The NBA is one of the most popular betting markets in the United States, and hedge betting is a sound betting strategy. The most advanced sports bettors often hedge bets when betting on the NBA, but this is a strategy that can be used by beginners as well.
A hedge bet is similar to an insurance policy as this bet is made to protect against another bet. There are a number of ways this can be done, but it must be done successfully to be fully protected.
If you are going to make a hedge bet on the NBA, then you need to pay very close attention to the sport and to the action. Oftentimes, bettors don’t have much time to decide when to make a hedge bet as the odds can change quickly.
Hopefully, you will have a better understanding of how hedge bets in NBA betting work after reading the rest of this guide.
Two Types of Hedge Bets
There are two types of ways to make a hedge bet on the NBA, and these are placed at very different times. One hedge bet is made before the action takes place, and the other is made in real-time.
Pre-Game
When some make a hedge bet pre-game, then they are usually looking to give themselves some protection on a parlay wager. Building up an NBA parlay has started to become extremely popular, but bettors also want to ensure that they at least win some money back.
This is done by betting on both sides of a game for at least one of the legs of the parlay. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you will be fully protected, but it does provide a little bit of insurance, at least.
In-Play
An in-play or live betting hedge strategy is more common, and this is the best way to ensure that you win some money back. This is the type of hedge bet that needs to be made quickly as there might not be time to waste.
The reason that this is such an effective hedge betting strategy is that bettors can watch the game and get a read on how it is going to end up. If a bettor doesn’t like the team that they backed before the game, then this is a chance to make another bet to cover up the losses.
There can still be some surprising results when making an in-play hedge bet, but this is the best way to ensure to cut your losses. Some in-play hedge bets will also be made as an insurance policy on a parlay bet with only one leg that still needs a decision.
Most Popular NBA Bets
Hedge bets on the NBA can be made on a wide range of betting options, but there are three main betting types that are popular with NBA bettors. These are also the same betting options that are popular with the NFL.
Spread
Betting against the spread is easily the most popular NBA bet to make as it combines picking the winning team with predicting how close the outcome will be. This is a great betting type to hedge with, especially when being done with live betting.
Totals
Totals or an “over/under” is another popular betting type with the NBA, and this one is much different than all of the rest. With a totals bet, the only thing that a bettor has to focus on is the total number of points that is scored in an NBA game.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is another great option to hedge with, as this is simply picking the winning team of an NBA game. This can be a great option for bettors that are sensing an “upset” as this could provide a much bigger payout than the other two options.
