What Is Handicap Betting in The NBA? Real Examples

🎯 What Situations Are Best For Handicapping in Basketball?

Like any other betting situation, the key is knowing when it is the most viable option.

Part of the battle is not simply choosing the right team but selecting the right kind of wager for the basketball game in question.

A handicap bet is best applicable for two situations: to garner better odds or to capitalize on a potential upset situation.

For instance, if you think a particular favourite is the right option but don’t care for the odds, handicapping that wager could give you better value. Better value makes your bet more worthwhile with a better potential payout.

You could also handicap in the event that you foresee an underdog surprising their opponent on that night.

Whether you believe it will be a close game or they will win outright, placing a handicap bet could be the best way to take advantage of the situation.

For example, instead of choosing the Grizzlies to win outright, taking them +4 is the best way to capitalize on your gut feeling.

📋 Different Ways to Handicap in The NBA

Now that we know more about handicap betting in basketball and the alternatives to handicap betting, it is time to get more in-depth.

Straight handicap betting – point spreads – is not the only way to handicap a basketball bet. There are two different forms of basketball handicap betting: alternative handicap lines and in-play handicap lines.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them, how they work, and what they can offer.

Alternative Handicap Lines

For the more experienced bettors out there, a great way to take advantage of your knowledge is through alternative lines. Don’t like the 76ers -4 as listed above?

Most bookmakers, though not all of them, will offer alternative lines to make the NBA betting markets more enticing to bettors. Just as it sounds, the alternative handicap lines present different lines, often with bigger odds available.

For basketball, the standard line is somewhere around -7.5. However, if a team can and will win by more, somewhere around -10.5, you can take advantage of your hunch to the tune of bigger odds.

Alternative lines can go the other way as well. In the event of a heavy favourite, maybe you are confident in a victory but not at the line listed.

You can then use the alternative line for a lower point spread, but the trade-off is that the odds will be lower, resulting in fewer winnings.

Utilizing alternative lines is not something to be done on a whim. It takes experience and knowledge to take advantage of this betting line.

It is a great opportunity to create more value while taking advantage of a mismatch in the schedule.

In-Play Handicap Betting

Live or in-game betting has risen to prominence in recent years.

The basic idea behind it is that instead of having to place your bets before the game, you can see how the action unfolds and make your wagers in the middle of the event.

In addition, odds change throughout the course of the game, making for potentially enticing moments to slap down a wager. Just like the forms mentioned earlier of handicap betting, you can take advantage of in-play lines as well.

Let’s say you feel good about a favourite before the game but not enough to place a wager.

If they start slow to begin the game, the odds can become more favourable and give you the opportunity you have been looking for.

In-game betting is about placing your wager at the right time and putting yourself in the best position to win.

Handicap bets can frequently change throughout the game, presenting you with the line that makes your bet make the most sense.

🚀 Tips For Handicap Betting in NBA Games

Any quality sports bettor will know how to handicap a line. It simply adds another element to your repertoire and makes you more versatile as a bettor.

That said, it helps to have a strong knowledge of basketball and the NBA, in particular.

Using these tools correctly will help you not only identify value but also take advantage of the lines.

For beginners, the best place to start is with the favourites you think will win easily.

Find some of the heavy favourites that you believe in and place your bets there first.

It will at least get you acclimated with handicap betting and allow you to gain a bit more experience before you start picking underdogs and their corresponding lines.

Improved Odds

Handicap betting is also a great way to improve the odds offered versus simply betting on favourites through the money line.

Instead of getting -175 odds for a 76ers win, you can get -110 if you feel strongly about them garnering a win of five points or more.

It is important to note that losses will come as frequently as wins.

This is offset by having the proper betting strategy. In this instance, the strategy is to maximize the times you win by garnering better odds.

You could make a bet similar to the 76ers -4 that is a loser. The caveat is that having a win will counteract the loss because your winnings will be greater.

Beware of Big Lines

The average line for an NBA game is somewhere in the -7.5 range. The risk associated with each wager is important to remember, no matter the bet.

Bigger lines might indicate a clear victory but should be avoided if you are looking to handicap the matchup.

Never forget that teams do not care about point spreads. For the 76ers, a win is a win, whether it be by one or one hundred.

By taking a bigger line, just know that the favourite will not push to cover when the game gets late in action.

Larger lines, north of 10 points, are not all that common. Sure, blowouts happen, but they are unlikely to happen.

So unless it makes absolute sense, stay away from the bigger lines or take the underdogs to give yourself a bit more room.

As always, do your homework, look for trends, and make the most educated bet possible.