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What Does it mean? Doc's Sports How-To Sports Betting Library

Be sure to read our Sports Betting Terms Explained.

sports betting


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

Who could forget the moment right after the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship when Kevin Garnett dropped one of the most famous lines during a live interview that I can remember in quite some time. The big 6-foot 9-inch power forward was overcome with emotion and caught everyone by surprise when he shouted "anything is possible" three times in a row. That statement couldn't be more accurate.

chalk board


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

It today's world, the English language has taken a back seat to slang. Whether it be on social media, instant messaging platforms, through text or email, every body is using some sort of slang which saves them the slightest bit of time and makes them sound like a goof. In sports betting, it is no different. There is a short form or synonym for just about any topic you can think of. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes, like in this article, it really doesn't.

canada flag


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

Just when you think Canadians can't out do themselves, they go and get themselves a completely Canadian way of betting on the one sport they care the most about - hockey. As a Canadian, I can honestly say that we would chose hockey (plus beer) over just about anything in the world. It's our past time and it's our future because despite the lack of quality Canadian teams in the NHL, the fan bases are more passionate than ever in hopes of one day competing with and finally beating hockey's elite teams.

hockey puck


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

As a proud Canadian and a lover of hockey, this article shouldn't really surprise my American counterparts. You already know we like to do things differently here in Canada with our pro sports. A prime example is the CFL. However, hockey is no different. If you bet on hockey, you're usually betting the money line - who you think is going to win the game straight up. But in crazy Canadian fashion, sportsbooks offer something called the "puck line" which is exactly like the American version of the point spread.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

In today's world, patience is a virtue that very few people have left in them. We live in a world with lightning quick internet, instant message and in a world where fast food reigns supreme. People love getting instant gratification. In the sports betting world, that also holds true. It's one thing to sit through a three-and-a-half-hour football game between two mediocre teams only to suffer a bad beat on a completely meaningless last-minute touchdown that does nothing but affect the point spread and burn your ticket.

nfl odds


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

Nothing in this world is free. Everything we want costs money to get and now days the actual value of money has decreased which in turn has made products more expensive. Sometimes it's so dramatic that the comparison between today and your parents/grandparent's younger days is unbelievable. We've all heard the famous line (some of you reading this may even tell your kids this from time to time) "back in my day, we could get a pop and a bag of chips for .10 cents". In today's world, .10 cent candies cost more than .10 cents.

huge stack money


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

If there is one thing in this world that you should try to do daily, its laugh. Laughter helps us lighten up and enjoy the every day blessings of life. Whether you laugh at funny jokes people tell you, funny situations you find yourself in or you just laugh at yourself for how weird you are - it doesn't matter. Laughter is important. Unfortunately, the majority of us have a friend or know someone who always takes jokes or pranks way too far until they get annoying or out of hand. This act would be considered pressing the issue and is generally not well received. In sports betting, "pressing" the issue can also be a big problem, especially if you're an emotional bettor who has suffered some early losses.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a Perfecta referred to at a race track. It's an old-fashioned term these days. It will show up in some racing books or forums, though, so it is important to know what the heck it is that people are talking about. Simply, a perfecta is another word for an exacta - which in turn can be also known as an exactor, or even a forecast in some places. They are all different words for the same thing - betting on which horses in a race will finish first and second in the exact order. They are a more complex version of a quinella - a bet in which you have to pick the top two finishers, but in which order doesn't matter.

parlay ticket


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

I'm sure we've all been in a situation before where we stare at the list of games and think to ourselves "if only I could hit a nice 10 team parlay". Now, depending on the odds of the games you selected or the amount of money actually wagered on the parlay, this bet won't necessarily make you "rich" but it could offer up a very nice four or five-digit return. The problem with hitting a parlay that size is that it's damn near impossible to do.

upward arrow


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

To understand what the over is in sports betting we first need to understand totals betting, otherwise commonly known as the over/under. In the most common form of totals betting the linemaker will set a total for the number of points he thinks the two teams in a game will combine to score. You can bet totals in any of the major teams sports in North America. Once you know what the total is for a given game then your job is easy - you have to determine whether the two teams are likely to score more points than the total, or fewer points.

