The point spread’s sole purpose is to even the betting so that the total amount bet on the underdog is equal to the amount bet on the favorite. The book makes its cash on the vigorish or juice. Therefore, if the amount bet on the underdog matches the total amount bet on the underdog, the book is guaranteed a 10% profit on half the bets made, regardless of which team covers.

The top linesmakers are individuals who have a feel for what the betting public believes. The betting line they set reflects the betting public’s perception of the strength of the two teams. It isn’t going to necessarily reflect the true relative strengths of the 2 teams. And the sportsbook betting public’s perception is usually wrong.

When you know that concept, everything else will start to fall into place. You will have an advantage over most bettors.

Be objective. Listen to you head not your heart. Don’t bet against the Cowboys simply because you want to see them lose. And, don’t bet on a team just because you like the team. And don’t bet on your favorite team in case you are an avid fan. It’s extremely difficult to be objective. Fans tend to be overly optimistic about their favorite team or overly pessimistic if things are not going well.

Be consistent. Bet the exact same amount on each game. Some players bet $200 on games they think are locks and $100 on ones they are not so sure of. It’s those not so sure of bets that rack up the losses. If you are uncertain about a game, don’t bet it.

Should you bet on the home team? Generally no. Alternatively, if you can be objective, you’ve got an edge. You probably know more about your home team than those in other parts of the country since the local media gives extensive coverage to the home team, coverage which is not shared with the rest of the country.

Look for Trends. If you spot a trend, factor that into your decision. Some teams have other teams’ number. In the last four years the 49ers have covered against the Rams 7 of 8 times as well as the one time they did not, Young was hurt and they had to play Druckmiller, a rookie. In the last five years, Green Bay has lost 4 out the 5 games played in Detroit.

Trends are not guarantees. The trend might not hold and also you lose your bet. However, remember the reason is to improve your probability of winning. Based on past performance, if you bet on the 49ers to cover against the Rams, you’re more very likely to win your bet than to lose.

Place your bets late in the week. By waiting until the end of the week, you definitely will know about any injuries to key players that may affect the way you bet. Quite often, players are injured or reference aggravate an injury in practice. Or what seemed like a minor injury on Tuesday may turn out to be one that will keep the player out of the game. Moreover, weather conditions might affect your bet. Inclement weather often keeps the scoring down.

Limit the Range of Games You Bet. More is just not better. The optimum number appears to be 3 to 6 games. Any more and the winning percentages often decline because the law of averages is needed. (The greater games you play the greater likely you are to have 50% winners and 50% losers. And that is a losing season, due to the juice.) On top of that, it’s easier to concentrate on a limited number of games.

Losing Streaks Happen. Regardless of what, you can count on a losing streak. It happens to handicappers, professional gamblers, casual bettors, as well as books. Be well prepared to ride it out. In case you are using Pro Predictor or a handicapping service, you need to stick with it throughout the season to be able to come out a winner. Leaving at the first sign of a losing streak will guarantee you lose for the season. Suppose you drop out only to have the handicapper go 5 for 5 the next week. Those are 5 wins you will not have and may affect your overall winning percentage.

Never Bet Against a Streak. This really is an integral to increasing your winning and decreasing your losses. Consider this a betting mantra. Say it over as well as over until it’s firmly embedded within your mind. Never bet against a streak. And, if you are going to bet on streaks, bet the streak will continue. And it will not matter whether or not the streak is a winning streak or perhaps a losing streak. Ironically, logic will tell you that the odds of a streak continuing double with each additional week and you should bet against it. But there’s a hidden trap.

Look at the following scenario: In week 10, you notice that Green Bay has covered for 4 weeks in a row. Should you bet that the streak will end? Remember, per week the odds against the streak continuing double.

Betting Against the Streak: You bet $100 against Green Bay covering in week 11. Sure enough, they fail to cover. You’re $100 ahead. But what happens whenever they do cover and also the streak continues. You’re $110 within the hole. What do you do? Do you bet another $100 against the streak in week 12 since the odds against the streak continuing are even greater? Should you, and the streak ends, you win $100 and now will be just $10 loser and that’s the end of that. But, should the streak continues, you’re now $220 in the hole. What do you do now? Do you bite the bullet and take your losses or do you fall in to the trap of chasing your loses? Do you continue and try and get back some of your losses? Do you double up in an attempt to cover your loses? Do not do it. Doubling up is never a great idea. It is another trap that will cause you to have huge losses and it isn’t worth the gamble.

Betting with the Streak: You bet $100 that Green Bay will cover again in week 11. If they fail to cover, you’ve lost $110 and that is that, much like a regular straight bet. But what happens if they do cover and also the streak continues. You are $100 to the great and if you continue to bet on the streak, the most you can lose is $10. If you bet another $100 with the streak in week 12 and also the streak ends, your net losses are $10. Nonetheless, if the streak continues, you are guaranteed to come out at least $90 ahead and with each addition week the streak continues, you add another $100 to your winnings.

As such, if you bet against a streak, the most you can win is $100 but you the total amount you may lose is limited only through the length of the streak. If you bet with the streak, the most you can lose is $110, although the amount you may win is limited only through the length of the streak.