It has been a memorable year of sport with some big-name victories, exciting shocks, and more than the odd talking point. From the NFL Super Bowl to the UEFA Champions League, there’s plenty to reflect on that’ll make us smile. But, as sports fans already know, there’s little time for reflection in this game as there’s always a big game, race, or fight about to begin somewhere in the world.
Sports in the United States were under the microscope, with fans of the NFL, NBA, and MLB eager to see how they responded to the 2020-22 global pandemic. Covid brought many industries to its knees, and critics suggested professional sports wouldn’t recover. The millions lost, fans getting comfortable watching on TV, and a generation of players losing out due to restrictions.
The future looked bleak. Thankfully, US sports proved it stronger than we knew. When reading online sportsbook reviews, you’ll note bookies are in a stronger position than ever in the US. That’s a testament to sport’s unrelenting desire to succeed and the community’s vital role. We can’t wait to dive head-first into another enthralling season.
We’re just getting started
There’s plenty more to come in the weeks and months ahead as we gather pace heading towards fall and winter. Excitement hangs in the air with the English Premier League, NFL, and NBA seasons scheduled for renewal. It’s a time of possibility when the slate has been wiped clean, and your favourite team is back in the running. Who will be the big winners and losers of the campaign?
Sports fans love to predict the outcome of their favourite events and competitions. An NBA season is long, and some fans may lose interest as the games begin to come at them thick and fast. One sure-fire way to add excitement is to predict how a team will perform in an upcoming fixture or over the season. Making winning predictions will ensure every game has your eye.
How do you successfully predict the result of a game that has yet to start or a competition that may not conclude for several months? There’s less luck involved than some people may think. Instead, making solid predictions is the product of research, knowledge, and the ability to spot a good bet. Keep reading for more information.
Do it yourself
Countless experts are offering their views and predictions on the next game of note from the season. Some offer their tips for free, while others charge for the information or through a subscription platform. It’s important to remember that not all online tipsters are scammers, but they’re not all reliable, either.
When choosing a sportsbook tipster, you put your trust in them knowing more than you. Any payment might cover their research time, sharing the tips on a platform such as Whatsapp, and keeping track of the profit and loss. If you need more time to research a race and are confident you’ve found a good tipster, by all means, crack on with that approach.
But if a selection loses, you’ll always have someone else to blame. Losses are much easier to take on the chin when you’re the only one to blame. You can be confident if you’ve looked in the right places, done your homework, and made the right pick and the correct odds and time. Even if things don’t go your way with the results, you’ll know you left no stone unturned. The same can’t isn’t true for some online tipsters.
Check the bookies’ view
It’s always worth checking how bookmakers think a fixture will play out in their pre-game betting. The traders working at leading sportsbooks from Las Vegas to London don’t always get it right and have been wrong on more than a few occasions. But they’re right more than wrong, and it’s their job to know the latest information.
The betting odds should be the last thing you check, as knowing prices may sway your opinion. When you have researched a fixture and picked a team, visit a gambling app and see which team or player is the betting favourite. It shouldn’t change your selections, but you may take confidence from knowing the experts are thinking like you when previewing a game.
Learning how strong the traders think your pick will perform is also good. If you’re betting on the winner of the Super Bowl back in pre-season, for example, you’ll know if the market agrees with you, thinks your team is capable of competing with a bit of luck, or believes you’re miles off the mark with your shot.
Follow the stats
The more you know and understand a fixture or competition, the greater chance you’ll make firm predictions. Read the stats. It’s impossible to have too much information regarding a sports fixture. You want to know as much as possible, including recent results, injury news, schedule, weather, appointed officials, etc.
You can access the latest stats and information online with the internet crammed with reliable and up-to-the-minute information. When you have all the info jotted down on your notepad, it’s time to transform the bare stats and numbers into a prediction. See what your research gives up, including which team might win, the total points likely to be scored in a game, or a player that’ll make a difference.
You have the stats and have decoded the information to create a prediction. You’ve listened to the latest interviews from coaches, pundits, and players. Now you can visit any legal and licensed online sportsbook in your state and gamble. Look past the win-lose-draw markets and dive into the specials. That’s where you’ll find the value.
Head-to-head scores
How did the teams play when they last met, what was the score, and which players stood out from the crowd? You’ll find all these details by studying the head-to-head stats.
If you notice a pattern or trend, such as the home team winning four of the last five or the game producing overs in the points each time, you’ll now have a solid selection.