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Best Sports for +EV Betting: Maximizing Your Expected Value

Updated February 9, 2025 | 10:01 am CDT by Sam Smith

For bettors looking to positive expected value) opportunities is essential. Let’s break down the best sports for +EV betting and why they offer consistent profits.

Portfolio EV helps you grow your bankroll and maximize long-term profits with ease. Start unlocking more Portfolio Betting page to get started!

Best Sports for +EV Betting: Maximizing Expected Value

In simple , +EV betting involves identifying bets where the potential return outweighs the implied probability of the outcome. This approach requires precision, discipline and access to tools that help uncover these inefficiencies in sportsbook lines. Portfolio EV is invaluable, as it scans lines in real time and identifies actionable opportunities.

Key Factors in Choosing the Best Sports for +EV Betting

Not all sports are created equal when it comes to finding +EV opportunities. Some factors to consider include:

  • Market Size and Sharpness: Larger markets, such as NFL and NBA game lines, are typically efficient, meaning the lines adjust quickly to market activity. However, smaller markets like niche international leagues or player props often lag, presenting value.
  • Volume of Games: Sports with more frequent events create a larger sample size of opportunities, helping mitigate variance.
  • Data Availability: The more granular and accurate the data available for a sport, the better equipped bettors are to spot inefficiencies.
  • Bet Types: Some sports offer specific bet types (e.g., props or futures) that are more likely to feature mispriced lines.

The Best Sports for +EV Betting

Here are the sports that stand out for consistent +EV betting opportunities.

College Football

College football markets often trail NFL markets in efficiency due to a higher volume of teams and games. Oddsmakers have less incentive to make CFB lines as sharp because these games attract less betting volume than professional leagues.

Best Bets:

  • Exploiting line discrepancies in lesser-known matchups.
  • Targeting player props where the statistical data might be thin.

NBA

High player turnover and injury reports create opportunities for late-line value. Also, the availability of advanced analytics makes it easier to model outcomes.

Best Bets:

  • Props for player performance, especially when news breaks late.
  • Underdog moneylines in high-variance games.

Check out Portfolio EV’s ROI data for all recommended NBA player prop bets in the 2023-24 season:

MLB

With 2,430 regular-season games, MLB offers a massive volume of betting opportunities. The sport’s reliance on individual matchups (pitcher versus batter) creates exploitable inefficiencies.

Best Bets:

  • First-five-innings bets, focusing on starting pitchers.
  • Targeting +EV props on individual player performance, namely strikeouts.

For evidence of this, check out Portfolio EV results for strikeouts in the 2024 season:

Esports

The growing popularity of esports has outpaced the sportsbooks’ ability to keep lines sharp. Niche games and tournaments often have lines set by algorithms with limited manual adjustment.

Best Bets:

  • Match winners in lesser-known tournaments.
  • Props related to kill counts or game duration.

Tennis

Tennis features head-to-head matchups, which simplifies analysis and betting models. The sheer volume of matches — especially during Grand Slam events — means plenty of +EV opportunities.

Best Bets:

  • Live betting on momentum swings during matches.
  • Targeting early-round matchups in smaller tournaments.

Tools to Enhance Your +EV Betting

Regardless of the sport, success hinges on using the right tools to identify +EV bets. Portfolio EV continuously scans sportsbooks for inefficient odds, ensuring you’re always prepared to act on the best opportunities. With our historical ROI data, you can refine strategies and focus on the most profitable markets.

Tips for Maximizing +EV Opportunities Across Sports

  1. Diversify Your Portfolio: Spread your bets across multiple sports to reduce variance and increase long-term ROI.
  2. Be Selective: Not every bet is worth taking — stick to those with clear +EV.
  3. Track Your Results: Use our Bet Tracker to analyze your performance and refine your strategy.

Get Portfolio EV for FREE! Here’s how to get access to the best sports betting tools and elevate your strategy:

  • Choose a Partner: Select one of our partner registration offers to get started.
  • Deposit & Bet: Fund your and place your first wager or pick’em entry.
  • Take Screenshots: Snap a screenshot of your welcome email and your first settled bet.
  • Claim Your Free Access: Email the screenshots to @oddsshopper.com, and we’ll activate your free Portfolio EV access.

That’s all it takes! Grab your free month of Portfolio EV today and supercharge your sports betting strategy.

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Sam Smith

Author

Sam Smith

Sam Smith is a writer and editor with Stokastic and OddsShopper. He has been immersed in the world of professional sports data since 2015 while also writing extensively on the NFL for a multitude of blogs and websites. With OddsShopper, Sam looks to blend his sports and editorial expertise with OddsShopper's data to bring you the best betting information possible.

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