There are many theories and strategies when it comes to sports gambling. Everyone has a can’t-miss method of picking winners. Of course, it’s never that easy. Yes, you can have a system and a strategy to follow; however, it should only ever be used as a starting point. Your strategy is a point of departure that will allow you to make the best possible wager you can, no matter the sport. The fact of the matter is, you aren’t going to win every sports bet you place. The quicker you learn this, the better. Then, you’ll see strategies much clearer and as they should be seen— as advantages and not sure-things.
One of the oldest strategies in sports gambling is always taking home underdogs. Is this a sure-fire method for all sports betting? No. Is it a good idea to look at the advantages this strategy can give you? Yes. This is a sound strategy. However, just like any other sports gambling strategy, it’s not foolproof. It is important to know when and where to use it. Home underdogs present some very good opportunities for sports gamblers. In this article, we will look at what those advantages are and when they are best to use.
Good Lines and Better Odds
Everyone knows the old rule about home teams. They are already getting points just for being at home. That’s right, when oddsmakers and sportsbooks set their lines for a game, the home team will automatically have points in their favor factored into the line. For instance, in football, it’s said that the home team already has three points in the spread. So, if a home team is getting four points, in actuality, they are considered by the oddsmakers and sportsbooks to be seven-point underdogs. In basketball, it’s two points, or one basket, for home teams. This is common knowledge and is used by experienced sports gamblers to inform their wagers.
The advantage here is not really about the number, but the reason the number was picked by the oddsmakers and sportsbooks. A ten-point favorite at home becomes a 13 point favorite. This is a big line, and there isn’t much difference between the two. However, if you are looking at a two-point spread in a football game, the home field advantage not only changes the line by three points, it changes who the favorite is. This is important when looking at a home team underdog. Don’t just bet the home underdog because they are a home underdog, bet the home underdog because you still like them after applying the advantage.
Home Teams Win
Of course, point spreads are great equalizers in sports gambling, and picking the winner of the game is not really that important to win a wager. However, knowing who will win is a huge advantage when placing a sports wager. And home teams win- a lot, and in every sport. It’s a fact, and knowing that home teams win is definitely something to factor in before laying a wager. Of course, as mentioned, this is no sure thing, just a recurring thing and a factor to consider before placing a bet. Home underdogs win too, but more importantly, they cover sometimes as much as 57% of the time. Having this knowledge in your back pocket will inform your wagers and that will lead to better wagers.
Trap Games
Trap games happen in every sport each season, and home underdogs are usually the reason. First of all, for those of you who don’t know, a trap game is when a contending team has a three-game span of games where the first and the third are against good teams and/or rivals. The second game is against a non-contender, and that second game is the trap game. The theory goes that the good team will be concentrating on games one and three since they are against better opponents and, therefore, overlook that team in the middle and lose. It happens all the time thanks to home underdogs. Keep an eye out for trap games.
Rivalries
Just like a home field, a rivalry game is a great equalizer. Every team has a rival, and when they play the old cliche is true: their records don’t matter. Here is another time that betting the home underdog can pay off big. Much like a trap game, the intensity of a good rivalry will level the playing field very quickly for both teams and an underdog getting points at home is a solid bet to consider every time. Again, they don’t win every time. They don’t cover every time. But it does happen much of the time. It’s these advantages you should be looking for when placing any wagers. Be aware of rivalries because even if the home team is an underdog, they may be the smart bet.
