When it comes to sports betting, there are many different ways to approach the game. There are moneylines, spreads, and over/under bets, all of which offer different chances to win. In addition, there are also prop bets that allow you to have a vested interest in more specific outcomes, like how many points a player will score. Regardless of which bets you place, there are some basic rules that every bettor should know before placing a wager.

It’s important to remember that making money at sports betting requires work and dedication. Anyone who expects to make a quick profit is setting themselves up for failure. Instead, focus on finding a strategy that works for you and stick with it. You’ll be happy you did in the long run.

One of the most common mistakes that new sports bettors make is putting too much money on games that they don’t fully understand or follow. This is especially true in the NFL, where there are so many games each week that it’s impossible to keep up with them all. This is why it’s crucial to only bet on teams and games that you know well, or at least have a good understanding of.

For example, if you’re a big LA Lakers fan, it might be tempting to place a bet on every game the team plays. While this can be profitable at times, it’s also important to research the team and league thoroughly. Keeping near-obsessive records of your bets is also helpful. This will help you test theories, such as whether or not a particular player or team has an edge against the spread.

Another mistake that new bettors often make is overestimating how much they can win in a given week. While it may be fun to bet on 16 NFL games in a single week, it’s important to remember that the more you bet, the less likely you are to win. This is because the sportsbooks must collect juice on each bet, which reduces your chances of winning.

In addition to standard bets against the spread, sportsbooks also offer over/under bets on total points in a game. These bets are based on the expected combined score of both teams, which is determined by examining their previous performance and statistics. They are sometimes set in increments of a half-point (.5), even though very few sports have a full-point scoring system.

These bets can also include “novelty” props, which are wagers that don’t have anything to do with the actual action on the field or court. These can range from how many touchdown passes a particular player will throw to what color Gatorade the coaches are dousing themselves with at halftime.