outlaw


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

If you are reading this to find out what an outlaw line is then you certainly have never been able to bet one. Don't worry - most people haven't. An outlaw line is the earliest available line in sports betting. Linemakers will release it to a select group of sharp bettors that they know and respect before they make the line available to the public. By giving these bettors a sneak peek - and a chance to bet the line early on - the linemakers can be sure that the line they eventually release to the public is as strong as it can be.

sports betting lines


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

We've all been in a situation before where we tried to buy something but the price just wasn't right. There are always two options when facing this issue and they are walking away and finding a lower price somewhere else, or trying to negotiate a bit on the price if possible. In a negotiation, the first person who says a number generally loses. The opening number is always the starting point and you can almost always determine whether or not it will go lower or higher based on what that initial number is. It is no different in sports betting, even if you can't negotiate on the opening number.

sports betting screen


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

If you hear someone use the phrase "off the board" when discussing sports betting, they are referring to a game or event where the sportsbooks refuse to take any bets. Since many sportsbooks operate under their own set of rules and guidelines, they can take any game or event off the board without a moments notice. As soon as they hear rumblings about certain circumstances that could affect the outcome, they protect their bottom line and pull the game until they know the exact details of what's going on.

Edinson Volquez gets the start for the Reds tonight against St. Louis.


by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

There is absolutely nothing worse in this world than getting less than you deserve. That holds true not only in every day life, but in the sports betting industry as well. Every time a bettor places a bet at sportsbook or online, they have no choice but to accept the odds offered to them. Most times, sportsbooks offer up odds that are much lower than what should be offered. This not only effects the potential payout, but could affect the bankroll, as a bettor may be inclined to bet more in order to win more money. This is why knowing how to find 'true odds' is so important. It helps bettors to understand the difference between odds that have value and odds that don't.

pie chart


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

The Albert Einstein definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. While that may be true in real life, in sports betting, if you can find an occurrence that repeats itself on a yearly, maybe even weekly basis, you stand to make a lot of money. Such occurrences in sports are called "trends" and they can be used to determine the best possible approach when thinking about future betting situations.

sportsbook


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Every serious bettor already knows that parlays are the highest risk bet you can make. With every team added to the parlay card, the probability of cashing that parlay ticket decreases exponentially. The worst thing about making a parlay bet is missing a massive payout by going three-for-four. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way to ensure that you can make some money while losing by a single team playing parlays.

robin bird


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

You can create a round robin in basketball by selecting anywhere from three to eight teams that you want to include in this wager. Once the teams are all selected, the bettor can choose to create combinations of parlays between two to six teams. The calculation for the number of bets you will place depends on the total number of teams you initially select for this round robin. Really, the round robin is just a shortcut offered by sportsbooks - you can make bets in bulk instead of having to make each bet separately.

Will Brett Favre come out of retierment again?


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Every serious bettor already knows that parlays are the highest risk bet you can make. With every team you add to the parlay card, the probability of cashing that parlay ticket decreases exponentially. The worst thing about making a parlay bet is missing a massive payout by going three-for-four. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way to ensure that you can make some money whilelosing by a single team playing parlays.

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Every serious bettor already knows that parlays are the highest risk bet you can make. With every team you add to the parlay card, the probability of cashing that parlay ticket decreases exponentially. The worst thing about making a parlay bet is missing a massive payout by going three-for-four. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way to ensure that you can make some money while losing by a single team playing parlays.

