As one of the most popular sports in the world, it’s no surprise that basketball is a pretty popular sport to bet on.

The NBA in particular, the largest basketball league there is, is a cash cow for betting agencies. If you bet intelligently though, you can flip these odds, and give yourself a good chance of beating the bookmakers.

Considering each team plays 82 regular season games in the NBA, it should come as no surprise that there are a fairly significant number of games which end with an unexpected results. Very few teams are able to bring the same level of energy to each and every game, and with many games being decided in the final minutes, it isn’t always easy to pick a winner.

Sometimes, however, there are important clues prior to a game that suggest that one team might not be at their best on a given night. A major example of this is the recent schedules. Often, teams go on extended road trips, sometimes playing five or more games away from home, and often within just seven or eight days. If a team is playing their fifth consecutive game on the road without much of a break, chances are they will be well below their best, and won’t bring a whole lot of enthusiasm with them onto the floor. Bookmakers often adjust for these scenarios, but identifying when a team, particularly a favourite, is going to be below their best can still be a good way to make money.

Player bets can also be a great way to be basketball intelligently. Again, the kind of thing discussed below is something bookmakers adjust their lines for, but often they don’t do so as much as necessary. Take, for example, a player like Andre Drummond, who does much of his scoring in the paint. If his team, the Detroit Pistons, are playing someone like the Orlando Magic, who are seriously lacking in interior defense, the chances are that Drummond is going to put up a decent number of points – and likely grab a fair few offensive boards as well.

Usually in this scenario, Drummond’s points over/under will be a little higher than his season average. Say, for example, he’s averaging 15.7 points per game – in this game, against a team like Orlando, bookmakers will likely lift his over/under points total to 16.5 or perhaps even 17. Often, however, this still won’t be enough, and you can make some good money on the over.

This isn’t to say that whenever Drummond is playing Orlando you should bet on Drummond to score a lot of points. There are other factors, including both his and the opponent’s form, injuries etc. As a rule, however, looking at these kinds of stats can play a big role in making you some money. Many statistics, such as points in the paint conceded by every team, can be accessed on the NBA website, and using resources like this can be a great way to give your betting a bit more reason.

One of the most popular leagues in the world, the NBA can be one of the most enjoyable to bet on. It is, however, also highly addictive, and with such a wide array of markets and so many games played on a daily basis over the course of eight months, it can be easy to lose a lot of money if you aren’t careful. Employing a few of the rules mentioned above, and ensuring that you do the appropriate research before you bet, can have a major impact on whether you lose it all, or make some profit. Do the work and only bet on what you feel comfortable about, and it’s possible to bet basketball intelligently.