What Does it mean? Doc's Sports How-To Sports Betting Library

What Does Alternate Run Line Mean in Baseball Betting? How to Bet on MLB Alternate Runlines
by Griffin Murphy - 6/27/2024

One of the most effective MLB markets to wager on is the alternate run line. Standard run lines give the favorite in any given MLB matchup a “spread” of -1.5 runs. This means if the New York Yankees are -200 moneyline favorites over the Boston Red Sox, you can take their -1.5 run line at +100 odds instead.

What is Closing Line Value (CLV) in Sports Betting? Why is Closing Line Value Important?
by August Young - 6/4/2024

In this article, we’re going to discuss Closing Line Value and its importance when betting on sports. First, we need to understand WHAT closing line value is, before we can utilize it as a tool and incorporate it into our handicapping process. In its most basic form, Closing Line Value (or “CLV”) essentially means the value you obtained on your initial wager, compared to where the market closed.

What is a Parlay Bet and How Does It Relate to Sports Betting?
by Doc's Sports - 1/16/2024

I’m sure we’ve all been in a situation before where we stare at the list of games and think to ourselves “if only I could hit a nice 10-team parlay”. Depending on the odds of the games you selected or the amount of money wagered on the parlay, this bet won’t necessarily make you “rich”. But it could offer up a very nice four or five-digit return.

What Does WHIP Mean in Baseball? Description with Examples
by Chris Vasile - 6/20/2023

Baseball. It's America's pastime. A game that prides itself on being perfect in every way imagina-ble. It's almost as much an individual sport as it is a team sport when you consider that in every game and in every inning, a pitcher faces one batter at a time, and whichever player wins that battle brings their team one step closer to victory.

Moneyline vs Run Line Betting: How they Compare
by Docsports.com - 6/19/2023

If you want to bet sides in baseball, you have two options - the moneyline or the runline . It is a very straightforward choice if you understand them , and it makes baseball betting approachable. For some reason, though, people often struggle to know the difference between the two and, more importantly, when using one or the other makes the most sense.

Baseball Betting Made Easy: What Is A Round Robin and How To Bet On One?
by Docsports.com - 5/11/2023

Every serious bettor already knows that parlays are the highest-risk bet you can make. With every team added to the parlay card, the probability of cashing that parlay ticket decreases exponentially. The worst thing about making a parlay bet is missing a massive payout by going three-for-four. Fortunately for bettors, there is a way to ensure that you can make some money while losing by a single team while wagering on parlays.

What is Line Shading and How Oddsmakers Use in Sports Betting and Wagering
by Chris Vasile - 4/14/2021

It’s a trick as old as time. Increasing the value on something you know is not worth it only to have people overpay because there is a shortage on what they want and what you’re selling. In the sports betting industry, shaded lines are the equivalent of pricing something in such a way that the consumer (read: bettor) knows that they are not getting any value for what they are about to buy, but they buy it anyway because it’s something they really want.

How Does Sports Betting Work? Doc’s Sports Provides the Answers
by Jason Radowitz - 8/3/2020

Sports betting has become a phenomenon across the world. People all around the world will put wagers on a sporting event to create more excitement around a game for themselves. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t watch a 1-10 team play a 2-9 team without placing a wager. But once the wager is in, you’re absolutely tuning in and watching every second.

Teaser Bet: What is it and How Does it Work in Sports Betting?
by Jeremy Martin - 4/7/2020

Seasoned bettors are likely familiar with the teaser bet. But some beginning bettors might not know what these unique and exotic sports wagers entail. We are here to explain everything about a teaser bet; what it is, how it works, and the best way to use this option in your overall sports betting strategy.

How to Bet Horse Racing with Examples of Popular Wagers
by Raphael Esparza - 3/30/2020

Horse racing is one of the time-honored traditions of American sports betting. There may be nothing I love more in sports than the announcer calling the stretch run. It is a huge adrenaline rush, and almost everyone in attendance is betting, so the excitement at the track is unparalleled.

