Did you know that most sports bets happen just a few minutes before a game starts? However, these bets are often hasty and not well-researched.

When done right, you can make the most of your bet while avoiding a loss. Picks and predictions in online sports betting are all about finding the best value for your money. The following tips will help you make the most of your gambling experience.

Do Some Research

It may sound boring and time-consuming, but research can be the best part of your gambling experience – apart from winning, of course. It’s also the only way you’ll find good bets without being given a great piece of information or hot tip.

The internet offers a great wealth of information if you know the right websites or forums to check out. Evaluate the information you find, focusing on the areas of the sport you know best and that can give you an edge.

Use it to predict how a game will go before looking at bet types or lines. Doing so may open your eyes to better bets you wouldn’t otherwise have thought of.

Understand the Different Types of Sports Betting Picks and Predictions

One of the great things about online sports betting is that there are many ways to place a bet. You can bet on which team will win a game, the number of points scored, the margin of victory, and more. The most common sports betting online picks are explained below.

Moneyline bets are the simplest and most common type of bet. If you like a team to win, you’d bet on their moneyline. If the team wins, your bet wins and vice versa.

A point spread bet is where you bet on a team’s margin of victory. A minus symbol denotes a favorite while a plus symbol is used to define an underdog.

For instance, a team priced at -5.5 must win by more than 5.5 points. The opposing team would be priced at +5.5, meaning they must either win outright or lose the game by fewer than 5.5 points.

Parlay bets are attractive when you want to bet a low amount to win a larger amount. They involve betting on multiple bets winning, where every bet in the parlay needs to win for you to cash out.

Otherwise known as over/under, the point total bet involves betting on the point total to go over or under. Let’s say the point total for a game between New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles is set at 45.5 points. If the final point total is 35, then the winning bet is the under.

Understand How Bet Picks Apply to Different Sports

Every sport has different variations of the above betting predictions. For instance, the NFL is the betting league of choice for most Americans, with the most frequent picks being point spreads, point totals, and moneyline bets.

Basketball is also a popular betting sport and the spread bet is the most common wager since their outcome is usually decided in the last few possessions of the game. Point totals and moneyline bets are other popular NBA sports picks you should consider.

Betting on baseball and hockey games is quite similar since both are moneyline sports. However, in hockey, the spreads are known as puck lines.

Putting It All Together

Extensive research and a deep understanding of ways to bet sports online, are crucial to knowing what works best for you. And whether you’re looking to turn a profit or bet for fun, the above picks and predictions tips will help you get more action for your money.

Check out our Sports category to learn more.