This guide will walk you through our NHL public betting data: what it is, why it matters and how to potentially use it to make the most informed bets possible.
What NHL Public Data Is
Public data tells you which side the general public is betting on. It measures the number of bet slips on both sides of a wager. On BetQL, this is signified by “Ticket %.” To be clear, this should not be confused with total money or handle, but rather the percentage of total bets wagered on a particular outcome.
BetQL web users view NHL public data like this:
As you can see, 60% of public bets were wagered on the Capitals (-140) while 40% were on the Hurricanes (+120). This means that if 100 bettors were involved, 60 of them would have bet slips on the Chiefs (at any value) while 40 would have bet slips on the Chargers (at any value).
Why Accessing Public Data Matters
There are several ways you can improve your betting ROI using public data.
Betting against the public is a commonly deployed strategy because novice bettors tend to overreact to news like injuries or suspensions. When do you fade the public? When 70% of public bets are wagered on one side of an outcome, betting on the other side is a proven long-term winning strategy. For example:
The Bruins are playing host to the Rangers and are listed as -170 favorites. New York’s star goaltender gets ruled out and public bettors react. Heavy action results and 75% of public tickets back the Bruins, who are now -260 favorites since the line got driven up. The overreaction by the public as a result of the lineup change inflated the line, thus making the Knicks a more valuable bet.
At times, there’s no doubt that universally betting with the public can lead to short-term success. However, it’s not a winning long-term strategy. Remember, sportsbooks are profitable for a reason. The lines that look too good to be true probably are. Therefore, taking a look at where the public is leaning and comparing it to our best bets and sharp data is highly suggested.
Where Our Public Data Comes From
BetQL has proprietary relationships with sportsbook operators that provide this data in exchange for promotional value on the website.
Betting With The Public
The concept of betting with the public is as straightforward as it sounds. All you have to do is bet on the team that the majority of public bets is on. Pretty simple, right? There are a couple important distinctions to make when looking at public data, though.
Public data lumps in all kinds of bettors, from professionals to casuals to fans who have a rooting interest. Further, the public tends to back favorites, back the over and overreact to news like injuries or suspensions. That’s why betting against the public on spread bets where the public is over 70% is a winning strategy over the long haul. That leads to the next potential strategy.
Fading The Public
There’s no doubt that betting with the public can lead to short-term success. However, it’s not a winning long-term strategy. Remember, sportsbooks are profitable for a reason and understand that the public leans towards favorites, leans towards overs and reacts to breaking news in today’s social media age. You know those lines that look too good to be true? They probably are. If it was as simple as betting with the majority, we’d see a lot of millionaires cashing all over the sports betting world.
Betting against the public shouldn’t be a strategy employed on every single wager, but rather in pick-and-choose situations. After all, oddsmakers are very accurate across the industry. However, there are times to take advantage of bad point spreads, over-adjustments or under-adjustments made by oddsmakers. That’s one situation when our model's best bets become a useful and valuable tool.
Developing A Personal NHL Betting Strategy
Identifying an edge is one of the most difficult aspects of sports betting. Luckily, BetQL subscribers have a full arsenal of tools to utilize on our web interface. BetQL is every bettor’s one-stop shop for live odds, a proven best bets algorithm and sharp picks in addition to public data. Which tools you use and how you do so is completely up to you.