---
title: 'Why Middle Betting is the SAFEST Way to Make Big Money Betting on Sports'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=hoyOloTiO5Q'
video_id: 'hoyOloTiO5Q'
date: 2026-08-19
duration_sec: 527
channel: 'OddsJam: Sports Betting, Free Picks & Best Bets'
---

# Why Middle Betting is the SAFEST Way to Make Big Money Betting on Sports

> Source: [Why Middle Betting is the SAFEST Way to Make Big Money Betting on Sports](https://youtube.com/watch?v=hoyOloTiO5Q)

## Summary

This video explains the concept of middle betting in sports wagering, a strategy that allows bettors to risk a small amount for a potentially large payout while minimizing downside risk. The presenter demonstrates how to identify and execute middle bets using OddsJam software, comparing the strategy favorably to traditional parlays and arbitrage betting.

### Key Points

- **Introduction to Middle Betting** [00:01] — Middle betting is presented as a strategy where you can risk a dollar to make $125 in profit, and even if you lose, you only lose a dollar. It involves betting both sides of a game at different lines to create a 'middle' where you can potentially win both bets.
- **How Middle Betting Works** [00:42] — Instead of guaranteeing a small profit like arbitrage, middle betting creates a scenario where you can either break even or win big. A live example is shown using a college basketball game between DraftKings and Hard Rock, where a $135 investment yields over 2% return unless a specific outcome occurs.
- **Example of a Middle Hit** [01:38] — If Navy wins by exactly 19 points, both bets cash, resulting in a total profit of $138.52. Otherwise, the bettor makes a small return. This illustrates the high-reward potential of middles.
- **Comparison to Parlays** [02:30] — A typical 10-leg parlay has a 0.15% chance of winning, while middle betting guarantees a win or small profit. The presenter emphasizes that middle betting is a safer and more calculated approach.
- **Why Middles Exist** [03:27] — Sportsbooks set their own lines independently, and line movement creates gaps. These gaps are 'free lottery tickets' with incredible odds. OddsJam software automatically finds these opportunities.
- **Filter Setup for Middles** [03:54] — The presenter shares his filter settings in OddsJam: focusing on any middle opportunities, setting a date range for today, and targeting negative percentages below -0.5% to maximize risk-reward.
- **Negative Percentage Middles** [05:25] — An example between ESPN Bet and Bet Rivers shows a middle where you risk $0.72 to potentially win $182. The presenter explains why he targets these negative percentages, as they offer a low cost for a high potential payout.
- **Betting Strategy and Risk Management** [07:19] — The presenter recommends putting $50-$100 on one side of a bet, risking only 50 cents to a dollar per play. Positive percentage middles are loaded up on, especially in mainline markets, as they offer favorable payout ratios.
- **Conclusion and Call to Action** [08:02] — Middle betting is described as a calculated investment with capped downside and unlimited upside. The presenter encourages viewers to watch a follow-up video on arbitrage betting and to use his code for OddsJam.

### Conclusion

Middle betting is a mathematically sound strategy that offers a balance of risk and reward, making it a safer alternative to traditional parlays. By using tools like OddsJam and targeting specific middle opportunities, bettors can achieve consistent, low-risk profits.

