How to Read Basketball Odds 2025: Betting on NBA & NCAAB

Over/Under bets, also known as point totals, are another popular form of NBA betting. These bets involve wagering on the combined score of both teams in a game. If you think the total score will be more than the set number, you bet on the ‘over’. Your goal as the bettor is to predict whether the final combined score will be above or below that line. For instance, if the line is set at 5.5 goals for a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers, a final score of 3-2 would equal 5 total goals.

Also known as totals, over/under bets are placed on the combined points scored by both teams. Each game row displays the latest moneyline, point spread, and over/under odds from multiple betting sites. Our NBA odds tables make it easy to compare betting lines across top sportsbooks in real time.

Live betting is a thrilling form of betting that brings you closer to the action on the court. Key factors to consider include a fighter’s knockout power, stamina, and past performance. Matches featuring aggressive fighters with strong finishing abilities could lean toward fewer rounds, favoring the under bet. For parimatch instance, if you think a soccer game will have at least two goals, you would place an Over 1.5 bet.

Sportbooks will have all their regular NBA betting markets available for the preseason. Remember, while over/under betting is an exciting way to engage with NBA games, always ensure you’re making informed decisions and betting responsibly. Consider setting a budget for yourself and never wager more than you can afford to lose. NBA money line picks are popular, but if you are betting a strong favorite in the NBA, their money line the odds can be as low as -600. On the flip side, however, if you like an underdog to cause an upset, you can see some great odds and returns.

Factors to Consider with Over/Under Bets

NBA moneyline betting is the most straightforward type of bet where you simply pick the outright winner of a game without considering the margin of victory. The odds for these bets are expressed as negative for the favorite team and positive for the underdog. This means that betting on a favored team often requires a larger bet for a smaller payout, while betting on an underdog can yield a higher payout from a smaller bet. NBA over-under betting works similarly to other sports, with bettors predicting the total points scored in a game. A well-rounded betting strategy for sports like basketball might involve considering team defensive stats, offensive tempo, and recent scoring trends. The best sports for this strategy typically include high-scoring matches such as football, basketball, and hockey.

These include team performance, player matchups, and game dynamics. With this knowledge, you can make better bets by predicting the over or under scores more accurately. When betting on basketball over/under, smart bettors use strategies to increase their chances of winning. They look at team performance, player matchups, and game dynamics. When betting on lines and handicaps it’s a good strategy to look at past performances between teams and the most recent games.

Basketball Betting Markets

These strategies can add an extra layer of excitement to your NBA betting experience and potentially increase your chances of placing a winning bet.
Looking back at the last 3 to 5 games will give you an idea of the short term trends that an NBA team is experiencing – are they playing good defense?
Many of these options are also available to cover individual teams or both teams combined and specific players.
This is especially true if you do not care for either team and who wins is unimportant to you.

This approach helps them make smarter bets and could lead to more wins. Old-school metrics like scoring averages and possession rates are no longer enough. Shot efficiency, defensive efficiency, and possession rates give us deep insights into team performance. Predicting basketball over/under bets needs a deep knowledge of the game and its key factors. Of course, you don’t want to miss out on all the range of available bet types, starting from the simplest to the most advanced ones.

The first one will be a winning NFL bet, while the second one a losing NBA wager. Let’s look at the two bets to see how this sports betting market works. These are great spots to wager on when you have highlighted a potential mismatch on the floor, such as a dominant center vs a team that concedes points in the paint.

Even though the NBA season is over, a very exciting summer lies ahead for basketball fans. The Olympics are on their way (27 July – 11 August), and some would say the US team has never been stronger (learn about the differences between NBA and Olympic basketball or the 3×3 rules). Opinions vary as to whether it’s easier to predict how one individual will perform, as opposed to a full team, but we’re not sold on that. You know that their point guard has been struggling for form lately and has just had a bereavement in the family.

NBA Player Prop Bets

Register a new BetMGM account and place a first bet of at least $10 and if it wins you receive $150 in bonus bets on top of the winnings from your first bet. Get free NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best premium picks by the experts sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee. Think about how tired you would be if you had to give it your all for 48 minutes one night, travel overnight then gear up for another game just 18 hours later.