BETTING ON HOCKEY

Hockey has really come on strong in recent years as a wagering sport. There's a perception that Vegas pays less attention to hockey than basketball in the winter…so that the lines are even more vulnerable to sharp players. Also, the growth of the offshore sportsbook industry has helped the boost in activity, because many bookmakers on the mainland didn't want to take the time to deal with hockey. Some places uses what are called "puck lines," others use a baseball-type money line and you have to pick the winner. And most are now using a combination of the two. A "puck line" works much like a pointspread, except that there's a half goal difference between the favorite and the underdog, and there's no 10% vigorish. You'll see a line like 1 1/2/2, which means you can take the underdog plus 1 1/2 goals, or take the favorite minus two goals. A hockey "money line" generally works like the one in baseball, except sometimes you will also be laying or getting a half a goal, a goal and a half, or other variations depending on what the sports book decides to post. For example, the odds on a game may have the favorite -130 and minus half a goal. If you wanted the favorite, you'd have to risk in a 13/10 ratio, and your team would have to win the game. If you wanted the underdog, you could tie or lose…and you'd receive either a 10/11 or a 10/12 payoff depending on your sports book.

Have you been trying to win big with sports betting? Search no more; Rocketman Sports has numerous ways for you to be on top of each and every game. Give our Picks a Free test drive or click on the Premium Picks to receive to the winning picks of the day every day.