Another season of NBA betting is upon us, with the 2020-21 regular season having recently tipped-off on December 22. The late start is a consequence of last season’s COVID19-related delays, and this year’s NBA schedule has been reduced to 72 games as a result. With that being said, there will still be countless opportunities for some NBA betting excitement with a great lineup of basketball nearly every night!
Betting on the NBA is different than betting on other sports like soccer or baseball, as basketball tends to be a more offensive-minded game with teams often trading points back and forth every few seconds.
Since basketball is such a high-scoring sport, point spreads are far and away the most popular option when it comes to NBA betting.
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If you want to have a successful season of NBA betting, it’s important that you have a clear understanding of how basketball point spreads work. There are a number of tips and strategies that can help you win some real money with NBA point spread betting. You can also take advantage of point spreads with live betting, allowing you to get in on the action even after the game has started. With that NBA season having already started, now is the time to hit the hardwood with Bovada!
How NBA Point Spreads Work
An NBA point spread, also referred to as the line, is designed to level the playing field and even the odds between the two teams playing in any given game. A point spread is a set amount of points that a team must either win by or stay within for your bet to pay out.
The team more likely to win the game is considered the favorite, and NBA odds makers will assign a set amount of points with a minus symbol (-) in front of it. If the favorite can win by more than this amount, your wager will be pay out. Underdogs are considered less likely to win the game, with NBA odds makers assigning points with a plus symbol (+) in front of it. If the underdog can win or lose by less than this amount, your bet will pay out. Should an NBA point spread be equal to the game’s final score, wagers on both the favorite and underdog would be deemed a push.
Here is an example of an NBA point spread:
- Houston Rockets +6
- Denver Nuggets -6
In the example above, NBA odds makers are expecting the Denver Nuggets to take the game by 6 points over the underdog Houston Rockets. To get paid out on Denver, you would need the Nuggets to win by seven points or more. To win a bet on Houston, the Rockets need to take the game outright or lose the game by five points or less.
NBA Point Spread Tips and Strategies
Betting on sports is never a sure thing and there will always be an element of risk involved, but there are certain tips and strategies that can boost your odds of getting paid out. NBA point spread betting is usually a 50/50 proposition, but there are often times you can gain an advantage over odds makers as they set the lines for each game. The following tips and strategies can help you during this NBA betting season, and hopefully guide you to some massive payouts:
- Don’t Be Scared of Big Lines
When betting on the NBA, many people tend to shy away from favorites with a double-digit point spread. It’s understandable, as winning by 10 or more points is no easy task, but odds makers set each lines with a purpose. In theory, a 20-point favorite has the same odds of paying out as a 2-point favorite.
Straight Wagers Are Your Friend
With so many great NBA games nearly every night, it’s easy to fall in love with a number of lines. While parlaying them all together may grow your potential payout, it also several decreases your odds of winning the wager. Straight wagers may not be the sexiest option when it comes to NBA point spreads, but it will often give you the best chance at winning.
Study the Odds
You may not bet on every game of the NBA season, but it’s still a good idea to always keep an eye on the point spreads for each team. By following the lines on a nightly basis, you are able to develop a sense of where teams stand in the league’s power rankings, and this can help you when betting throughout the season.
NBA Point Spread Live Betting
Live betting with NBA point spreads has become increasingly popular over recent years, giving the basketball betting community the ability to wager on a game even after it’s begun. Odds makers will continually update the line over the course of a live game, with the odds updated by the second based on what’s happening on the court.
NBA point spread live betting is great for all those times you’re late to place your bets and still want to get in on the action! It also provides you with an opportunity to see how the game is progressing before placing your bet. Basketball is very much a game of ebb and flow, with the rhythm of play often dictating the scoring pace. By taking advantage of the live betting lines, you can gain valuable insight by watching some of the game before placing your wager.
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The Hot Teams of 2020 Against the Spread
If you plan on betting the NBA this season, it’s a good idea to have a few reliable teams you can count on throughout the year. Following each team’s record against the spread is a great way to see who is exceeding expectations and who is falling short of odds makers’ predictions. The 2020-21 NBA season may have just started, but betting experts often review stats from the previous season to get a feel of what is to come. Keep an eye on the following teams, who finished top five in the NBA against the spread last season:
- Oklahoma City Thunder – 48-31-0 (60.8%)
- Boston Celtics – 51-34-4 (60.0%)
- Miami Heat – 52-40-2 (56.5%)
- Toronto Raptors – 46-36-1 (56.1%)
- Los Angeles Clippers – 47-38-0 (55.3%)
