The best way to get a good return on investment from sports betting is to avoid making the common mistakes that most new bettors make. These mistakes include ignoring media hype and betting games they know little about. They also fail to take into account the vig, or house edge, which is built into every bet placed at a bookmaker. These mistakes can quickly drain your bankroll, unless you have a solid plan of action for avoiding them.

The first mistake many new bettors make is betting more money than they can afford to lose. It is important to set a budget before you start betting, and stick to it. Regardless of how well you are doing, do not increase your stakes if you win a few bets; this is a recipe for disaster. Eventually, you will realize that luck is fleeting and will not be a regular occurrence; it’s best to be disciplined with your betting activity and only wager what you can afford to lose.

Another mistake new bettors make is placing bets based on the opinions of sports talking heads. These experts have a huge impact on the betting public’s perception of a game, but they are often influenced by their own biases and agendas. This is especially true for the biggest and most popular sports networks, which are incentivized to pump up a certain team or player in order to generate ratings and clicks.

This is why it’s important to ignore the noise and analyze each game individually. It’s also a good idea to follow on-the-ground reporters for each team, especially in college and small markets, so you can stay up to date on breaking news like key injuries. In addition, this will give you a unique insight into little things that the national pundits might miss or underestimate.

Finally, be sure to always shop around for the best juice and odds. You’ll find that different sportsbooks offer varying lines on the same game, so be sure to check out all of them before you place your bets. In the old days, you’d have to travel from sportsbook to sportsbook to compare prices, but now that everything is online, it’s easy to compare odds and find the best lines for your bets.

In terms of evaluating a game, it’s important to consider the teams’ historical strengths and weaknesses. A strong, well-rounded roster with a mix of speed, power, and finesse should be able to beat a team that relies solely on its star player or is missing key players. Aside from this, a good understanding of the game’s rules and how the different positions play together is crucial to making smart betting decisions. Power ratings are a great way to gauge the strength of each team, but be careful – power ratings are subjective and can vary widely between professional bettors. They can also be misleading, as some teams might be ranked lower than they deserve based on factors outside their control, such as injury history or venue advantages.