NBA spread picks, also known as NBA ATS picks are wagers that are made against the point spread. The point spread is set by oddsmakers and is designed to equalize a game by making it harder for the public to pick the outright winner. In a basketball game with a large mismatch between teams the favorite will have a minus (-) before their line and the underdog will have a plus (+).
The main reason people bet on NBA spreads is that betting the moneyline offers little value, especially on the big favorites. This is due to the fact that the better team will win most games, meaning your payout will be smaller than if you had placed a bet on the underdog. This is why it’s important to track NBA lines and monitor the number of bets on each side as well as any real-time line movements.
Cracking the Code: A Guide to Mastering NBA Spread Picks and Predictions
For example, the LA Lakers are favored to beat the Memphis Grizzlies by 4.5 points when they meet at Staples Center. The -4.5 line means that the Lakers must win by at least 4 points for bettors to profit. If they win by less than 4, the bet will be pushed, returning all bettors’ original stakes.
In addition to betting against the spread, there is also a great deal of value in placing NBA over/under bets. This bet type focuses on predicting the total combined score of both teams for the game and determines whether it will exceed or fall below the number set by oddsmakers. NBA over/under bets tend to see the most action early on before a game and can be a fun way to spice up your regular season betting.
