Betting on Baseball: An Easy Bet?
If you’ve never bet on baseball before – with the playoffs creeping up on us now’s the perfect opportunity to get in on the action.
What? No pointspreads?
Even though baseball betting isn’t quite as popular as football or basketball betting, it is one of the easiest pro sports to handicap…as long as you can understand how to read the moneyline.
Get to know the moneyline
With the moneyline, you’re betting on a team to win straight up. Oddsmakers use the moneyline so that more wagers are placed on the favorites and less is thrown down on the underdogs. (And to make up for the difference between the favorite and the underdog, payouts are higher on the dog.)
The minus sign (or negative moneyline) indicates the favorite; the plus sign (or positive moneyline) indicates the underdog. Here’s an example of a moneyline, where the New York Yankees are the favorites:
Yankees -140 Red Sox +120.
Why aren’t there any pointspreads in baseball? The low scoring in baseball games takes the spread out of the equation, but that makes betting the (game) totals more interesting. (Totals generally range from 7-12 runs.)
Who’s the starting pitcher?
If you’re a fan of statistics then betting on baseball is perfect for you. Why? Because baseball is a game of individual outcomes and that means stats…loads of stats. You can find some great action with the starting pitchers, taking into account the bullpens, batting orders, ballpark location and condition, and even the umpires working the game.
Rain, rain, go away…
Another important factor when it comes to baseball betting? The weather. Chicago’s Wrigley Field in April can be unpredictable at best. But a game at Petco Park in sunny San Diego at any time during the regular and post season is pretty much a given.