Spread betting in basketball is a form of basketball betting market that goes beyond simply predicting the winner or loser of a game.
It involves placing bets on the point differential between the two teams participating in a basketball match. Unlike traditional betting, where you predict the outcome, spread betting is about forecasting how much a team will win or lose, referred to as the spread or point spread.
In this section, we will talk to you in detail about what this betting strategy means.
Understanding Spread Betting in Basketball
In a basketball game, the favourite team is expected to win by a certain number of points, while the underdog is anticipated to lose by the same margin.
The top bookmakers in India set the spread, which represents this predicted point difference. As a bettor, you can wager on whether a team will exceed or fall short of that expected point differential.
For instance, let's consider an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.
A betting website like Stake might set the point spread as Lakers -5.5 and Warriors +5.5. In this scenario:
- Lakers (-5.5): To win a bet on the Lakers, they must win by more than 5.5 points. If you bet on the Lakers and they win by 6 points or more, you win your bet.
- Warriors (+5.5): Betting on the Warriors means they can lose by up to 5 points, or win the game outright. If you bet on the Warriors and they lose by 5 points or less or win the game, your bet is successful.
Let's take an example using hypothetical odds in INR for a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks
- Spread: Brooklyn Nets -3.5, Milwaukee Bucks +3.5
- Odds: Nets -110, Bucks +120
If you wager 1000 INR on the Nets at -110 odds and they win by 4 points or more, your potential winnings would be calculated as follows:
- Your stake: 1000 INR
- Net profit: 1000 INR * (100 / 110) = 909.09 INR (if your bet wins)
- Total return: 1000 INR + 909.09 INR = 1909.09 INR
On the other hand, if you bet on the Bucks at +120 odds with the same 1000 INR and they either win the game or lose by 3 points or less, your potential winnings would be:
- Your stake: 1000 INR
- Net profit: 1000 INR * (120 / 100) = 1200 INR (if your bet wins)
- Total return: 1000 INR + 1200 INR = 2200 INR
Different Types of Spread Betting Markets
Here are some of the famous spread betting markets that you should know about while indulging in basketball betting.
- Point Spread Betting: The most common form where the sportsbook sets a predicted margin of victory for the favourite team.
- Alternative Spreads: Allows bettors to choose from various point spreads with different odds.
- Total Points Betting: This involves betting on whether the total points scored in a game will be over or under a specified number set by the sportsbook.
- Quarter/Half Betting: Predicting the point spread or total points scored in a specific quarter or half of the game.
When to Use Spread Betting?
Ultimately, spread betting in basketball can be advantageous when used strategically, leveraging your knowledge, analysis, and insights into the game.
Let's check the points you should keep in mind when using spread betting in your betting adventure.
- Knowledgeable Analysis: If you have a deep understanding of teams, player performance, coaching strategies, and historical matchups, spread betting allows you to leverage this knowledge. For instance, if you believe a team tends to outperform the spread against specific opponents due to their playing style, injuries, or other factors, spread betting can be beneficial.
- Hedging Bets: Spread betting can be used for hedging purposes. For example, if you've placed a moneyline bet on a certain team but are uncertain about their outright victory, you might consider placing a spread bet on the opposing team to minimize the potential losses.
- Favorable Point Spread: When the point spread seems misaligned with your analysis or intuition, and you believe a team will either exceed expectations or perform worse than predicted, spread betting allows you to capitalize on these situations.
- Risk Management: Spread betting can involve higher risks, especially if the game outcome significantly varies from the predicted spread. Assess your risk tolerance and only wager amounts you can afford to lose.
