Just like avoiding common mistakes when it comes to sports betting, there are some commonalities that more experienced sports bettors will adhere to anytime they wager on a game or match. It is easy for individuals who are new to the sports betting world to make rookie mistakes. However, if you have been wagering for quite some time now, here are tips and strategies to increase your chances of winning more consistently.

Avoid Longshots

The odds are high for a reason. A heavy underdog has a slim chance of pulling off a straight-out upset over an odds-on favorite. However, individuals looking for a hefty payout often side with longshots for the sole purpose of cashing their ticket in the rare chance an upset occurs. If you want to bet a massive longshot, it is best to bet the spread and avoid the money line. Sure, the payout will be closer to even, but you will have a much better chance when all you need the underdog to do is lose by less than a certain margin than win outright.

Take the Points/Bet Underdogs.

As mentioned above, taking points is typically a safer bet than laying them. It is harder to trust a favorite to cover the spread than an underdog. There are several factors for this. Many times, if a favorite is up by a wide margin, a coach will opt to pull the starters from the game and put in the backup players. This move allows the underdog to cut down the deficit, but usually, there isn’t enough time on the clock to make a significant comeback. There may, however, be enough time to cover the spread, and that is often where backdoor covers occur. 

Another factor is that public money is almost always on the favorite’s side. Sharp bettors tend to go against the public, and there is a reason for that. Sharps put in an excruciating amount of time and effort to study trends and statistics before committing to one side of the line. However, sharps are not always correct, just as the public is not always wrong. Sportsbooks take beatings all the time. Yet, when you bet the point spread on an underdog, you are still always in the game. Even if it looks like they will eventually lose outright, they may still have a chance to cover the spread.

Focus on the teams you know about most

Never make a bet to make a bet. Sure, there’s always the temptation to get in on the action when you have little interest in a game being broadcasted live at the bar. However, if you don’t know anything about either team, avoid the bet. Individuals will take the “safe” bet and side with the favorite laying the points in most instances. More times than not, that strategy backfires. Take the time to analyze the contest. Maybe one team plays better on the road than at home, or the underdog tends to match up with the favorite particularly well. Get yourself acquainted with specific teams and how they fare against others. You will become more skilled at betting when you have a more profound knowledge of a team and bet using your head over your heart.

Study trends

Sports betting is not just about reading an odds line and deciding which team to bet based on the money line or spread. For every matchup, there is a history of trends for every team. For example, one team may own a better record ATS when playing in primetime than in the afternoon. Another team may have a better record hitting the over when playing at home. Trends are an essential piece of sports betting. Always look up a team’s record for the money line, spread, or the total in specific scenarios before committing to one side.

Hedge your bets

Hedging your bet is a strategy bettors use to lessen the potential financial loss of a previous bet. It is a practice most commonly used in parlays and futures bets. In a sense, the better is casting a second wager that tends to go against the original bet. Think of it as an insurance policy you take to decrease the damage you will lose. This strategy is executed chiefly by professional or advanced betters though anyone can hedge a bet.

Here is an example of hedging a bet on a parlay you made:

Original bet: Risk $100 on Cowboys -7 (-110) & Eagles -4 (-110)

+246 odds would payout $264

Now let’s say the Cowboys won and covered, but the Eagles still have to play the Giants. You can risk losing $100 altogether, or you can make a side bet against the Eagles to lessen your loss. 

Second Bet: Risk $100 on Giants +4 (-110) over Eagles to win $90

This way, if your original bet successfully hits, then you will walk away with $164. Now, if the Eagles fail to cover, you will end up only losing $10 as opposed to $100 since you hedged your bet with the Giants. You strategically decided to risk winning less but only losing a minimal amount.

Shop around for the best value

Often, odds lines fluctuate among different sportsbooks. One sportsbook may post a -3.5 spread at -110 odds while another posts -3.5 at -120 odds. In this case, you will get more value by wagering with the sportsbook posting the -110 odds. You may have a favorite sportsbook, but never limit yourself to being an exclusive customer with one. Shop around for the best value. After all, your payout will be higher if you successfully hit the bet.

Don’t increase your average wager

If your average single-game bet is a $50 risk, then stick with that for future bets after you win. If you get a net profit of $48 in return, put that aside and continue to bet only $50 or even less. Individuals will often try to double their winnings after hitting a bet but end up with nothing if they lose. It is vital to remain consistent. Even the most successful professional sports bettors win only 53-55 percent of their bets. If you want to increase your profit, always set aside your winnings and avoid overdoing the betting and losing it all one bet later.