If you have entered the betting arena without a clear strategy in mind then you might emerge out as a very disappointed bettor, plus you might also lose a lot of money in the process. Just as a doctor would need the right skills before operating over a patient, you too will have to work hard to understand sports betting odds before making a killing inside the betting arena.
Each exciting sport such as boxing, tennis, golf, baseball, football, basketball, horse racing, car racing, and several such more qualify for betting. Even when the sport is college football handled by the ncaa or pro football handled by way of the nfl, bets can be placed, even though the odds will surely differ in each sport and every game too. Odds are also displayed differently in various countries. By way of example, USA displays odds as American odds, i.e. -100, -230, etc, while Canada, Australia and European countries display odds as Decimal odds, i.e. 2.50, 1.30, etc, and also the UK displays odds as Fractional odds, i.e. 8/8, 8/4, etc.
Sports betting odds also display the underdog team together with the top-dog, the over-under and also the spread by which you need to win if you choose to bet for or against the spread. A straightforward example will explain betting odds easily. For example in an nfl match between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants, the odds may be displayed as under
Buffalo Bills -11.2 -120 -160
New York Giants +11.2 -120 +270
The first sign near the teams name signifies the underdog and also the top-dog. Hence, Buffalo Bills is the top-dog due to the “-” sign whereas the Giants are the underdogs because of the “+” sign next to it. The figure 11.2 indicates the spread plus the favored team has got to win with the points mentioned on the spread. The figure 120 implies that you will have to bet $120 to win $100 on that spread. The last figure of 160 near the Bills signifies that you have to stake $160 to win $100 along with your stake on that bet because the Bills are the favored team to win. On the other hand, you simply have to bet $100 to win $270 if you bet on the Giants since it is the underdog team.
The above was an illustration of betting odds from the American odds format. Each bookie will display odds in different formats but you would be able to quickly convert it in your format when using the odds converter obtainable in most websites. The Internet has today definitely made betting easier although you will definitely have to work towards understanding and calculating the betting odds before you place your bet.
You might certainly be in a position to bet efficiently and convert most of your placed bets into huge wins if you read and understand sports betting odds. Each sports book displays odds and you’ll have to select sites which have the best odds for you to bet on. Understanding sports betting odds is vital if you wish to beat the odds and also the bookies and make a killing by winning the maximum amount of bets.