as you try to recoup money you couldn\u2019t afford to lose in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>You can get more tips and strategies in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\">sports betting tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Get more FREE sports betting advice like this delivered directly to your inbox<\/h3>\n<h5>No spam. No pick selling. Just useful gambling advice.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For some, the legalization of sports gambling won&#8217;t change much. There will be those who abstain from the temptation, those who occasionally dabble, and then there will be those who hate themselves late on a Sunday night as they try to figure out which credit card is going to pay the Comcast bill. Still, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":72578,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"standard.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-72666","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.9 (Yoast SEO v23.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Bet On Sports - Crossing Broad<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learning how to bet on sports can be a difficult task, but our sports betting beginner&#039;s guide has everything you need to know about lines, moneylines, over-unders, parlays, props and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Bet On Sports\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learning how to bet on sports can be a difficult task, but our sports betting beginner&#039;s guide has everything you need to know about lines, moneylines, over-unders, parlays, props and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Crossing Broad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CrossingBroad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-07-11T04:42:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_3109.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@crossingbroad\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/sports-betting\/tips\/how-to-bet-on-sports\",\"name\":\"How To Bet On Sports - 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