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Methods for Calculating American Sports Betting Odds

New sports bettors have a lot of information they need to learn. One of the most crucial is to know how odds are calculated. Odds makers create odds based on the data they get from various sources. Bettors can use the same data to interpret the outcomes of their bets.

Probability is a key strategy used to calculate bookmaker odds. It means the possibility of an outcome happening. There are several other methods used for calculating American sports betting odds that you can check below:

The plus and minus signifiers

The plus and minus signifiers refer to both point spreads and betting odds. A minus means a favorite, and a plus means an underdog. For instance, you may decide to bet now on a game whose odds are -7 and +7. What this means is that if the favorite team wins by more than 7 points, your bet wins. If the underdog loses by less than 7 points, your bet wins. Understanding the signifiers will help you understand how odds are calculated.

Odds and probability

Probability is the main strategy for calculating odds which is why it is crucial to understand the term when playing online casino games. Odds probability means the possibility of an event occurring or not occurring. For instance, if you visit a certain place thrice weekly, the probability that you will visit the place in a given week is 3/7. 

In odds, the probability is based on the ratio of an event happening between a favorite team against an underdog. The probability of an event occurring is either 1 or less. It is then converted into an odds ratio. It means the ratio of the event occurring when measured against two competing teams. 

Use of subjective and objective data

The use of probability is not enough when determining sports betting odds for the best American sports. Other factors could affect the outcome of a game, no matter how accurate the probability forecasting is. For instance, a key player could get injured, or weather conditions could suddenly change and affect the predicted outcomes. In such instances, the odds makers must act swiftly and adjust the odds lest they lose. 

Subjective probability means using personal judgment or experience concerning the outcomes of a game. For example, a specific player may score a goal in 5 consecutive matches. The odds maker can change the odds and say the probability of the player scoring is no longer 40% but 75%. 

Objective means using accurate or analyzed information to predict the probability of an event occurring. It does not rely on guesswork like subjective but on credible data. For example, odds makers can determine the probability of a team scoring by recording its performance in 30 matches in a given season. 

If the team won ten times out of the 30 matches, its probability of winning is 33.33%. The odds makers can change that probability during a live match based on real-time conditions. The team might bring on board a new, highly experienced player who changes the entire prediction. 

Money line bets odds

Money line odds are based on the outcome of a sports event. That means bettors get paid only after a team wins. Just like other odds, they use positive and negative integers. In money line odds, profits increase as odds increase. 

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