If you love betting on sports, then you know how important it is to cover the spread.
The point spread is notoriously one of the toughest things to beat in sports betting. It's rare that Vegas will toss up a gimme, so you've got to take a lot into account to give yourself a shot.
In this post, we're going to give you some tips on how to cover the spread in every major sport. You don't have to go into it blind. Follow along and we'll help you increase your odds.
Learning How to Cover the Spread
Whether you're doing NCAA picks or picking the NBA playoffs, there's always going to be a favorite and an underdog. Betting Clemson to beat Wake Forest is a no brainer, but is it a no brainer if the Tigers are favored by 34.5 points?
The point spread balances the odds for the bettor. Bettors love it because that means they get to bet less for the same return as the money line. That doesn't mean that it's easy, however.
1. Be Studious
Regardless of the sport that you're betting on, you've got to do some research to give yourself the best chance against the spread. For example, in NFL football, injuries account for a big part of a team's chance to cover the spread or not.
If you're looking at a Patriots/Vikings game, the line could be Pats at -6.5. If the Vikings are missing their top pass rusher, then it's more likely that the Pats will cover the spread because Tom Brady will have all day to throw.
In addition to injuries, you've got to study the home field/court advantage, how the team has been performing, and weather. A lot of things contribute to these odds.
2. The Spread in Different Sports
Different sports will have differences in a margin of victory. Basketball is typically higher than football, but less than professional soccer. Getting to know a little bit about the sport that you're betting on will help you understand how the spreads are concocted.
3. Parlays
It's good practice to utilize parlays in point spread betting. If you've got a few different "sure thing" bets, then you can parlay them together to create a riskier bet. As you combine bets, your ROI will increase because the odds decrease.
For instance, you might be taking the Pats to cover against the Vikings, but you could parlay that with Clemson to cover against Wake Forest and the St. Louis Blues to cover against the LA Kings. A three-team parlay will win you a lot more money than a single bet.
4. Using Different Sites
Different sites will have different point spreads, so you can increase your chances of winning by using multiple sites to find the most favorable point spreads. It's a more tedious route, but if you're serious about sports betting, it's something you'll definitely take into consideration.
5. Follow Your Gut
At the end of the day, you've got to follow your gut. You can go pretty deep with analysis when betting against the spread, but the truth is no one knows what's going to happen.
Make a bet and live with it. If you've watched a lot of sports, it's best to trust what you see on the field of play and bet with that in mind.
Have Fun With Sports Bets
Sports betting makes those sports you don't necessarily care about way more interesting. Have fun with your bets and when you start to take it more seriously, you can spend more time learning about the ins and outs of the sport. Knowledge is power when you're learning to cover the spread.
