How to Find the Best Lines in Sports Betting
Sports betting is a numbers game and finding the best line is critical to success. Having access to multiple sportsbooks makes it easier to shop lines and find the most attractive odds. It’s also a good idea to look for props and team totals, as those often have much more variation that can be leveraged. Some examples include teams’ ability to hit left-handed pitching, pitchers’ struggles against certain opposing lineups and a host of other statistics that can be utilized.
Most experienced sports bettors use a system to track their wagers. This can be as simple as creating a spreadsheet, or using one of the many free bet tracking apps available. This helps bettors stay organized and on task, and it allows them to learn from their wins and losses. It also prevents them from being lured into bad habits, such as chasing a winning bet with more bets in an attempt to get back the money they lost.
Another important factor in long-term profitability is bankroll management. It’s essential to have a specific bank account for placing sports bets and to set aside a “unit size” that’s consistent with each play. The unit size is typically anywhere from 1 to 2 percent of a bettors’ overall bankroll. This way, even strong bettors who hit 55% of their plays won’t go broke when they run into a cold streak. Ideally, a bettors should keep multiple accounts at different sportsbooks to give themselves options for line shopping and to take advantage of bonuses such as free bets and deposit match offers.