The number one rule of strategic betting is to expand your handicapping techniques. Traditional and commonplace strategies, like those used by the general public will fail long term. Overfocusing on factors such as injuries, coaches, weather, and short term trends, etc. will also fail you in the long run. Newspaper headlines and obvious team stats are easily accessible. But they are often handicapping traps. Although this information is often difficult to ignore. Learning to be able to filter the relevant info is critical to being successful.

Which factors or handicapping tools are successful long term? The professionals use handicapping models like those provided on the FoxSheets; Situational systems, computer formulated projections, sophisticated team trends, etc. This type of information is generally not available to the betting public. These handicapping methods naturally endure streaks, but in general, their performance stand the test of time. The FoxSheets list past performance records of the trends and systems in each of the reports.

In addition to having valuable information at your disposal, it is also important to know what types of wagers to make. Overall, parlays are difficult to win and the odds are not equal to the risk. Parlays are often thought of as 'fun bets'. Likewise for proposition bets, a popular Super Bowl type pastime. The problem with props is that most people are not prepared to determine the line value. Successful bettors stick to the standard ATS, Totals, and Money Line wagers. Money lines can be very valuable for low spread games and potential upsets. Make sure not to ignore the underused first half and teaser lines as well. These bets gain their value in that most people don't have access to the information needed to help them succeed. The FoxSheets are the only online resource providing this sophisticated information to the betting public. Keep your wagering options open, it will give you the best chance of recognizing potential line errors.

Finally, get the best line available. Having multiple sources available to place wagers is a must. Lines can easily vary two or three points for a particular game. A professional realizes these extra points make the difference between a winning or losing week, month, or season. If you've put the time and effort into making your game selections, never let a slight line movement influence your wager. Stick to your guns, and make sure to shop around for the best line value. It'll pay off in the long run.

Types of Wagers

Straight
There are a number of different ways to wager on a game or event. The most popular is the straight bet or play. This is a bet placed on either team; you either lay the points on the favorite or take the points on the underdog. The other straight wager is on the over or the under of the total points in a game. The total is the number of points scored by both teams at the end of the game, including any overtime periods. You may bet on the Total to exceed (go over) the Total points. The Lay (bet) in a straight bet is 10% more than the Get (win).
 
Money Line
A money line wager is one that involves simply winning the game outright. No points, runs, or goals are involved. The team that the wager is placed on must only win the game. This type of wager can have varying lays and gets due to the fact that one team is rated stronger than the other.

Parlay
In a parlay, two or more teams are tied together as a single wager. Each team must win its game (against the point spread, total or money line) for the parlay to win. In the event of a tie, cancellation or suspension, the parlay is reduced to the next lowest number. In the event of a winner and a tie on a 2-team parlay, the winner part typically becomes a straight wager at a rate of 10/9.
 
Teaser
A teaser is a wager with at least two teams tied together into one wager. The standard number of points in a football teaser is six (6). Points are then either added to an underdog or subtracted from the favorite. If using the Total (over/under) then the points are added to the under or subtracted from the over. You can buy up to two points in a teaser with the lay increasing 10% for each* point that is added to your wager. Teaser payoffs are less than Parlays due to the additional points that are involved. In Basketball, the common teaser is four (4) points; otherwise the teaser rules are the same; unless there is a promotion for the NCAA tournament.
 
Halftime
The halftime wager is placed on either the 1st half of a contest or the 2nd half of a contest. Each half is considered its own game. You can only place straight wagers on 1st halves or 2nd halves. Parlays or teasers are not allowed with half time wagering. A wager that is placed on the second half of a game includes all overtime periods.
 
Future
A future is a wager that is placed on an outcome of a sporting event that is not played on the day of the wager. Some examples of these are: teams to win their respective Divisions, World Championships, or a certain player to win a tournament they will be participating in, or a horse that will run in a race later that year. The odds on future bets are fixed on the day the wager is made.
 
Buys
This refers to the point of adding or subtracting points relative to the point spread. The point spread is bought up or down. For each half point bought, the lay increases by 10%. A buy is not allowed on any circled game. For example: the Green Bay Packers are favored over the Dallas Cowboys by 4* points. The client may then buy a half point on the Packers reducing the spread to-3.5, but increasing his lay by an extra 10%. If $100.00 were wagered, his lay would go from 110/100 to 120/100. This is true in all buys except when buying points up or down on the number three (-3) in NFL football.

Reverse
A reverse bet, simply stated, is a double if bet. You select two sides or totals and have team 1-if team-2 and also team-2 if team-1.
 
Betting on Baseball
In baseball, the common method of wagering is a Money Line. In this case, the Odds maker establishes the odds on one team’s chance of winning the game over another team in terms of a Money Differential. Here, the bettor must lay more money on the favorite or he gets a money advantage for playing the underdog. For example….If the Atlanta Braves are playing New York Mets, the odds maker may determine that Atlanta should be favored. To wager on the Braves, you will have to lay $1.30 to earn $1.00. On the other hand, if you wager on the Mets, you would win $1.20 for every $1.00 wagered. Baseball can also be wagered on a run line. Here the odds maker sets the number of runs a team must win by or the number they may lose by. Along with the run line, a Money line will be attached.

Total wagers can also be bet on in baseball. Totals in baseball can come in three different types; Flat, over or under. When an odds maker puts strength on the total runs, he feels that the score will lean towards the strength. This is indicated by an o or u attached to the number of runs. If a run total had a 6u-120 the odds maker feels that it is a stronger play to bet the under, so you would have to lay $1.20 to win $1.00. If the said number were flat, then the price would be 110 either way. If you went opposite the strength, i.e. over 6u then the bet would be even money (100/100).
 
Betting on Hockey
In hockey, there are two lines, the American and the Canadian lines. The American is a split line with the underdog receiving a half goal (puck) less than what you would have to give (lay) on the favorite. With the Canadian line, the goal (puck) is the same for either team, however there is a money line associated with it. An Example of the American line would be the Bruins* -1 over the Oilers this means you get plus (+) a half a goal with the bruins but you give up a goal (-1) with the Bruins. An Example of the Canadian line would be the Bruins-* -1.40. Here the Bruins would cost you $1.40 to win $1.00. The Bruins must also win by 1 goal. Their opponent would be set at 30 cents or more under the favored Bruins and be expresses by +* +1.10. Here you would be paid $1.10 for every $1.00 wagered if the Bruins opponent does not lose by 1 goal.