Basketball is one of the most popular sports for betting in Africa and across the world. It offers plenty of betting markets and opportunities that can help you win big.
Basketball predictions require some bit of research if you want to make winning picks. We provide you with free basketball betting tips that have been well-researched and analyzed by a team of basketball betting experts.
We also highlight the best betting sites for basketball odds to ensure you get good value for your bets. If you are more the football fan, we advise you to visit our Football prediction site.
Basketball explained
Basketball is a team sport played between two teams of five players each on the court. The aim is to score points against the opponents by shooting the ball through a hoop (basket) elevated at 10 feet above the ground. The game is decided by the number of points scored by each team. Teams typically compete in basketball leagues and tournaments at different levels.
Historically, basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts in the USA. The game has since spread to all corners of the world. Countries run their own basketball leagues and tournaments. There are also regional and international basketball competitions for both clubs and countries.
The modern basketball game is played on a standard rectangular floor court with two hoops at either end. There is also a mid-court line, 3-point arc, and free-throw line. Players move the ball towards the basket by dribbling, passing, and shooting. If a team makes a basket, they earn 2 points. If the shot was made outside the 3-point arc, the basket is worth 3 points. For every free throw, 1 point is awarded. Free throws are awarded against a player/team for fouls committed in the game.
Basketball betting
Basketball betting can be a very exciting and rewarding endeavor. Here, we describe the most common basketball betting markets and bet types that you need to understand when making basketball predictions.
1X2 betting – Moneylines
This is considered the simplest and most straightforward form of basketball betting. It simply involves predicting the winner of the match. It is similar to 1X2 betting in football (here you can find 1×2 betting tips) . The odds offered reflect the relative chances of either teams winning or the game ending in a draw.
For example: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- 1 – 1.20
- X – 17.00
- 2 – 5.00
There is also the option of just picking either Home or Away:
- 1 (Home) – 1.16
- 2 (Away) – 4.50
Totals or Total points scored – Overs/Unders
Basketball tips for totals involve betting on whether the total number of points scored in the game by both teams combined is more than or less than the line offered by the bookmaker. Several totals are offered for betting with varying odds.
For example: Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Clippers
- Total 210.5 – Over 1.13, Under 5.50
- Total 215.5 – Over 1.21, Under 4.24
- Total 220.5 – Over 1.33, Under 3.20
The Totals betting line can be broken down into more markets:
- Totals at full time (standard)
- Totals at full time (including over time)
- Totals at halftime, 1st half, 2nd half
- Totals per quarters – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarter
Points spread – spread betting
This is one of the most popular forms of betting in basketball. The concept is similar to handicap betting. The team expected to win is called the favorite while that expected to lose is the underdog. The bookmaker imposes a handicap on the favorite to try and even out the teams for betting purposes.
The favorite is assigned a -ve points spread while the underdog gets a +ve points spread. Your team must “cover the spread” for your bet to win.
For example: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Brooklyn: -7.5
- Cleveland: +7.5
If you bet on Brooklyn, it means they have to win the game by 8 points or more for your bet to be successful. If you bet on Cleveland, they can win the game, or lose by less than 8 points and your bet will be successful.
Other basketball betting markets
Basketball betting can also involve other betting markets that are similar to football betting. They include parlays (like multibet), Halftime/Fulltime, Double Chance, and Odd/Even. Other markets found in basketball betting include teasers, prop bets, and futures odds.
Basketball tips
We offer free basketball betting tips for matches in all the top leagues and competitions. These include; NBA, Euro League, and top basketball leagues in Europe and Africa. The NBA is the most popular for basketball betting in Africa and across the world. We have NBA betting tips for the regular season and the playoffs.
Our basketball predictions cover the most popular betting markets. A team of basketball experts is dedicated to researching and analyzing the games for you to come up with winning basketball predictions consistently.
Here are some tips to follow when betting on basketball matches:
- Statistics – The statistics will show you how a team has been performing for a given period of time. All types of statistics are available but you need to pay attention to the important ones such as average points per game, number of wins, and table rankings.
- Team News – This is basically what is happening to the team and players, which might affect the overall performance of the team. They include injuries, suspensions, fatigue, missing players, and other off-field issues.
- Bookmakers – You need to compare betting offers from various bookmakers in order to identify the best betting sites for basketball betting. You should be looking for high odds, wide range of betting markets, and various betting rewards. See more on our best betting sites page.
In summary, basketball betting is highly recommended to all our followers. With just a little knowledge in the game, you can enjoy some good wins. The good thing is that we have made it easier for you with our free basketball betting tips. Every week we will release basketball predictions for select upcoming matches in the NBA and other leagues in Europe and Africa. Follow our betting tips for free on our basketball betting predictions page.