Questions to Ask Before You Buy Basketball Picks

Learn if you should buy basketball picks.

Key Points

– Bettors should ask certain questions before they buy basketball picks.

– Bettors shouldn’t fall for ridiculous claims from handicappers and picks services.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Basketball Picks

There are a few things to consider before you buy basketball picks. Selling picks is a big business with thousands of handicappers making large promises of profits to those who purchase from them.

The industry thrives on effective marketing based on today’s world - instant gratification and media hype. That said, there are handicappers in the industry that are absolutely worth considering if you do want to buy picks.

As with any big purchase, it's important to do your research and pick a trustworthy and reliable service. Ultimately, what you want is to receive value for your investment. That value can be seen in winning more bets and as an increase in your bankroll.

So, how do you buy basketball picks? Ask lots of questions.

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Examine Handicappers’ Records

It is absolutely crucial that you look at a handicappers’ long-term results. We have all seen examples like this:

●       We are 36-14 in our last 50 picks!

●       Unbeaten at 7-0 over the weekend!

●       And so on…

While these numbers sound great, the sample size just isn’t big enough. Anyone can get lucky in the short-term and put up some great numbers. Over the long haul, the best handicappers in the industry are going to have winning percentages of somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 to 60 percent.

This comes after having placed thousands of wagers. The best handicappers use the best online wagering portals too. Only after thousands and thousands of bets do you get a true understanding of how good a handicapper really is. Those that don’t provide these numbers are telling you something. Stay away from those ones. They have something to hide, namely their record.

Quality, reliable handicappers will have verifiable long-term results. That’s who you’re looking for.

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Buy Basketball Picks - CLV, Yield & ROI

Another thing to look for when searching for a handicapper is their approach to closing line value, yield, and return on investment. Keeping track of wins and losses is really a flawed statistic.

A bettor can win 45 percent of his bets but still come away with a profit if he wagers on a bunch of moneyline underdogs.

You can spot a top handicapper because he will keep track of closing line value (CLV). How often does he beat the closing line or odds? The best in the business keep track and will be able to show you.

Combined with a large sample size, the best handicappers will also have information on CLV and their ROI.

Sports & Markets to Bet

If you want to buy basketball picks, you want a handicapper who offers those picks. There are plenty of cappers that will offer picks across multiple sports. Ultimately, you want someone who is well-versed with a good track record in basketball.

It’s also worth asking about what betting markets a handicapper likes. If a guy likes to bet on the EuroLeague or other international basketball, you have to realize those are smaller markets than the NBA. They are more volatile.

If a handicapper sends out his Euroleague picks to 100 customers, those 100 placing bets are going to shift the odds dramatically because of the small size of the market. If your bet was at +120 but by the time you wager the odds are -110, you lose money.

Larger markets, like the NBA, are sharper, but the average bettor can still profit in the long run. When you buy basketball picks from a pro, they help you find the advantages in markets like betting NBA 2nd half odds. It’s something to keep in mind.

Timing Is Everything

In the world of sports betting, timing is everything. To get the most value, you have to place your wagers at the most opportune times at the best online sportsbook. If you buy basketball picks, you need to know when handicappers send out their picks.

In some cases, it might not make sense to purchase picks because of the timing of when the pick is received. For example, you want to wager on a certain NBA game on Tuesday. You like the favorite at -2.5. The problem is that your capper doesn’t release his picks until mid-afternoon of game day. You get the pick, but the line has shifted to -3.5.

The best in the industry will get their picks out early and include information should a line adjust. For example, they may like your -2.5-point favorite and would bet it up to -3.5. The best also include in-depth analysis of their picks as well as suggestions on your betting unit size.

Buy Basketball Picks Guarantee

The best cappers in the business do not make ridiculous claims nor do they make unrealistic promises or guarantees. They do, however, offer some form of guarantee should a customer lose. These guarantees will differ from handicapper to handicapper.

One reliable pro in the industry offers a weekly NBA weekend trio of picks. If the customer doesn’t go 3-0, the capper offers the next NBA weekend picks for free.

Just keep in mind that when you buy NBA picks, there is no handicapper in the world who gets them all right all of the time.