Sports betting has seemingly permeated every aspect of life at this point. We see ads all the time for sports betting, but it really has been a natural part of sports for a long time. Now, it is just more widely accepted with soccer picks.
If you haven’t quite joined the fray yet, but you have been thinking about it, you need to go in with a strategy. Take some of these simple tips along with you and put yourself in the best possible position to make soccer picks.
Have a Strategy
When it comes to soccer betting, the single most important thing to do is have a strategy. There are plenty of people out there who think they know soccer but that isn’t necessarily enough to get you by. Simply guessing based on your gut might work a little but it isn’t a sound idea for the long run.
Go into your sports betting experience with a plan in mind. Having that in your back pocket will create a measure of stability even in the face of extended losing streaks. It will also help to keep those emotions at bay, which can be the worst thing possible when betting on sports.
Three-Way
Perhaps the single most common strategy when it comes to picking soccer is known as a three-way. The most common markets bettors will see has to do with ‘Regular Time’ or the 90 minutes market. Basically, this Is a three-way line, which means you can either pick Team A to win, Team B to win, or a draw.
Wagers become official when 90 minutes of play (plus injury time) has been accrued. That way, you won’t have to worry about losing contests based on penalty kicks or any extra period play. If you choose a draw and the game ends on penalty kicks, you would still win your wager. It is a simple bet type and one that can help keep things in perspective.
Draw No Bet
When referring to the Draw No Bet wager, it takes out the prospect of a draw. You might hear it referred to as a two-way line because it simplifies the pick down to which of the two teams will win. The odds will also look a lot different than they would for one of the aforementioned 90 minutes money line markets that so many people tend to wager on.
So, what happens in the event of extra time? Well, let’s say the score is 1-1 when the 90 minutes ends. The bettors would get their money back because the bet is essentially a push (or tie/void). It isn’t necessarily the most satisfying outcome but it is better than losing altogether.
Handicap/Spread Betting
When talking about professional football and basketball, there is something known as the spread. In this market, the team you pick must either win or lose by a certain amount. For example, if you pick the Buffalo Bulls -6.5, they must win by seven points or more for your bet to cash. The same principle applies to soccer betting.
For the most part, the spread will be 0.5 goals (IE: Brazil -0.5 vs. Peru +0.5). If you were to select Brazil, you would need them to win outright. A draw or a loss would result in a losing ticket. Now, let’s say you bet on Peru +0.5.
If the game was tied and headed into extra time, it would be an automatic win even in the event of a Brazil victory. That’s because the outcome is based on the 90 minute regular time, not any extra time.
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