Smart money and sports betting: What is it, and how does it work? Professional sports bettors differentiate between “smart money” and the “betting public.” What’s implied is that the betting public, your regular Joe Sports Bettor, isn’t very savvy when it comes to where he should be putting his cash. On the other hand, bettors who are informed and knowledgeable wager smart money. If that’s true, what makes someone a part of the smart money set?

Independent Thinkers

Smart money sports bettors tend to be independent thinkers. They listen to other people who know the game and those who are handicapping, but they are very careful about whom they believe. They are successful because they form their opinions and make their bets based on sound handicapping methods. Ultimately, that’s what makes them part of the smart money set. They’re educated about the sport, the teams, and the game on which they are wagering. Those who follow the crowd are not part of the smart money set. They are the betting public.

Looking for an Angle

Smart money guys are always looking for an angle on a game in which they are interested. They look for things that other people miss, such as that one important matchup that no one else considered. They seek the indication, slight though it may be, that a major player may be injured to a degree that it will affect his performance. They focus on a condition, whether it is associated with a team’s depth, a specific skill set, the weather, or something else, than can give them an edge over all other bettors. The betting public doesn’t know where to start looking for such an angle.

Not Fooled by a Move in the Line

The line just moved. What does that mean? Is the underdog looking more attractive, or is there something wrong with the favorite? The line could just be moving to attract attention and get more bettors to wager on the other team to even out the action. Smart money bettors who stay connected with the game and have done their homework can tell if the line is changing artificially, which means just to attract more action, or if there’s really a reason for the move. The general betting public has no idea.

Hype-Proof

Big games get a lot of hype from the press. Smart money bettors know why this happens: so that people will read, watch, or listen to that particular commentator. There’s so much hype out there that, honestly, none of it should be believed. When you watch a pregame show have you ever noticed that most of the time each guy on the panel is trying to differentiate himself from all of the others? Their comments are merely opinions and are meant to boost ratings.

Also, if there’s a story and it can be big, then the media will blow it up as much as possible. Watch out for stories that are exploited or manufactured by the press. Don’t get caught up in cool phrases, tags, and nicknames, human-interest stories, or controversy that has no bearing on the game. Most of it is manufactured by the media in order to produce high ratings. The betting public eats up such stuff, while smart money players simply take it for what it is: filler.

Exploiting the Odds

Smart money sports bettors are always on the lookout for odds that they can exploit. These are often underdogs that have a very good chance of winning outright or being a good bet with the spread. They discern that angle, they see the matchups, and they understand the advantage that others simply don’t see. That’s because they are students of the game on which they are betting and are totally professional in their approach.

Cool, Focused, Business-Like

So, are you interested in being a part of the smart money set? If so, you’ll need to be cool, focused, and business-like. Don’t follow the crowd. Why not? Because the crowd is usually wrong. Be independent. Be intelligent. Be a smart money sports bettor.