FantasyPros has put together a glossary of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) terms for readers to reference. More and more players are taking part in DFS contests. We’re providing the glossary so that you can easily reference terms and strategies as you get started playing DFS. Below we’ll take a look at Understanding Vegas Odds.
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You might never think of using Vegas odds in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) research, but you should incorporate it into your routine . Using this information as a piece of your research may seem a little unnecessary, but stick with me here as I explain how this can be a valuable tool.
First of all, those casinos are really big for a reason. I know the primary reason is the massive inflows to their gaming establishments, but the casinos also set the sports odds in such a way that they can make money over time. This means they have some pretty smart people studying the various sporting events going on and getting a good feel for what might take place in that particular game. Knowing who is favored in a contest is particularly important in a different way for each sport.
The over/under is another great indicator in all sports, as this is a number that Vegas sets as the total combined points they think will be scored. If the number is high, Vegas expects a lot of scoring, whether it is baseball, football or basketball. If this is the case, I’m targeting players from this game, maybe even multiple players in a sport such as baseball. If the over/under is set low, they don’t expect a lot of scoring, so it becomes much more difficult to target the players that actually will score and benefit your team.
In baseball, starting your daily research with Vegas odds is crucial. This gives you a good idea as to where there are expected (or not expected) to be a lot of runs scored. If a game total has a 6.5 set, Vegas expects a pitcher’s duel and scoring to be at a premium. It’s usually a good idea to stay away from hitters here and give the pitchers a hard look. In tournament play, it’s never a bad idea to look at a hitter or two as an against-the-grain play, but in your cash games, stay away. If you see a game with a higher total, this is where you want to make sure you have exposure with your hitters. It’s also a good idea to avoid pitchers, unless of course you’re playing against the grain in a tournament.
In football, if a very balanced team is a heavy favorite, it might not be wise to select a QB or WR from that team, as they might start running the ball more with a big lead. The RB in this situation might be a great play. However, if it is the Broncos that are a heavy favorite, they might throw the ball regardless of what the score is because that is just how their offense is tailored. So I might then be inclined to take a QB or WR or both. On the flip side, whenever a team is a heavy underdog is a prime situation to target their QB, because they will likely be throwing all game to catch up.
Although it’s not the single key to being successful at DFS, using the odds that are set by Vegas each day can be a very integral part to your research when constructing your lineups in any DFS sport you might play.
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.
