If you’re into basketball betting, you’ve probably heard about different bet types: Moneyline, point spread, Over/Under, and even player props. But here’s a game-changing secret not everyone talks about: Combining different bet types can drastically improve your chances of winning—and make betting a whole lot more fun. Let’s dive into how you can mix things up to get those winning edges.
Why Combine Bet Types?
Think of it like this: Every basketball game has many moving parts. You’ve got teams, players, matchups, pace of play, and countless other factors. Betting on just one aspect, like the final score, limits your ability to take advantage of everything happening on the court. By combining bet types, you can cover more angles and spread out your risk.
In other words, you’re hedging your bets. You don’t have to rely on just one outcome going your way. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach combining bets for better returns.
The Building Blocks: Different Bet Types
Before we get into combinations, let’s quickly cover the main bet types in basketball:
- Moneyline Bets: This is the simplest—just betting on which team will win the game.
- Point Spread Bets: You’re not just betting on a win, but on how much a team will win (or lose) by. For example, betting on a team to cover a -5.5 spread means they need to win by at least 6 points.
- Over/Under Bets: You’re betting on whether the total points scored in the game will go over or under a number set by the sportsbook.
- Player Props: Here, you’re betting on individual player performances. Will a star player score over or under 25.5 points? Will a player grab more than 7 rebounds?
Combining Moneyline and Point Spread
Let’s start with a classic combo: Moneyline and point spread. Imagine you’re watching a game where you’re confident the Los Angeles Lakers will win, but you’re not sure by how much. You can bet on both:
- Moneyline for the outright win.
- Point spread to add more value if you think they’ll win by a specific margin.
If you’re right about the outright win, you’ve got your Moneyline bet secured. But if they also win by more than the point spread, you’ve got yourself a bonus with the spread bet. It’s a great way to double-dip when you’re confident about a team’s chances but aren’t sure about the exact point difference.
Pairing Point Spread with Over/Under
Next, consider combining point spread bets with an Over/Under bet. This strategy works great when you have a good read on the pace of play in addition to the score differential.
Here’s how:
- Say you’re betting on a high-scoring game between two fast-paced teams like the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets. You might take the Over on a 220.5 total points line.
- At the same time, if you’re confident the Warriors are going to win by a significant margin, you can also take them to cover a -5.5 point spread.
By betting on both, you’re covering two aspects of the game: the total points and the margin of victory. If the Warriors win by 7 points in a high-scoring game, you cash in on both bets!
Prop Bets + Over/Under: The Dynamic Duo
Player prop bets are all about betting on individual player performances—points, assists, rebounds, etc. But here’s the kicker: Player prop bets can often be combined with an Over/Under bet for an even better shot at winning.
For example, if you know that the game will be a high-scoring affair (betting the Over), you can pair that with a prop bet on a player who thrives in such situations. A player like James Harden might be primed to score over 28.5 points in a fast-paced, high-scoring game. You’ve now aligned both bets with the expected tempo of the game.
This combination strategy works beautifully when you’re tuned into the matchups and pace of play.
Parlays: The High-Risk, High-Reward Move
Let’s talk parlays, the ultimate combo bet. With a parlay, you can combine multiple bets into one, increasing your potential payout but also increasing your risk. The catch? All your bets need to hit for you to win.
For example:
- You take the Lakers -5.5 point spread.
- Combine that with an Over 220.5 total points bet.
- Throw in a player prop bet for LeBron James Over 7.5 assists.
If all three happen, your payout is significantly higher than if you had bet on each individually. But if even one leg of your parlay loses, the whole thing falls apart. Parlays are exciting, and they can yield massive returns, but they’re also risky. Only go for these when you’re feeling confident across multiple angles.
Key Takeaways
When you combine bet types in basketball, you:
- Maximize your chances by covering multiple aspects of the game.
- Increase potential payouts when you parlay.
- Spread out your risk by betting on different outcomes.
Just remember:
- Always do your research. Look at the pace of play, team form, and player performance before placing combination bets.
- Avoid chasing high payouts with unrealistic parlays. Keep your bets grounded in solid analysis.
Combining bet types takes basketball betting from a one-dimensional game to a multi-layered strategy. Start mixing things up, and you’ll find that not only are your wins more frequent, but your betting experience is much more exciting!