The NBA playoffs are an exciting time to get into the action of betting on basketball. With the wide variety of options for you to bet now, you can do much more than simply pick the winner. Here are some fun NBA series props that also offer you value as a sharp handicapper.
1 Betting the Series Against the Spread
Most people are used to betting the money line for a series. Just like betting on a single game, the money line bet for the series simply offers you a price based on a team’s approximation of chances of victory. However, betting against the spread for the series is sometimes a much more fun way to go.
For example, if you like an underdog in a series, taking that team at plus games can be a great way to win some money. If you take a team at plus 2.5 games, if the series goes to Game 6, you’ve already won your bet and can kick your feet up and enjoy the rest of the series with money in your pocket.
If you like an underdog in a series, a great way to approach it is to take the plus games on the series price. Of course, sprinkle on the money line as well, but the plus games can allow you to win your wager before the series is even over.
2 Most Points, Rebounds, or Assists
This can be a tricky full series market because, with the extra games, you’re less likely to get an underdog pick to win in a full series bet the way you can by betting this market in a single game. For example, the top scorer for a team might not be the top scorer for each game, but it’s very likely for him to be the top scorer for a series. However, depending on your handicap of the series, you often have two good options between each team’s two best players for player props.
More often than not, the team who wins the series will also have their best player outscore the other team’s best player.
Use your series handicap to choose the right player. If you are able to correctly predict the winner of the series, the player with the most points will usually go hand in hand with your prognostication.
3 Betting the Exact Series Price
Let’s say you like the lower-seeded team to win the series. As well as betting them on the money line, you should bet them in six games to win the series at an exact 4-2 price. This will give you an extra payout in the most probable outcome for the underdog winning.
Conversely, if you like the higher-seeded team, you should make bets on them in either five games or seven games. Teams finish series at home more than 70% of the time, so backing the team you like to finish the series on their home court can be an advantageous way to get an extra payout on your series pick.
If you like the team with the home-court advantage and you think it’ll be a close series, pick them to win in seven. If you think they will win with ease, pick them in five. If you like the underdog or the lower-seeded team, taking them to win in six games is the most probable outcome if your series prediction is correct.
4 Series Totals
If you expect a series to be really close but you can’t pick a winner, you can bet the series total and not worry about who wins. You can bet over/under for the total number of games in a series. That way, if you know that two teams will be fighting to the bitter end, you can relax and make a profit, while you enjoy Game 7 with a pocket full of money.
Conversely, check prices if you think the series is going to be a blowout. Oftentimes, due to market inefficiencies or market handle, the price on under in a series is better than betting the individual team. Betting under on a series is also a strong way for you to make money off a projected blowout.
Whether you expect one team to win closely in a great series, or it to be a boring blowout, there is an advantage to be made by using this market. Don’t just bet the series prices without checking to see the over/under on total games in the series.
These are some fun ways to get involved in the NBA playoffs. Use these betting tips to your advantage to have a profitable NBA postseason.
