Finding Value in MLB Betting Totals

November 30th, 2010 Betting on MLB Baseball

MLB betting totals are an area of sports betting that some professional gamblers look at on a regular basis.

Value is very important when looking at betting sports, and it is also important in baseball betting totals. Many handicappers make their own lines for baseball betting totals and then compare that line with the opening line to determine their plays. 

MLB betting totals can be different at sportsbooks by just a little bit. You can definitely look at a few to get a good idea of what you want to do by looking at different MLB betting numbers. Let’s take an example. If you like the Mets and Braves under the total you may have a couple of different options. One sportsbook may have the total at 7.5 under while another sportsbook has the game at 7 over in MLB betting.

What does that mean?  If you bet the game under 7.5 at the first sportsbook you are going to lay $120 for every $100 you want to win on the under in baseball betting. If you bet the game under the total of 7 at the second sportsbook you are only going to be risking $100 for every $100 you want to win in MLB betting. Remember that there is usually a 20-cent difference when you bet baseball totals. So which way should you go in MLB betting?  Should you bet the under 7.5 in MLB betting and lay the -120 or bet under 7 and get even money. There is not a right or wrong answer to this question in MLB betting but in this particular case you might bet the under 7.5 just in case the game lands on 7. You might not make the same decision if the total were say, 8 or 10 in MLB betting. 

Getting the best possible number also is critical for many baseball handicappers because they won’t play a game if it does not match their criteria. If they can’t get a certain total on a game, then they don’t play it.  Value is about many things in MLB betting.  It can be getting the best possible number on the game you want, but it can also be as simple as not playing if your number is not available. 

Baseball betting totals are just like other areas of sports betting because it is also important to get line value. The better value you get in MLB betting, the more successful you will be.

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