Learning to Wager on Sports

[RyanParrill]

(09-21-2011 05:50 PM)mount187 Wrote:  Should you follow advice from other people (pay for picks)? Are there resources anywhere for major sports that will give you tips like, "Look for NCAAF teams that have yard per catch averages like 'x'?" Is it possible to be good at picking several sports, or do you have to specialize? Do certain teams/conferences generally give softer lines than others?

I'll try to touch on a few different angles that may not have been mentioned. You've already gotten enough information to last you the rest of the week. And as it was said, that's the point. To take information in and process it. Decide for yourself what's garbage and what's not. That's the most subjective part about this. Reflecting on what you've bet/why/result will help you decide what to do in the future. If you've been burnt on a coach/team/important players, you'll learn to stay away. Of course, sometimes, that can cost you some value, but overall you'll be a happier better.

Which is the first question you need to ask yourself. "How much time do I have?" You could consume information 24/7 with all of the resources out there. Once you decide how much time you have, you can be more effective with what your portfolio looks like.

Quote:
Should you follow advice from other people (pay for picks)?

As all replies have said, follow advice and don't pay for picks. It's your money and there's not a great margin for error. Paying for picks decreases that even more. Leave you broke and pissed. Albeit at someone else instead of yourself.

Quote:Are there resources anywhere for major sports that will give you tips?

There are not specific tips like you described. And if there were, the line makers would be using them. You have to find your niche. I like to bet on a variety of things, but I'm not much of a volume better. I believe there's great value in things like MMA and NASCAR because you have access to the individuals doing it that you don't get in other sports. One of the reasons BTB will try to force you to watch a WNBA game some nights. The NFL is always going to be the most popular so the value will be harder to find. With that being said, you may find you're successful at a certain aspect betting the NFL. It could be underdogs, over/unders, 1st half/2nd half, etc. There are so many different ways to bet each game.

One way not to bet, parlays. That's just a general rule. Some people have limited success doing it and others have formed a system to try and exploit the opportunity. Almost all do not. This part is a little more podium talk from myself. You could easily find someone that would argue this.

Your woman is not your ticket. You want your woman to be sexy and your ticket to be the opposite. It's not always wrong to take the favorite or the over. People enjoy Texas getting points at UCLA and Oregon going over at home. And both of those will be successful over the long-run (Quick Side Note: One of the most important thing - Understand the long-run. You're going to lose games. You can lose and still be on the right side. Backdoor covers happen, just understand how to prevent it from being a habit. Vaseline gets old) but most people are on the over and favorite, so the value is harder to find. Betting an underdog can teach you a lot of things. One of the great things about the thread started today by BTB.

Quote:Do certain teams/conferences generally give softer lines than others?

As mentioned, the bigger the conference, more popular the team, the harder the value will be to find. If you have the patience and time to pick apart a smaller league, you'll have a strong opportunity at success.


In closing, as Skating said, if you have a question, just ask. I'll give you even-money that if you have a stupid question, I have a stupider one. Staying around this place will help you out. I'm not sure how BTB did it, I didn't find the entry process too difficult, but he's created the pearly gates of forums. All posters bring quality information in one way or another. ALWAYS make sure, at all times, you're having fun doing it.