Many people watch sports and think, “Wow, that must be so easy to bet on!” The truth is, it’s not. Even professional sports bettors must win more than 52% of their wagers to break even, and everyone experiences hot and cold streaks. In addition, there is the vig, or juice, which subtracts money from your winnings. It is important to be aware of this before placing any bets.
Besides the moneyline, most sportsbooks offer several other betting options, including Over/Under bets. These bets are based on the total number of points scored in a game and the bettor either wagers that the total will go over (the teams combined score will exceed the predicted amount) or under (the teams’ scores will fall short of the prediction).
When betting Over/Under markets, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. For example, in this market, a touchdown is only settled if it is a successful pass or run. A fumble or safety does not count. In addition, it’s important to remember that a team must make an attempt to pass or run for the bet to settle.
It’s also important to research the teams and players that you are betting on. This can be done by following current news and looking at player injury reports. Also, it’s helpful to look at a team’s history against their opponents. This will give you a sense of how well they might perform against them.