What is a Value Bet in Football: Expert NFL and NCAA Wagering Analysis
by Trevor Whenham - 6/13/2019

One of the cool parts of writing what I write about all the time is that you are rarely short of something to talk about when you meet someone new. They ask what you do, and then want to talk about it - their favorite team, their favorite league, or the foolproof system they have developed. For a guy who doesn't love putting a lot of effort into social interactions, it comes in handy. But there is a downside.

How are Betting Lines for NFL and College Football Games Set?
by Trevor Whenham - 6/13/2019

We are going back to school this summer. I've grown tired of hearing people talk about football betting when they have no idea of the fundamentals. I won't pretend to be the world's greatest football bettor, but I do understand the basics, and that is a surprising boost.

What Is the Difference Between a Quinella vs. Exacta Box?
by Paul Buck - 5/28/2019

Among the countless number of activities one can pursue at this time of the year is going to the horse track. Whether you know nothing about horse racing or are an accomplished bettor, there are few things more relaxing and fun than spending a day at the track. One aspect that novice bettors often have a problem determining is some of the various betting terms that make them uncomfortable when going to the window to place a bet.

What Happens to My MLB Bet if There is a Pitching Change?
by Chris Vasile - 5/27/2019

The MLB Season is often described as a marathon instead of a sprint. Not only do players and teams go through the ups and downs of the regular season, but handicappers often fare the same way. Baseball spans more than seven months and has 4,860 regular-season games to wager on, which means it's vital that you pick the right spots and know how to properly place an MLB wager. There are several betting options available to the MLB, with the most popular ones being the moneyline.

What Happens to a Parlay if a Game is Canceled?
by Chris Vasile - 5/27/2019

I'm sure we've all been in a situation before where we stare at the list of games and think to ourselves -- if only I could hit a nice 10-team parlay. Now, depending on the odds of the games you selected, or the amount of money actually wagered on the parlay, this bet won't necessarily make you rich, but it could offer up a very nice four- or five-digit return.

What Happens to My Bet if MLB Baseball Game Gets Postponed?
by Chris Vasile - 5/21/2019

There are very few things in this world worse than making plans with someone, getting excited about going out, and then having them cancel on you at the last possible minute. This happens to everyone, and in sports betting the same thing happens, but in a different context. Imagine this - you get the rundown of the night's action and find a game that really sticks out to you.

What Happens to My Bet If My Tennis Player Retires?
by Chris Vasile - 5/21/2019

In my honest opinion, tennis is a sport that doesn't get early enough credit for being a legitimate source of entertainment as a fan and a legitimately hard game to master. Since you are reading this and have access to the Internet, I'm sure you've heard of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They are the two biggest names in the sport, even as their careers are starting to wind down.

How To Calculate Sports Betting Payouts
by Chris Vasile - 5/20/2019

When it comes to sports betting, the main goal for anyone who wagers a single dollar on any sporting event is to turn that dollar into two or three or four or hundreds of dollars. It's much easier said than done, and that is why the betting industry is one of the hardest industries to break into in a big way.

How Do I Place a Sports Bet In Las Vegas?
by Chris Vasile - 5/6/2019

If you've never set foot in an actual sportsbook before, the chances of getting overwhelmed when you actually do are very high. I highly recommend going to the sportsbooks for your very first time on a day when it's not Super Bowl weekend, or March Madness or the Kentucky Derby, or any other massive sporting event that the entire world is watching.

Which States Allow Sports Betting?
by Chris Vasile - 5/6/2019

If you haven't already heard, states can now officially legalize sports betting if they chose to do so after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban last year. There are now a variety of bills on file around the country and even some new laws in place that pertain to sports betting and sportsbooks.

