Get your sports betting advice questions answered in the Sidelines mailbag

Hello and welcome to the first sports betting mailbag! I’m excited to answer your questions about sports betting, whether they are general topics or specific to this week’s games. I have been involved in the sports betting industry since 2010, and although I’m not a handicapper, I have a wealth of knowledge and connections within the industry.

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me at @BFawkes22 on X to submit a question.

Now, let’s move on to the questions of the week.

First up, Jeff from Oklahoma City asks about the New York Giants’ status as massive underdogs against the Cowboys on Sunday. It’s a great question. Double-digit favorites (favorites of 10+ points) are only 3-7 against the spread this season. The Giants themselves are 1-2 ATS, with a previous cover as 15.5-point underdogs in Buffalo a few weeks ago. The Giants are facing a 16.5-point spread this weekend in Dallas, which is the largest spread so far this season. With undrafted rookie QB Tommy DeVito starting for New York, the public is heavily favoring Dallas. At DraftKings Sportsbook, 81% of wagers and 93% of the money is on the Cowboys to cover. However, some bettors are taking the Giants, so it will be interesting to see how things play out on Sunday.

Next, Tyson from Florida asks for advice for first-time sports bettors. My biggest piece of advice for novice bettors can be separated into several smaller nuggets of wisdom:

1. Consider the reason why you are interested in sports betting and how much time you realistically have to devote to researching wagers given the other demands in your life.

2. Only set aside money to bet on sports that you can afford to lose. Proper bankroll management is essential for bettors.

3. Always have a good reason for making a certain bet and don’t rely solely on tips from others.

Lisa from Rhode Island asks about the factors that drive line movement in the NFL. This has a multi-faceted answer and varies from situation to situation. Generally, bets from respected NFL bettors, injury status updates, and new information can all contribute to line movement. For example, the line could move down if one or a few respected bettors wagered on the underdog, even if the majority of the bets were on the favorite to cover the spread.

I hope you find these answers helpful. Good luck with your sports betting endeavors, and remember to bet responsibly!

If you have a gambling problem and are located in Michigan, call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-270-7117 or visit the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s website at https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb. And as always, please bet responsibly.