This series will focus on some lessons I learned the last 15 years as a Sports Bettor.

DO NOT BET AGAINST BIG MOVES ...
UNLESS THEY ARE BASED ON TEAM NEWS.

The odds on the asian betting market (or Betfair) move all the time directly based on the amount of money that comes in. Setting your own odds and betting on them whenever the bookmakers odds reach a point where they offer enough value can be very tricky. It would mean that you have to oppose every big move where no real team news is involved. The reason this rarely is a smart thing to do is because the move itself should be seen as a major factor even though it has nothing to do with the match itself.

Knowing your own limitations and not getting caught up in your ego is key in order to win money in the long run. Whenever someone is moving the odds a lot without a direct reason, that move instantly gets intellectual authority over me. Since the ones that are causing the move have far bigger stakes, it means that they are more likely to be better handicappers and have some angles I'm not aware of which they base their bet on. For this reason I never bet against moves I don't understand or that do not make any sense no matter how much my emotions would love to go all in because a bet feels like huge value. (This only counts for the bigger markets with higher limits, anyone can make the odds move significantly if maximum limits are only 500€)

Antwerp vs Club Brugge last season was an excellent example. The line opened -0.75 @ 1.92 on Club Brugge which was close to how I saw this match myself. The line moved quarter ball to -0.5 @ 1.92+ without there being any specific team news. Based on my own estimations it would always have been a big bet, but the move without reason itself is a 'hidden variable' which makes it impossible for me to ever take it no matter how much is goes up. (The match ended in a 2-2 draw)

Opposing these type of moves literally means you go against sharp whale money who are likely to be winning players and have good reasons for moving the lines. I made this mistake of letting my ego in charge many times these last 15 years and have seen over and over again that it's a -EV spot.

If there is a move directly based on team news like injuries or line-ups though, I'm the first in line to oppose them as they are often a big overreaction that creates value on the other side.

Previous Betting Wisdom Articles

Betting Wisdom | #1 You Don't Have To Bet
Betting Wisdom | #2 Never Bet On Public Underdogs
Betting Wisdom | #3 Always Take The Best Available Odds
Betting Wisdom | #4 If You don't know your Betting Record...
Betting Wisdom | #5 If You want to win...
Betting Wisdom | #6 Do Not Bet Combos | Accumulators | Parlays

Let me know your experience when it comes down to opposing big moves without a direct reason in the comments...