Best Strategies to Win at Sports Betting

Everybody wants to win at sports betting. It can be a great way to add some fun to your Wednesday night MLB viewing, or set your weekend up right with a win on College Basketball or the NFL. We all want that nice payout, but how can you make it happen?

Dimers.com, as always, is here to keep you in the know. We'll be the Bill Belichick to your Tom Brady – except we'll bring a little more personality!

Let's get it! The best strategies to win at sports betting in America are here. You're welcome.

Find the Edge

The name of the game is to find an edge, find where the sportsbook has fallen asleep, and capitalize. 

The edge is where the probability of an event occurring is more likely than the sportsbooks' odds. In other words, our data and analytics suggest a team/player has a much better chance of winning the bet than the sportsbooks think! 

In our Quick Picks (best bets) section we'll show you where the edge is 365 days a year across all the best sports.

Taking the edge gives you a better chance of being a successful gambler in the long run. Of course, the higher the edge, the better. While you're not guaranteed a W, taking picks with an edge gives you a greater chance of being profitable well into the future. This is super important when trying to be a winning bettor.

MORE: Best Sports Betting Quotes Ever

Bet the Moneyline 

The moneyline is the simplest bet you can make in any sport! All you're wagering on is which team will take home the W! A favored team will have a "-" next to their name. Conversely, the underdog will have a "+".

If they have a -200 moneyline it means you need to wager $200 in order to win $100 (payout of $300, including your stake). When there is a + in front of the odds, the goalposts shift. The + tells us how much you would win betting $100.

This is how a moneyline bet will look on your sportsbook's betting site or app. 

Example:

• Detroit Pistons +125
• Indiana Pacers -137 

Using this example, one would need to bet $137 on Indiana to win $100 – collecting $237 total. Meanwhile, betting $100 on Detroit at +125 would ensure you had a payout of $225. 

These, of course, are examples if your team wins. It goes without saying if your team loses, you'll receive nothing and lose your stake. 

You don't need to bet $100 every bet, or any for that matter, but this is how sporting odds are set up in the United States.

MORE: Things to Consider When Betting on NFL

Spread Betting

Spread betting is one of the most popular sports bets on the market, and with good reason, too! It can be more challenging in lower-scoring sports like hockey and baseball, which have their own versions called the puck line and run line respectively. 

However, the spread is king in NFL betting. You may also hear it referred to as line betting. The spread is essentially a sportsbook's way of leveling out two unequal opponents.

The underdog team is given a 'head start' in the form of points. To cover a spread, a favored team needs to win the game by the specified amount of points. Meanwhile, an underdog can either win, or lose by the number to cover. 

The line can move prior to NFL games and even during the match. It will fluctuate depending on injuries, momentum and naturally, the scoreboard.

Example:

• New England Patriots -3.5
• Denver Broncos +3.5

Using the example above, if you bet Denver at +3.5, they would need to lose by under 3.5 points – or win outright – to cover the spread.

Conversely, if you bet New England (-3.5) against the spread, the Patriots would need to win by 4+ points to ensure a profit. In the event of a push – where the bettor and sportsbook tie –  your stake will be refunded. 

To enhance your spread betting chances utilize Dimers’ Best Bets section or Bet Hub for your favorite sport. Each major sports game undergoes 10,000 simulations with our predictive analytics model to give you an unrivalled chance at making that winning play.

MORE: Where Do Sports Odds Come From?

Shop the Line

Speaking of the spread, there are many sportsbooks which offer similar lines, but there are sportsbooks each week who offer a bigger line than others. This is where you need to capitalize. Why go putting your hard earned money on odds that aren't great?

It may seem like hard work, but all you need to do is use our Best Odds section, the one place for the best odds on all major sports in America. 

Sportsbooks don't exist for you to make money. Your loss is their win. So why have blind loyalty to just one book? Check out today's best sportsbook promotions.

MORE: What is Over/Under Betting?

Use Multiple Sportsbooks

In keeping with shopping the line, how are you supposed to get the most out of sports betting if you stick to one book? There are many great sportsbooks in your state.

Quite often, they will have different promotions and specials and so by having numerous sportsbooks you're able to play the field, as such. We've all dreamed of it, right?

Well, Dimers can make your dreams become a reality. We have exclusive offers and promotions with the most trusted sportsbooks in the United States, allowing you to access free and risk-free bets depending on who you sign up with.

Remember, it is free to sign up with sportsbooks, so why not take advantage of free bets? They're giving away more than Dwayne Haskins when he's under center!

MORE: Safest Sports Betting Sites

Strike Early in the Season

This is an absolute must no matter the sports you're betting on! Sportsbooks don't always have the best read on teams in the first weeks of the season. This is your golden chance to win early and often. As the season progresses, books get a greater handle and it is harder to find diamonds in the rough.

How to identify value early in the season:

• Did the team sign any notable Free Agents?
• Did the team address weaknesses through the Draft and Free Agency?
• Has there been positive/negative coaching changes?
• Is there familiarity between players, coaches and schemes?

These questions will help you develop a greater understanding, and opportunity to exploit the sportsbooks and gain easy profits. Alternatively, you could just head to our Bet Hub and we'll help you find the best odds and show you the best bets for every major sports game.