Although the NFL is the most popular sport in North America, it does not have the same global appeal as the game of basketball does. 

Countries like Spain, Australia, France, Greece, and many others love basketball the same way Americans love the sport.

Betting on the NBA continues to gain in popularity each year, and each year we are always looking for more resources and data to assist us with our NBA betting decisions.

This is where the BestOdds.com NBA Public Consensus page can help.

What Are NBA Consensus Picks?

When we talk about NBA Public Money and Consensus Picks, we talk about the Bet Percentage and Handle Percentage for a specific NBA game or bet being offered.

Traditionally, sportsbooks share this information regarding NBA point spread, moneyline and totals betting.

What Is NBA Bet Percentage?

When the Houston Rockets (+2.5) take on the Philadelphia 76ers, and we hear that 45% of the bets are on the Rockets to cover the +2.5 spread, we are talking about bet percentages.

In this case, the Rockets would have a 45% bet percentage, and we could assume that Philadelphia had 55% of the bets on them to cover their -2.5 spread.

It is important to remember that when we are dealing with bet percentages, the wager size and total money bet on one team is not factored into the data.

When talking about the bet percentage, a $1 bet is equal to a $1,000 bet.

What Is NBA Handle Percentage?

The handle percentage is interesting because it is not interested in the total bets made on one team but rather the total amount of money wagered on that team.

Example Game: Toronto Raptors vs. Phoenix Suns

If the total amount of money wagered on the Phoenix Suns was $100,000 and the total amount of money on the Toronto Raptors was $50,000, we would know the Handle Percentage for that bet was Phoenix 66.66% and Toronto 33.33%.

How To Read NBA Consensus Picks

Once we understand what Bet % and Handle % are, we will have no problem reading the data and information moving forward.

BetMGM – NBA Futures – To Win Championship

Teams	Bet Percentage	Handle Percentage
Golden St. Warriors	11.6%	11.5%
Denver Nuggets	10.2%	11.3%
Boston Celtics	9.5%	10.8%

Looking at the data provided by BetMGM above, we can see the Bet Percentage and the Handle Percentage for this specific futures bet.

Denver and Boston have a Handle percentage about 1% higher than their bet percentage, while Golden State’s numbers are virtually the same.

How To Use NBA Consensus Picks For Betting

Identifying Sharp Money

The overwhelming majority of us sports betting are considered recreational bettors. But a small percentage of the world identifies as a sharp bettor.

Sharps are professionals who have earned a reputation for being elite in the sports betting industry. They also don’t like to give out their strategies for fear of the sportsbooks catching on.

However, when it comes to NBA Consensus Data, sometimes it can be very effective at showing us where the sharp money is being played.

LA Clippers vs. LA Lakers

Teams	Current Spread	Bet %	Handle %
LA Lakers	+3.5	35%	55%
LA Clippers	-3.5	65%	45%

Looking at the table above, we can see that there is a large discrepancy between the Bet Percentage numbers and the Handle Percentage numbers.

Sharp players tend to bet significantly more money than recreational players, and this can create a difference between bet % and handle % for a specific game.

In our example above, only 35% of the total bets placed are on the LA Lakers. However, 55% of the total money bet is on LeBron and company.

This could be an indicator that the sharp money believes in the Lakers, but the recreational community likes the Clippers.

Bet Against Your Buddies

Ok, so you don’t specifically have to do the exact opposite of what all your friends are betting, that might cost you a friendship or two down the road.

But you can do the opposite of what the general public does. Historically speaking, it is the sportsbooks who win over time when it comes to recreational bettors vs. sportsbooks.

If we know this and have access to the bet percentage and handle percentage stats, why not go contrarian, and bet the opposite of the public money?

Understanding NBA Consensus Picks Data

Using the Bet % and Handle % stats to help us with our betting selections can be very beneficial if we understand how to properly read the data we are looking at.

Teams	Opening	Current	Bet %	Handle %
LA Lakers	+3.5	+2.5	35%	55%
LA Clippers	-3.5	-2.5	65%	45%

Looking at the data above, we see that the LA Lakers have a large handle percentage compared to their bet percentage, which can tell us that she sharp money could potentially be backing the Lakers.

However, we also see that the point spread for this game opened at +3.5, and now the Lakers are less than a three-point underdog.

This is important because we must understand when most of the bets came in on the Lakers.

Was it when they were +3.5-point favorites? Did the sharp money love the +3.5 line, and is anybody touching LeBron and friends now that the line is +2.5?

It’s important to understand which team the sharp money is betting on, but it’s also important to understand what odds and point spread they bet.

Always Shop Around

Of course, following the sharp money and understanding how the betting elite have handicapped a game or event is always beneficial, even if they don’t always win.

However, when you want to follow the sharp money and take advantage of some information, you have to make sure you are playing the same odds.

Even sharps don’t like to take on closing lines.

If you want to follow the sharps and play like the sharps, then you have to shop around for your Best Odds, just like the sharp money does.

Long-term sports betting is a game of edges and a steady strategy. This isn’t about doubling up overnight, it’s about small growth over time against the sportsbooks.

Taking advantage of the tools that will benefit you the most is key. There is no greater tool at your disposal than the ability to shop around and play your Best Odds.