Sports betting is simply placing a wager on a specific outcome of a sporting event. Back in the dinosaur days (or even earlier), people would bet on who would win a game or how many points were scored in a contest. Today, you can place a bet on almost any aspect of a game, including player and team props. Props are also known as proposition bets. They are a great way to get in on the action without having to pay a lot of money. These bets can range from how many home runs a certain player will hit to the total number of touchdown passes in a game. Some of these props can be incredibly volatile, so it’s important to research them thoroughly before you place your bet.
Another popular type of wager in sports is over/under betting. This is a type of bet where you predict whether the two teams involved in the game will combine for more (over) or less (under) than the total amount posted by oddsmakers. For example, if you bet on the over for a Seahawks-Rams game, and they score 42 combined points or more in the contest, you’ll win your bet.
Successful bettors know that the key to success in this type of betting is to make smart decisions and avoid making emotional bets. That means letting statistics and math guide your bets instead of listening to locker room gossip or watching the team’s last few games. They also keep near-obsessive records of their bets and bet only 1% to 5% of their bankroll per game.