Early season college basketball opportunities

The early part of the year is, without a doubt, the best time to bet on college basketball. As the year moves along, it will become harder and harder to find value. This means that you need to jump on those good lines while they’re still out there. The cool thing about the betting public is that they are slow to respond. They will go on believing that a team is good based upon last year’s results. Since the lines are shaped by public perception, this presents a wonderful opportunity for you to jump up and strike.

Take North Carolina in 2009 for example. Last year’s UNC team was not good, but people kept pounding them week after week. The lines reflected this, and it became very easy to bet against UNC. Eventually the public caught up, but smart bettors were able to make money during those moments when the lines were still soft. This is what you have to do when you make college basketball picks. Recognize where the public is lagging behind and jump on the soft lines. As the year moves along, the opportunities to do this will become fewer.

How do statistics come into play with March Madness

All over the sports world, smart people are using statistics to analyze games a little bit better than we used to. It started in baseball, but other sports have their stat wizards, too. So should you use the stats when making your college basketball picks? The answer is a definitive yes. You should use any resource that can help you get an edge. Stats can help you get an edge on the betting public, and they will help you stay above the curve, so to speak.

Don’t just use stats as a blind means of achieving your goals. Don’t follow them just because someone says you should. Great handicappers are always looking for an edge and they’re always looking at different angles. You should take stats into consideration along with the other factors that can impact a game. Is one team fatigued? Is there some major distraction? Have you looked at the matchups before making this college basketball pick? All of these things matter, so don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking that stats are the end-all. They are important, but only in the context of a bigger college basketball handicapping plan.