Crooked Line


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Generally speaking, when betting on sports, we are all at the mercy of the sportsbooks. Whatever lines or prices they put out, we must abide by them and decide if they are worth betting or not. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way around this and it comes in the form of "alternative lines." This option allows us to find a line we would like to bet and bet it. Easy, right? The setback to this is that the lines we choose typically come with very high odds, thus draining the bet of any real value.

crystal ball


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

In the sports betting industry, anyone can claim they are the "best" handicapper in the world. Unfortunately, majority of people making these claims casual bettors that work a 9-5 job and have no time to dedicate to handicapping games. They spend more time ripping up tickets more than they do cashing them. If you fall into that category, I recommend seeking the help of a professional bettor AKA "tout."

graph


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Much like in baseball where the traditionalists complain that the new wave of players are taking over and disrespecting the game, sports betting is slowly becoming geared to the younger generation of players. The demand for quick results and instant gratification have taken the sportsbooks by storm and sportsbook have replied by offering up more and more obscure bets. However, one of the simplest form of betting has remained the same and that is betting on the "over/under" for a particular game or event.

tug of war


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

I'm sure all you all know what a tie is in sports - when two teams or individuals finish a game with the same number of points, and there is no winner. Mercifully, it is pretty tough for ties to happen in most sports. In basketball and baseball they just keep playing until there is a winner. Hockey uses a shootout to end ties in the regular season, and plays until it's over in the playoffs. Football can have ties - at least in the NFL - but new overtime rules make it tougher all the time for one to actually happen. Only soccer consistently delivers ties - a contributing reason why it isn't as popular here as other sports.

Sportsbook Screen


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

If I could choose two super powers to have, one of them would definitely be a photographic memory. Think about it, whatever information you see, you can retain and use it at a later date and sound like an expert on the topic. A photographic memory would also be ideal in the sports betting industry. Not only could you remember lines and odds from previous games, but you could memorize your bets without needing to refer to your "wagering ticket" every five minutes - especially if you have a lot of bets going on at one time.

Plus signs


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

A "teaser" is a special kind of sports wager available when betting pointspreads in basketball or football. Like a parlay it is a multi-game bet in which you must win each individual bets in order to win the overall bet. The difference between a parlay and a teaser, though, is that you are allowed to adjust the pointspread in each game you are betting on. That makes it easier to win each individual game, so it makes sense the potential returns are lower than a parlay - often much lower.

Dollar Sign


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

With a betting system you are using a series of rules or criteria to replace subjective decisions to guide your betting. Using trends from past results of games or events, you attempt to find the most logical ways to wager similar future games. Essentially, you are looking for situations where, consistently over time, after x has happened, y has tended to happen. Then, when you next see x happen you can bet on y. To find these systems, if you chose to develop them yourself instead of getting them from others, you would use some form of data mining. There are countless types of betting systems.

lolipop


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

A "sucker bet" in sports betting refers to a wager considered to be unwise because the bookmaker has an overwhelming advantage. Let's call it like it is - you have to be an idiot to make these bets consistently, and you will feel like an idiot when you realize just how bad the bet was. Basically, these are bets that, over the long term, cost significantly more than they have any chance of making.

catsup bottle


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

The variety of combinations in a "super heinz" consists of 21 two-team parlays, 35 three-team parlays, 21 four-team parlays, 7 six-team parlays and one seven-fold accumulator. An accumulator is an accumulator is a bet of four or more selections; those with fewer than four act as the same but have different names such as a two-team parlay being referred as a double, a three-team parlay being referred to as a treble, etc.

bookie


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

Generally speaking, when betting on sports, we are all at the mercy of the sportsbooks. Whatever lines or prices they put out, we must abide by them and decide if they are worth betting or not. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way around this and it comes in the form of "alternative lines." This option allows us to find a line we would like to bet and bet it. Easy, right? The setback to this is that the lines we choose typically come with very high odds, thus draining the bet of any real value.

basketball hottie


by Doc's Sports - 10/10/2014

A basketball pleaser is something that sounds dirty, but really isn't. It's basically the opposite of a teaser, which, come to think of it, also sounds dirty. Like a teaser or a parlay, a pleaser is a multi-game bet in which you have to win every game in order to make money. In a parlay you bet the pointspread as it is posted. In a teaser you make the pointspread more favorable for you, but get a much lower return as a result. In a pleaser you are moving the pointspread so that it is more favorable for the sportsbooks, but in return for making the win harder for you, you enjoy a significantly higher potential profit. More risk, more reward.

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