The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and millions of Americans will be glued to their TVs. This year, those fans will have more than just a team to root for — they’ll also have money on the line. Since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018, wagers on the game have skyrocketed. This hasn’t gone unnoticed at the sportsbooks, which have been flooding the market with sign-up bonuses, offering thousands of dollars in free money to new customers.
Among the most popular bets are point spreads, which handicap one team and favor another when two teams meet. The favorite will be identified by a minus sign, while the underdog is marked with a plus sign. The point spread is designed to even the odds for both teams, but it’s not an absolute guarantee that a bettors will win.
Over/Under bets are also available, and they predict the total number of points scored in a game. For example, if the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are playing each other, the Over/Under will be set at 42.5 points. If the game ends up being a defensive slugfest, the Over/Under will likely go down to 42 points or lower.
If a bettor wants to place a bet on the Over/Under, he or she will have to choose a book with the best lines. Different sportsbooks will post different lines, depending on their clienteles and what the market looks like at a particular moment in time. This means that if you have access to more than one sportsbook, it’s worth checking the prices at each one, as they may be slightly different.
A good way to start is by determining your bankroll. It’s important to keep a separate account for sports betting, and you should base your bankroll on how much you can afford to lose per bet. Once you have a figure, multiply it by 100 and that will be your minimum amount of money to keep in the account at all times.
Then, when you’re ready to make a bet, you can use your bankroll to place bets that give you an edge. This will take a while, but it’s the only way to truly profit from sports betting. A good rule of thumb is to churn your bankroll by 10 bets a day with an edge, or one that will yield a profit equal to 4 percent of the average bet size.
To maximize your profits, it’s also a good idea to stick to sports you’re familiar with from a rules perspective. You should also be a fan of the sport you’re betting on, and follow it closely for news, as some sportsbooks are slow to adjust their lines. Lastly, it’s important to track your bets and know how much you can win on each one, whether it’s a moneyline, spread or parlay. You’ll need a solid understanding of the rules to beat the house. This will help you understand your edges better and make smarter wagers.