Understanding How Sports Handicappers Work


Sports handicapping is the act of placing a wager on the outcome of a sports game. It is increasingly gaining popularity across the entire globe. This is partly because of the availability of the internet which makes sports betting convenient as bettors can bet in the comfort of their homes. Handicapping is all about finding an edge, and that is frequently done through research. Whether that is looking at injuries, records, or against the spread data, it does not matter.

Sports Handicapper

A sports handicapper can put you in a pretty unique position as a sports bettor. Sports punting is quite widespread and lots of people all over the world bet on their favorite sports daily. Some do it casually while others have made it a way of life. Sports handicappers, though, are a cut above the rest.

The term handicapper, specific to sports betting, refers to an individual who does a deep analysis of sporting events to give themselves an advantage over bookmakers. Pretty much anyone can become a handicapper and, whether you would like to take it on in a professional fashion is up to you. There are both pro and amateur handicappers making bets on different sports every day. The former usually spend hours looking into statistics, figures, and just about anything that may give them an edge.

Serious handicappers take many things into account before betting on a particular event. Previous performances, injuries, home and away stats, player form, the tightness or ease of a schedule, and back-to-back games all form part of the analysis. Some even develop their models to make this simpler. While several handicappers keep their findings to themselves, a great deal of them shares their tips online. Sports analysis is not the only thing handicappers focus on, finding the best odds and deals could also provide a leg up. There are innumerable betting sites available online.

Handicappers come in special forms. One group, known as “generalists,” dips into a number of sports and bets on whatever is occurring at the time. But the majority of handicappers specialize and focus on only one or two sports as it allows them to spend more time doing research.

Seasonal Events

Sports are seasonal events, with most campaigns lasting eight to nine months a year in professional leagues. Certainly, this is not ideal for handicappers, particularly if betting occurs to be their chief source of income. One sport may be enough if there are off-season tournaments available. You can find very profitable handicappers in both groups so it is hard to say which group is better but specialists are likely to find more success as they can narrow their focus and concentrate on just one or two sports, which leaves them with more time to understand everything that goes into them.

Remember every game is different and, though anything can happen once that whistle blows, there are several factors leading up to any game that can offer you a better chance of making the correct choice. You may decide to bet on a sport as you enjoy watching it but, once money gets involved, it pays to do your homework.

Intpicks believes that betting on sports that you are not very familiar with is a great way to learn more about that sport. Intpicks Review further states that learning a new sport and picking up all of the rules and strategies can be challenging and maybe even a bit boring, but a wager will keep you engaged and offer you more of a reason to stick with the game.