Keeping detailed notes can highlight patterns in your betting behavior and help you make smarter decisions
Betting on NBA totals, or over/under lines, can be an exciting way to stay engaged throughout a game, but managing your bankroll properly is key if you want to stay in the action for the long haul. Without a plan, it’s easy to chase losses or bet too much on one game, especially when the pace of the NBA season makes it tempting to place multiple wagers every night.
One of the first steps is setting a fixed bankroll—an amount of money you can afford to lose without it affecting your everyday life. Once that number is in place, it’s smart to divide it into units, with one unit typically being 1% to 2% of your total bankroll. This helps keep each bet consistent and prevents you from getting carried away after a win or loss.
When betting on totals, don’t just go all-in because a team has had a few high-scoring games. The pace of play, injuries, travel schedules, and back-to-back games can all impact scoring. Taking time to research these factors and staying disciplined with your bet sizes can go a long way in protecting your bankroll.
Avoid trying to “make back” losses by increasing your bet size. It’s easy to feel confident that the next game is a sure thing, but totals can be unpredictable. Betting more than your standard unit out of frustration often leads to even bigger setbacks.
Another tip is to limit how many totals bets you place each night. Just because there are 10 games doesn’t mean you need to bet on all of them. Focus on quality over quantity.
