I am Wunderdog, and I am someone that has spent the last two decades working as a sports handicapper. A sports handicapper is someone that delivers betting picks to customers to help them be successful in the sports betting industry.
Along with providing sports picks against the spread, I also help explain how the sports betting industry works. There is much more to it than simply making a bet, and the more you know and understand, the better chance you have of being successful.
One of the common debates in the sports betting industry is if “against the spread” betting or totals betting is a better play. It really all comes down to a matter of personal preference, and I believe that both options are equally great.
To help you come up with your own answer, though, I will explain some very important details about each. I will also point out some sports betting tips and tricks to help you win some big money betting on sports.
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What Is ATS Betting?
ATS stands for “against the spread,” and it is one of the most popular betting options in the sports betting industry. This can be confusing to beginning sports bettors, especially when words such as favorites and underdogs get thrown around.
Spread betting means that you are placing a bet on the spread of the final score. You aren’t worried about which team wins or loses that game, but instead, you are focused on how close the final outcome is.
The easiest way to explain ATS betting is by using an example, and for this example, we will use a fictional matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Here is what ATS odds will look like at a sportsbook:
- Los Angeles Lakers -4.5 (-110)
- Miami Heat +4.5 (-110)
It’s easy to determine which team is the favorite in this matchup as that team will always have the (-) in front of its line. The underdog will be the team that has the (+), and in this case, it is the Miami Heat.
For this bet, the Los Angeles Lakers would not only need to win the game, but they would need to win the game by at least five points to win the bet. The Miami Heat don’t need to win, but they just need to keep the final score within four points for them to be the right pick.
It’s also important to note that the odds for each side are listed at -110, which means that it would take a $110 bet to win $100.
What Is Totals Betting?
Totals betting is much different from ATS betting as you aren’t worried about the spread of the outcome at all. A totals bet instead focuses on the total number of points scored in a particular game.
This type of betting is also referred to as an “over/under” wager because those are the two options available. You will be betting on if the final score will go over or under the lines that are set by the sportsbook.
Totals bets are available for each team in a particular matchup, but the most common bet is a bet placed on the total number of points or runs scored. This offers a nice change of pace from the other betting options because you don’t have to focus on which team wins or loses a game.
Depends on the Sport
When you are trying to decide between placing an ATS or totals bet, it really depends on the sport that you are betting on. Some sports make it easy to decide which type of betting option is the best.
Sports such as baseball, hockey, and soccer aren’t very good for betting against the spread, so totals betting is a much better option. Other times, the lines that are set for totals betting will make it a much better play.
Always Look For Value
No matter what betting type you use, the most important thing is to always look for value in the odds. Both of these betting options can be great, but you must find the most valuable betting options available.
When I look for games to make betting picks on, searching for value is the most important thing that I look for. To be successful in the sports betting industry, you must always remember that quality is more important than quantity.
Watch For Line Movement
With both of these betting options, you will always want to watch for line movement. These are two of the betting options that see lines move the most, and there are a number of reasons that this happens.
The biggest reason that ATS and totals betting lines move is that the public is laying money on a certain bet. Sportsbooks are always looking to protect themselves against massive losses, and they will adjust betting lines to prevent this from happening.
Before you place a bet on either an ATS or totals betting market, be sure to check out the most updated betting lines. If the odds have changed, try to find out why they have changed, and be sure you do some additional research.
Show Some Patience
Another important thing to remember when betting on sports is to show plenty of patience. I understand that you are betting on sports to try to win some big money, but that won’t happen all at once.
There are going to be some days that don’t provide any solid betting options, and it is important to recognize that and sit those days out. You don’t have to make a bet every day to give yourself an opportunity to win some money.
I will obviously provide both ATS and totals betting picks each day, but that doesn’t mean that you have to make all of these wagers. Trust your gut, and don’t ever make a bet that doesn’t feel right to you.
Find Free Picks, Use Me!
If all of this information still seems overwhelming, there is one simple way to get around all of this. That is to subscribe to a sports handicapper, and I just happen to know of one that has more than 20-plus years in the industry.
Since starting my business, I have been extremely successful, and I will deliver picks for both ATS and totals bets. This will allow you to choose whichever betting option you are most comfortable with, or you can even combine the bets into a nice parlay.
Sportsbooks are very good at what they do, and you want to be armed with as much information as possible when making bets. Take some of the pressure and stress off of yourself and let me help you beat the books today.
If you are interested in even more entertainment-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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