Middle Betting​

Content curated from and authored by Clear Data Sports

One of the most fun and lucrative strategies out there is called middle betting, or middling. And chances are, if you are new to sports wagering, it may be a brand new term for you.

The opportunity to middle a bet comes when the point spread or over/under moves from the time the bet opens to the time the game begins. You middle a bet by placing wagers on both sides of the same event, similar to hedging a bet.

But while hedging is done to minimize your risk, middling is done in the hopes you can maximize your profit.

How Middle Betting Works

Let’s say you make an initial bet on the Saints -2.5 vs. the 49ers. People love the Saints at that line, so much so that by the time the game kicks off, the spread has moved to Saints -3.5.

You already have your $100 down on the Saints -2.5, so to middle this bet, you would put $100 on the 49ers +3.5. Now, if the Saints win by three points - a very common score in the NFL, you actually win both bets. And if the Saints don’t win by three points, the worst-case scenario is that you break even minus your vig.

Strategies Within Middle Betting

Obviously, the majority of the time, your bet won’t hit the middle. So if you really feel great about one side covering the spread, you might not want to risk nullifying those potential winnings by middling a bet on the other team.

But when the point spreads are right, go ahead and look for those opportunities. Football is the best sport for middling, and spreads that move either side of three or seven points are your best opportunities to capitalize since these are common score differentials.

College football especially offers opportunities to middle bets because those point spreads are more volatile than in the NFL, providing greater variance.

Successful Middle Betting Requires Experience

If you are a casual bettor who just likes to put down a little money from time to time to add a little extra fun to your sports viewing, middle betting probably isn’t for you. And if you are new to sports betting and are still a little intimidated by moving point spreads, game totals, and the specific knowledge that makes a successful sports bettor, middle betting is also probably not for you.

But if you are well-versed on how to read movement in point spreads, if you have a high level of knowledge about the sport and wagering strategies, and if you have the time to commit to studying point spreads and hunting for just the right opportunity, then middling can be a great way to double-dip on your sports bet while eliminating any risk to your wallet.

It requires quick action on the opening line, but also knowledge that the line will move. And then it requires knowing when the line is done moving so you can place your middle bet. It’s an advanced strategy to be sure, but also a highly successful one.