NBA Betting - Info and Strategies for Bettors

When it comes to NBA betting there are some tried and true strategies that many sports gamblers use on a regular basis. There are also some strategies that are particular to the NBA. Let's take a look at some of both.

When you start looking at NBA betting lines the first thing you are going to notice is that line movement, especially on totals, is substantial. Many NBA bettors choose to concentrate entirely on totals, and for good reason. The strategy is to come up with numbers that are better than those that the oddsmaker has. When it comes to NBA totals it is a known fact that the Las Vegas oddsmaking firm supplying the numbers does a poor job. That is definitely the case early in the season before numbers are easier to make. Professional bettors have hit sportsbooks pretty good on NBA totals for years, and many books take lower limits because of this fact.

Another strategy to consider when looking at betting the NBA is the travel factor. I know that some handicappers do nothing else but bet the NBA based on scheduling. They will go against teams on long road trips, teams facing three games in four nights, or teams on the road in a back-to-back situation. These handicappers study the schedule intently and base their wagers solely on the travel factor for NBA teams. Other NBA handicappers take the more traditional approach and look at home and away statistics, matchup statistics, and other normal handicapping factors.

Another handicapping strategy for NBA bettors is to look at the underdog. Some bettors will focus entirely on taking the points. That is usually not a bad theory in any sport, and it is one that astute handicappers look at in the NBA. Another strategy that is similar to taking the underdog is to go against the public. How many times have you seen the public take an underdog? You can probably count the times on one hand. The public bets favorites, and that goes for the NBA too. Handicappers that want to do well should first look at taking the underdog, and also factor the public into the equation. Normally that will not be a problem since over 90% of the time the public will take the favorite anyway.

NBA betting strategies are similar to those in other sports, but you will definitely see the travel/fatigue strategy applied in NBA betting far more than any other sport. With an 82 game schedule there will be many instances during a long NBA season that you can find spots to make a play. If you have the patience to wait for those spots, playing the travel/fatigue strategy in the NBA could be one of your more profitable angles all season long.