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Hockey Betting Strategies
When betting on hockey the Sports bettor must understand that it is different from betting on any other sport. Like baseball, it is a long season. However, it differs from baseball in that is a much more physical sport. Day in and day out hockey players take more punishment than athletes in any other sport. It is nearly impossible for a player to give 100% for 82 games. Hockey can be the easiest sport to win if you follow a few easy guidelines.
1. Limit your betting on hockey before February 1st
Betting on hockey before January 1st is like flipping a coin. The stronger teams rarely show much motivation until after the holidays. Most of the contenders will spend the first couple of months 'working the kinks out', then turn it on for the playoff stretch. The weaker teams tend to get fired up to play the contenders all season. You'll find that the weaker teams are more likely to ambush a contender when they are playing an unmotivated team.
2. Look for the 4 to 6 "Money teams"
In hockey there are usually four to six teams you can count on to win more than 80% of the time after February 1st. These are the "money teams". Play these teams night in and night out, and you will find consistent growth in your account. Avoid betting on these teams when they are playing one of the other money teams. There will be teams that seem to come from out of nowhere the first part of the year and run up a good won-loss record. If this team has not made key acquisitions in the off season and you find yourself asking, "where did they come from", chances are they will not be a top seed by seasons end. There is one of these teams every year. Be smart; do not let them pull you in.
3. Avoid betting against the pucks
In hockey, there is a money line and a puck line. Sometimes you can get the money line lower by giving up pucks like runs in baseball. Avoid betting against the pucks. Hockey, unlike baseball and basketball, does not play until there is a winner. Unless it is a playoff game, there is a five minute overtime period and the game is over. There are too many tie games and one puck games in hockey. That 1/2 puck may look good, but could come back to haunt you more times than it is worth. If a game ends up in a tie and you have the money line it is a push. Unlike baseball, don't let the money line scare you. If it is into the second half of the season you will win enough to cover the occasional loss.
4. Bet the same amount on every game
Avoid trying to pick out which game is best, then betting more on that game. If you win the rest of your picks, then lose the one game you loaded up on, you are likely to end up behind on the day. If you bet 4 games, at $100 each and go 3-1, you will have walked away on the positive side.
5. Home Ice is less important than Team Strength
A strong team is going to beat a weak team the majority of the time no matter where the game is held. Avoid trying to get a value bet because of home ice. It won't matter if you can win $270 on a $100 wager if you lose the game. There are rarely high percentage value bets in hockey.
6. Avoid betting single playoff games
There are a few hockey series match ups that are good bets, but don't try to pick which team will win which particular games in a series. You'll find greater success if you will pick your series winner prior to the start of the series, and then bet them every game until the series ends. This strategy should put you in a position to take advantage of any percentage edge you are likely to have by correctly picking the series winner.
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