When it comes to sports betting, constant research is the bettors best tool for improving their odds. And one of the best forms of research is monitoring betting trends to optimise consistent winning results.
What are sports betting trends?
Trends are effectively data compiled on a particular player or team over time that indicates their strengths and weaknesses. Does a team favour home or away turf? In previous competitions between two players, who has come out on top more? Trends are a very useful handicapping tool if used correctly to assist with betting analysis.
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Types of sports betting trends
1. Betting data trends
This is an overview of how bettors are wagering on a particular sporting event, rather than just analysing the teams or players. Betting data trends indicate who the majority is betting on, which forms the basis for using the contrarian betting strategy or fading the public. The foundation for this strategy is, essentially, that the majority of people who bet will effectively lose, so the direct logic is to bet on the opposite side. But, with the efficiency of bookmakers and betting sites these days, it’s necessary to look further than just the where the public is betting. Check the odds and lines to see how they move and whether there’s value in betting the other way.
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2. Situational trends
This is an analysis of how different sports’ teams or players fare in different situations, most commonly, at home or away. To identify these trends, past results are scrutinised and patterns identified with performances and results connected in a situation. As a beginner, there are several situational trends you can uncover for yourself by checking out certain types of data, which includes home records against stronger and weaker teams; results when travelling long distances (factoring in effects of jet lag); results following heavy losses or big wins and results following a break in play. Format these results in a way that will work for you and then use this to make some informed betting decisions. It’s best to make an assessment of the likely outcome of a game based on other factors, then bring in the situational trends to see if there is any overlap.
3. Technical trends
Remember past data alone – or situational trends – aren’t the only indicator of whether a team or player will win. Technical trends merge various situational trends to give a more comprehensive overview of a team or players’ performance potential. It will measure, for example, the performance of an individual with a winning percentage in a specific schedule rather than the performance.
Elements to consider
There are so many factors to contemplate when analysing sports’ betting trends and you don’t want to get overwhelmed with data, so here are a few elements to consider.
1. Home underdogs
Looking at this trend simply means analysing when the home team is an underdog against a popular team and then deciding if there’s any value in backing the home team. However, don’t blindly back a home team every time they’re the underdog against a popular team, use this trend to make an informed decision on the game at hand, while considering other factors.
2. Coaches
Analysing a coach’s trends with other teams or players, as well as in the run-up to this particular match, will give you a strong indication of the overall quality. Assess what tactic they’re likely to take against a particular opponent while considering their track record in the run-up to this game.
3. Bounce back
No game is played in isolation of other events so look at what happened in the previous contest – was it a big win, heavy loss or near miss? How has this player or team responded to defeat and victory in the past? This will affect the mental attitude of the player of players and their response on the day.
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4. Big Match Temperament
The South African Cricket team in a World Cup final or Andy Murray going for Wimbledon…if they want it too much and the pressure is on, sometimes even the best will crumble at the crunch. Look at how they’ve played under such big pressure previously, and decide if they have what it takes to win that big final.
How to use sports betting trends data
Rather than using betting trends as the deciding factor on where to place your money, use it as a good insight before then embarking on more research of your own. If, for example, your favourite rugby team play poorly at home, investigate why this is the case. Could it be the weather or is it just coincidental that they’ve not succeeded? Often, sports betting trends can be contradictory so you need to find the underlying meaning of the data rather than using it to validate your own opinion.
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