Methods Of Wagering With NBA Picks

Betting the NBA Point Spread

      Betting “against the spread” is the most popular way to wager on NBA basketball. NBA games are rarely perfect match-ups, and the spread is the sportsbook's way of leveling the playing field. In order to win a point spread bet or “cover the spread,” the favored team not only has to win the game – they must do so by a specified number of points (the spread). The spread encourages equal betting on both teams, as it essentially “gives” points to the underdog. You most often find spreads with half-points attached, which is known as a “hook.” The hook avoids the possibility of a push (or tie).
      Example: Miami +5.5, Dallas -5.5
The team with the negative number next to its name is the favorite; in this case, it is Dallas (-5.5). If you bet on the Mavericks against the spread, they have to win the game by at least six points for you to win your bet. Dallas is said to be “laying” 5.5 points in these circumstances. Another way to look at it is subtracting 5.5 points from the Mavericks final score at the end of the game. If the Mavericks still have more points after subtracting 5.5, then they cover the spread. In order to cover the spread, the favored team not only needs to win the game – they must do so by a specified number of points.
The Miami Heat have a positive number next to their team name, indicating they are the underdog. They do not have to win the game outright for you to win your bet. So long as they don’t lose by more than five points, you’ll come out a winner. Obviously, you would also win your bet if the Miami Heat won the game outright.

Betting the NBA Moneyline

      While less popular than betting the spread, the NBA moneyline is the easiest basketball bet to understand. When betting the moneyline, you are simply picking the team that will win the game. NBA Moneyline bets are easy to understand, but they offer a poor return on investment when betting on the favorite.
      Example: Miami +180, Dallas -250
The NBA odds attached dictate your potential payout and the sportsbook’s implied probability. Dallas remains the favorite on the moneyline, as indicated by the negative number (-250) next to the team name. But, in this case, that number means something different: a -250 moneyline tells bettors that they need to wager $250 on Dallas in order to win $100. The positive number next to the Miami Heat (+180) gives us similar information, with one key difference. It tells bettors how much they will win on a $100 bet, in this case $180.

Betting NBA Totals (Over/Under)

      When betting the “total” on NBA games, you are no longer concerned with which team will win the game. Instead, your focus is strictly on how many points will be scored overall. You may also hear this type of bet referred to as “over-under betting.”
      Example: Miami/Dallas Over 119.5(-115) Under 119.5 (-110) Sticking with our Miami/Dallas example, the sportsbook has set the total at 119.5 points. Again, the half-point (hook) is present to prevent a push. You have two options when betting totals: over (more than 119.5 points will be scored between both teams) or under (less than 119.5 points will be scored overall).
      When betting on the “total,” The moneyline shown in parentheses next to your choice determines the payout. This is calculated just like the NBA Moneylines above. Your focus on a NBA Totals Wager is strictly on how many points will be scored overall by both NBA teams combined.