Where Can I Bet on Sports?
by Chris Vasile - 5/6/2019

As silly as this question sounds coming from a legitimate sports betting operation, we try to cater to everyone who is interested in the sports betting industry. That means that our website offers in-depth previews of upcoming events such as the Kentucky Derby or the back-end of the NBA/NHL playoffs in addition to guides on how to get started in the betting industry, including bankroll management, betting strategies and everything in between.

How Do I Create a Sports Betting Algorithm or System?
by Chris Vasile - 4/24/2019

It might come as a surprise to most to hear that some of the best sports handicappers on the planet rely on a particular betting system more so than their knowledge of the sport or sports they bet on. Don't get me wrong, these handicappers are very smart people, but their consistent success is due to the fact they've been able to develop betting systems throughout their years in the industry that they trust and rely on 100 percent of the time.

How Does One Become A Good Sports Bettor?
by Chris Vasile - 4/24/2019

In an industry that revolves around numbers, stats, odds, lines, trends, days of the week and everything in between, gambling requires a handicapper to have just enough luck to take over when the skill part of the equation lets them down. Sports betting is such a complex creature that we are all striving to understand in order to turn a profit. And despite it being around for an extended period of time, not many have mastered the art of gambling.

How Do Sportsbooks Make Money?
by Chris Vasile - 4/18/2019

Some people refer to sportsbooks as a sanctuary; a place they can go where they do their best thinking and enjoy the games and atmosphere. Some people refer to them as utter chaos, and other than placing their bets at one, do everything in their power to get out before the games actually start.

How do I Make Money Betting on Sports?
by Chris Vasile - 4/11/2019

Look, nobody said this sports betting gig would be easy. There are always ups and downs and it's pretty much impossible to win every single wager you make throughout the course of the season. There are going to be extreme heaters where you feel like you can't lose, and there are going to be times where you will struggle to pick a winner with tomorrow's newspaper.

How Do I Read Sports Betting Odds and Lines?
by Chris Vasile - 4/11/2019

Who could forget the moment right after the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship when Kevin Garnett dropped one of the most famous lines during a live interview that I can remember in quite some time. The big 6-foot-9 power forward was overcome with emotion and caught everyone by surprise when he shouted anything is possible three times in a row. That statement couldn't be more accurate.

How Does Spread Betting Work in Sports?
by Chris Vasile - 4/11/2019

If you've never set foot in an actual sportsbook before or logged into an online sportsbook, the chances of you getting overwhelmed when you actually do are very high. In an actual Las Vegas sportsbook, there is typically a lot of commotion, and the odds and lines are displayed on a massive digital board for everyone to see. When a novice sports bettor looks at the massive digital signage, they will see a bunch of numbers, both positive and negative, some two digits, some three digits.

What Does It Mean To Hedge a Sports Bet or Wager?
by Chris Vasile - 4/11/2019

If you think winning a 10-team parlay is a dream come true for most bettors, you would be spot on. However, the chances of that happening are slim to none, making it not a very realistic goal for serious bettors to reach. The dream scenario for most bettors is to find themselves in a position where they are guaranteed a profit regardless of what actually happens in a game they bet on.

How Do Half Points Work in Sports Betting and Wagering?
by Chris Vasile - 4/8/2019

It doesn't matter if you are a novice bettor just learning the ropes or a professional bettor that's seen everything in their 25 years in the business, at one time or another (more like several times in your life time) you will have to throw away a ticket in which a team failed to cover the point spread by a half point. It is one of the more frustrating losses in the industry, right next to the classic ninth-inning bullpen collapse in baseball.

How Does the Line Work in Sports Betting?
by Chris Vasile - 4/8/2019

If you're an amateur bettor that's just starting out and are in desperate need of a quick betting terminology lesson, you've come to the right place. For starters, I would like to believe that you are starting out by picking teams that you believe will win the game outright. That would be known as a moneyline bet. If you are a bit more advanced then that, you would probably be looking at betting the "line" on a particular event.