{"id":383986,"date":"2025-02-21T14:15:30","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T14:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&p=383986"},"modified":"2025-02-21T14:15:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T14:15:30","slug":"middling-sports-betting","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/middling-sports-betting","title":{"rendered":"Middle Betting"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking for an edge or a new betting strategy, you might be ready for middle betting. \u201cMiddling\u201d is a popular strategy among sharp bettors but this advanced strategy is much easier to take advantage of than most casual bettors would think.<\/p>\n

Read on as our sports betting experts explain the middle betting strategy. We\u2019ll provide our hottest tips and reveal how you can find the middle with ease at top US sportsbooks.<\/p>\n

What is Middle Betting?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Middle betting is an advanced strategy that most casual bettors haven\u2019t ever heard of. Middling a bet is a strategy that aims to obtain significant profit by betting on two sides of an outcome by taking advantage of the changes in spreads and totals with the added possibility that both bets could win.<\/p>\n

While middling betting is very popular as a\u00a0<\/span>live betting strategy<\/a>, betting the middle is still useful during pre-match since the lines can still move dramatically over a week before a match, or suddenly, due to circumstances such as late injuries.<\/p>\n

Spreads vs. Totals<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since knowledge of spread and totals betting is essential to middling in sports betting, we\u2019ll provide a quick rundown for those who are yet to expand their strategies beyond the moneyline. All the\u00a0<\/span>top online sportsbooks<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>offer two markets that let you bet on the points scored in a match.<\/p>\n

Depending on the sport, this can refer to different things. For example, runs in cricket, points in football, goals in soccer, or points\/sets\/games in tennis.<\/p>\n

Spread betting<\/h3>\n

Spread betting refers to the difference in scores between two teams or players. For example, the spread in a football match that ended 28 \u2013 32 would be four. You can bet on whether you think a team will win or lose by a number of points.<\/p>\n

For example, a -10 point\u00a0<\/span>spread bet<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>on the Cincinnati Bengals means you need the Bengals to win by 11 points, or more, in order to secure a winning bet. Conversely, a +10 spread on the underdog,<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>New York Jets, would mean the Jets need to either win or lose by at least 10 points for the bet to be successful.<\/p>\n

Another way of looking at it is to think of the spread as being like a\u00a0<\/span>handicap betting<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>market. If the final scoreline is 30 \u2013 19 with a Bengals victory, the addition of their 10-point handicap would make the score 30 \u2013 29 meaning the Bengals would still win, and the +10 spread bet would be a winner.<\/p>\n

\"Markets<\/p>\n

Totals betting<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Totals betting<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>market refers to a bet that predicts the total combined scores of both players or teams. For example, a football scoreline of 30 \u2013 32 would be a total of 62. These bets are often called\u00a0<\/span>over\/under bets<\/a>, because a totals bet asks you to predict if the combined scores will be over or under a number.<\/p>\n

For example, a bet of under 50.5 would lose if the total was 58, but a bet of over 60.0 would be a winner.<\/p>\n

\"Markets<\/p>\n

How to Find the Middle?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s look at some example bets utilizing the middle\u00a0<\/span>betting strategy<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to showcase how you can find the middle.<\/p>\n

Consider a Sunday night football match between the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears. On Monday, the Dolphins open as +8 point favorite. So, you bet on the Dolphins with a -8 spread. By Friday, the Dolphins have become even stronger favorites so you now bet +10 on the Bears.<\/p>\n

That two-point difference is the middle. Both bets can win but both bets can also lose.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bet 1: -8<\/strong><\/td>\nScore: Dolphins v Bears<\/strong><\/td>\nBet 2: +10<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Win<\/td>\n29 – 20<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lose<\/td>\n29 – 26<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loss<\/td>\n10 – 31<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Win<\/td>\n30 – 19<\/td>\nLose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Middling betting strategy also applies to totals bets. Let\u2019s take that same game. The over 60.5 market opens with valuable odds and both teams seem strong, so you bet on that market. Later in the week, you detect an edge in the under 65.5 market. The middle is now a +5 point spread.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bet 1: Over 60.5<\/strong><\/td>\nScore: Dolphins v Bears<\/strong><\/td>\nBet 2: Under 65.5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Win<\/td>\n30 \u2013 31 (61)<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Win<\/td>\n34 \u2013 40 (74)<\/td>\nLose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loss<\/td>\n10 \u2013 12 (22)<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Win<\/td>\n30 \u2013 33 (63)<\/td>\nWin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Middle Betting Odds<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>betting odds<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>are very important when it comes to finding the middle as the payouts will directly affect your profits.<\/p>\n

Consider a Sunday night football match between the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears. On Monday, the Dolphins open on sportsbook lines as +8 point favorite. So, you bet on the Dolphins with a -8 spread. By Friday, the Dolphins have become even stronger favorites thanks to betting spread shifts, so you now wager +10 on the Bears.<\/p>\n