How To Avoid Sports Betting Trap Bets

"Trap Bets" - One common sports wagering question that gets asked by many sports bettors is, “How do I avoid trap bets?” First of all, let’s define what we mean by a trap bet at online sports betting sites. A trap bet is a bet that the oddsmakers and sportsbooks WANT you to take. They purposely will set a betting line to make it look “juicy” to the general public.

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Generally the online betting public is wrong on these games and the sports betting sites have some inside knowledge or insight in regards to this game. And now with the majority of the action on one side, they can make a killing when the “upset” or opposite happens. This is a trap. Do not fall into these trap bets and work hard to identify what is and is not a trap.

If A Bet Looks Too Good To Be True It Usually Is

What I’ve found out in my years of wagering at sports betting sites is that “if it looks too good to be true – it IS too good to be true.” If you take a look at a line for a game and feel like one side is an absolute lock, you are most likely falling into a trap bet. A general rule of thumb is to avoid those games that stick out like a sore thumb. Let’s give a quick example of what we mean here.

Here is an example: Assume that the New England Patriots are the best team in the National Football League and have been beating teams by well over 10 points all year long. They have been crushing the spread. They travel to the Chicago Bears who have been mediocre at best. You expect this NFL betting line to favor the Patriots by at least 7 points, yet what you find is the Patriots are just -2.5 for the game.

This is most likely a TRAP! Sports betting sites KNOW that everyone in the world is going to bet on the Patriots, yet they don’t care. They know something. Just lay off betting games like this and you’ll be better in the long run.

Don’t Follow Public Betting Trends

Another way to avoid trap bets is to fade the public. You can find public percentages of bets on many sports betting research sites. Follow these stats and stay away from games where 70% plus of the public is on one side. I would even go a step further and say it’s better to fade the public and bet with the minority. It’s not quite that easy but the point is one way to avoid trap bets is to not bet on the same side as the sports betting public trends.

Do Your Research Before Making Sports Bets

The last way to avoid trap bets is to simply do your own research. Dig into the numbers and analyze the teams. Check the injury reports and even check out the weather for that game. More times than not you will find out information that changes your perspective on the game you are betting on. You might just uncover what games are traps and what games aren’t.

In conclusion, avoiding trap bets online is very important if you want to become a successful sports bettor. There is no worse feeling than loving a sports bet and having that wager lose. Take our steps listed above to avoid these trap bet situations and crush the books going forward. Good luck and watch out for that trap bet!