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Best ChoiceHow We Picked the Best NBA Sites
We understand the importance of putting your money into a safe, reliable sportsbook. That’s why only the best NBA betting sites make it onto our experts’ recommended list after a thorough review process. Here’s the criteria we used when reviewing each of the sportsbooks:
Licensing & Reputation: Each sportsbook in Michigan must operate under license from Michigan Gaming Control Board. Our team does a thorough check on each online sportsbook that launches in the state. Only those that meet this requirement are considered for our recommended list.
Variety of Options: The best NBA online sportsbooks give their customers a wide range of NBA betting lines. Whether that is offering the best props, same-game parlays or plenty of futures, we research each book to ensure they give their customers the best chance to maximize profits.
Is NBA Betting Legal in Michigan?
Yes, online sports betting became legal in December 2019 when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of Michigan online sports betting bills. Michigan became the 20th state to legalize sports betting and became the first state with commercial and Native American casinos in addition to online sports and casino gaming.
Benefits to Betting on the NBA
The wagering options made available to bettors are one of the best aspects of betting on the NBA. Sure, people love betting on NBA spreads, and moneyline betting is extremely popular, too. But there is so much more. Between quarter, half and full-game spreads, along with props, totals and live betting, there are plenty of angles for bettors to consider while searching for an edge.
Signing Up to Bet on NBA Games
The process of betting on NBA games is relatively straightforward once you find one of the NBA betting sites that interests you. Read our review, click on the link and you will be directed to the gambling site. Click on “register” to start the process. You will be asked to provide an email address, choose a password and username and go through the ID verification process to produce an account. That will include providing the last four digits of your Social Security number and proof of address.
NBA Bets to Make in Michigan
Before the season starts, bettors can wager on NBA futures such as NBA champion, MVP, conference winner or division races, bettors can also wager on the win totals for each team. For example, if the Detroit Pistons have a win total set at 23.5, you can take the over if you think they will surprise the league and win 24 games or more or take the under if you believe another rebuilding year is at hand.
One the season begins, all the typical NBA game bets are available, too: spreads, moneyline, totals and props.
Popular NBA Events to Bet On
The prime-time games on national television tend to have the most action during the season. Those include Thursday nights on TNT and ESPN’s NBA showcases on Fridays. ABC has traditionally held marquee matchups in its Saturday night slot as well.
The postseason, and the NBA Finals in particular, is also a popular time to bet on the NBA. In addition to single-game bets, you can wager on who will win a series and in how many games. Series odds change with each game. If the Lakers fall down 2-0 in a series and you think they can come back, you’ll normally find attractive plus-odds on them to rally and take the series.
NBA Betting Strategies to Consider
Line shopping: With numerous NBA betting sites available, bettors have the ability to search for the best line across different books. For instance, say you see the Lakers are -3 over the Clippers on DraftKings and you’re intrigued. But before placing the bet, you check to see what the line is on FanDuel. That oddsmaker has the Lakers at -2.5 at the same -110 odds. That’s the value play as it turns a potential three-point Lakers win from a push to a win. The same can – and should – be done for totals, moneyline odds and props.
Look at the schedule: With a long season, it’s important to analyze the schedule to see how much rest a team has going into a matchup. Obviously, a team with more days off between games will be fresher than a team playing on the second of a back-to-back. Sportsbooks take this into account when making the line, and it’s important for bettors to keep up to date with the schedule to search for the best trends.
How to Read NBA Odds and Betting Lines
Spread Odds
The number next to a team designates the spread. For example, if the Atlanta Hawks are -5 and the Memphis Grizzlies are +5, the Hawks are five-point favorites and must win by more than five for a bet on them to win. Likewise, any loss by the Grizzlies of four points or less would be a winning bet. A five-point margin of victory results in a push.
Moneyline Odds
Next to the spread line are the moneyline odds. Moneyline betting is simply picking a winner straight up. We’ll keep the Hawks and Grizzlies example for this one, too. Since the Hawks are favored, their moneyline odds are -180, while the Grizzlies are +165. In this situation, a bettor would have to wager $180 on the Hawks to win $100. Whereas a $100 bet on the Grizzlies would net $165. If the moneyline odds are negative, that indicated the amount you must wager to win $100. If it is a positive number, it represents the payout for a $100 bet.
Totals Odds
The last line in a traditional NBA betting line is the total points scored between the two teams, also known as the over/under. This total typically ranges in the 200s. For this Grizzlies and Hawks matchup, you see the total is set at 219.5. An over wager means the bettor believes more than 219 points will be scored, and if the teams score any value greater than 220, the bet is a winner. If someone thinks the teams will score 219 points or less, the bettor will wager on the under. Typical odds for totals betting are about -110
Author
Bryce covers sports betting and gaming for BetMichigan.com, along with other Midwest states. He joined BetMichigan.com after spending the last nine years covering high school and college sports throughout Michigan. His favorite sports to gamble on are football, basketball, baseball and Formula 1.
