If you have a sports bet in mind, it can be helpful to narrow it down to a few specific areas. Many bettors focus on the individual performance of the players, but spread bets and totals are also good options. The reason is simple: Sportsbooks must set odds on all games. You’ll want to look for mistakes, such as betting on the underdog, and fix them. If you’re not sure how to place a bet, consider these tips.

One popular betting strategy is the matched bet. This technique is popular in newly legal sports betting markets in the United States. You’ll bet a nickel, dime, or even a dollar to win $1,000. These types of bets are commonly known as novelty bets, and are often very low-risk. You’ll also need to know how to calculate the expected value of your bets. The more positive the value of your bets, the better.

A sports bet may come in a variety of shapes. The most common ones include wagering on a team’s win or loss, betting on the margin by which a team won or lost a game, and betting on multiple outcomes in a single game. Other types of bets are called prop bets, which allow you to be more specific in your predictions. If you have a preference for a particular sport, you can look for the right sportsbooks that offer action in all kinds of sports.