Betting
First Half NBA Spreads at Online Sportsbooks
There are any
number of ways to bet on the NBA at an online sportsbook. Along with basic
betting lines for the spread and total, you can bet most games on the moneyline
along with a grocery list of individual game props covering the action on the
court. Another highly popular way to bet on NBA games is with the use of a
spread for just the first half of the game. Sometimes it can be easier to
predict the outcome of the first two quarters as opposed to the entire game.
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When it comes
to setting first half lines, the Oddsmakers tend to split the total spread for
a game in half with some tweaks along the way. For example, if Boston is a
six-point favorite against Philadelphia, the first half line will most likely
be between three points and 3.5 points. Sometimes that extra half point can
work in your favor depending on how everything shakes out.
The key to
successfully betting on first half lines is to find teams that tend to jump out
to fast starts facing a team that plays its best ball in the second half. Leads
come an go in the NBA on a regular basis. It is not all that uncommon to find
one team beating the other by double figures at the half only to blow that lead
in the second half to lose the game straight-up.
Another
important strategy for betting first half NBA spreads is to track the actual
opening lines as well as any movements right up to tip off. By studying all the
betting lines on a regular basis, you will get a good feel for how they are
actually set. You should be able to spot the value plays in a first half line
as opposed to where the spread is set for the whole game.
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Sometimes, it
is easier for an underdog to cover over the first two quarters as opposed to
keeping a game close for the entire four quarters of play. As mentioned, some
teams have a tendency to get a fast start out of the gate before fading in the
second half. When those types of teams go off as favorites, betting them in the
first half as opposed to laying the points for the whole game is the smart way
to go.
Along with
studying the opening betting lines and the movement from when they are first
released to the opening tip, you should also study the box score for a team’s
last several games. This can give you a good feel for how many points it may
typically score over two quarters of play. You can also study a team’s record
against the spread for the first half of their games. Just like betting a hot
team over the course of an extended winning streak both SU and ATS, you can
also find hot teams covering the majority of their games over the first two
quarters.
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Betting first
halves of NBA games is also an efficient use of time. It is far easier to
follow two quarters of action as opposed to watching an entire game. With most
online books, you will also have the option of betting the second half of every
game. Winning the first half bet could open the door to doubling things down on
the second half spread if you feel good about a certain team.
Smaller increments
of playing time can often be more predictable. The better team in any matchup
should have a lead heading into halftime. Fatigue, lingering injuries and
playing on the road can all have a bigger impact in the final two quarters of a
game as opposed to the first two.