## Transcript

betting strategy where you can risk a dollar to make $125 in profit and [music] even if you lose the wager, you only lose a dollar? Most people would say that's impossible. But I'm about to show you how middle betting makes it a
reality. While everyone else is throwing money at 10 leg parlays, hoping to get lucky, I'm using mathematical precision to find spots where I can win big and risk almost [music] nothing. The crazy part, this strategy is actually safer
than arbitrage betting in many cases with unlimited upside potential and explain why risking a dollar to win $125 is smarter than most safe betting strategies. Middle betting is when you bet both sides of a game at different
lines, creating a middle where you can potentially win both bets. But here's Instead of guaranteeing yourself a small profit, you're creating a scenario where you can either break even or win big. Let me show you exactly how this works
with a live example in Odds Jam. Here's a perfect middle opportunity in this college basketball game between DraftKings and Hard Rock. We are going to receive an over 2% return off of our investment because this is an actual
arbitrage play. When the plus odds number is larger than the minus odds books, placing two bets on two different books and guaranteeing a profit. But incredible. When we click on this calculator, placing a $100 wager on
DraftKings at Gardener Web at plus 19.5 and then a $35 wager on Navy at minus and then a $35 wager on Navy at minus $18.5, our total investment is $135. No matter what happens in this basketball game, we're going to make an over 2%
return off of our $135 investment, whether the bet wins on investment, whether the bet wins on DraftKings or Hard Rock. But if Navy ends up winning this basketball game by exactly 19 points, we hit the middle. We
have Gardener Web at plus 19 12. Well, they lost by 19. Navy, we have them minus 18 and 1/2. Well, they won by over 18 1/2. They won by 19 points. So, we
actually cash both sides of this bet and make a total profit of $138.52. So, if anything else happens in this basketball game outside of Navy winning
by 19, then we make over a 2% return off of our investment. But if Navy wins of our investment. But if Navy wins exactly by 19 points, we cash both bets. Now, compare this to your typical 10 lake parlay. What most casual sports
betterers do is look at the college basketball slate, cook up 10 legs, want to throw a $10 wager down to make over $6700. But the problem is is that we're receiving odds of almost plus $67,000.
We have less than a 1% chance of actually winning this parlay. Actually, it's.15%. With that 10 parlay, there's an extremely high chance that I lose. But with middle betting, I'm going to win no
matter what happens. So that's why with this strategy, I love to load up on certain plays because betting 250 here and 85 here, if the middle hits, I'm making almost $350. But if anything else happens outside of
hitting that middle, then I'm making about 7 bucks profit. Plus, I'm earning rewards with certain sports books by placing large wager amounts down on money lines, totals, and spreads. Here's why middle betting is so effective. All
of these sports books set their own lines or odds independently of each other. And when there's line movement, these can create gaps. These gaps are essentially free lottery tickets that you're receiving from the sports books
with incredible odds. The books know about middle betting, but they can't moving their lines based off betting action and injury news. These gaps are inevitable, and OddsJam software finds them for you automatically. The beauty
of middle betting is builtin risk management. So, let's go through my filter setup so that you can copy this for yourself and start hammering middles. Now guys, if you want to try Odd Sham software, one week for free and
then save 35% off your first month after the oneweek trial ends, use my code Billy35. It'll be linked in the description below. So, just click the and you can set up a minimum maximum odds range if you want to, but I'm going
for any and all middle opportunities. Naturally, if you start to narrow this Naturally, if you start to narrow this odds range in a little bit more, plus - 150, you'll have a higher likelihood of hitting your middles compared to maybe a
plus - 500 range. All you're going to want to do then is focus on the date range for today. And this percentage, this is very important. I like to go after middle opportunities that are anything below a negative half
percentage. Negative half 1%. So, we can go through exactly why that is the case, but during the fall and the winter with college basketball, the NBA, the NHL, opportunities where you can find profitable middle plays. Other than
markets or leagues. And then once we go ahead and click show results, anything that has a positive percentage here on the lefth hand side is going to be an arbitrage play with a chance at a
opportunities, sometimes you'll be able to capture both, win both tickets. Sometimes you'll push one bet, get your money refunded to you, and win the other breakdown. I go after any and all middles that have a positive percentage.
go after some middles that have a negative percentage as well. And here's an example between ESPN Bet and Bet Rivers on this Kansas Tennessee game. When we click on this calculator, wagering $100 on Bet Rivers and $83 on
wagering $100 on Bet Rivers and $83 on ESPN bet, our total investment is $183. ESPN bet, our total investment is $183. Now, if the final score lands exactly on 142 total points, we receive our $100 back from Bet Rivers, it's deemed a push
or a tie, but we cash the over on here on ESPN bet. If any other in outcome happens outside of 142 points scored, then we lose 72. So, think of it this
way. Effectively, you're wagering 72 cents to have a chance of making $182 of profit. This is why I like to go after negative percentages that are less
than a half of a percentage because I'm wagering less than a dollar to have a chance at a really large payout. So, I would implore you to set aside $2 or $3 every day and go after some of these middles where maybe you'll take a small
loss because as I mentioned on $183 investment, you're going to lose 72 if the final score isn't 142 points. You could see this odds range odds range here though plus 120 - 182. Let's give you a breakdown of our actual percentage
chance that we have of hitting this bet. At plus 120 odds, that means we have a 45 12% chance of winning this bet. And if we take this over to minus 122, we actually have a 55% chance of hitting this bet. So, it's not like we're going
after 10% chances to hit these wagers. This is within a flip of a coin that the final score could land exactly on 142. So, when you're using this middle tool, I like to go after any and all plays that are below a negative half%. put
that are below a negative half%. put down $50 to $100 on one side of a bet, knowing that I'm really only risking 50 cents or up to a dollar per play. And bets out, hitting on one of these middles is a massive profit. Outside of
the negative percentages, anything that has a positive percentage, I absolutely load up on. And this is where I love to attack mainline markets like moneyline books are taking large wager amounts. I can get a lot of money down on these
plays and if we end up hitting one of these middles, it's a ridiculous payday because the payout ratios are so favorable and the odds that we're going after are within a flip of a coin. Even if you only hit one out of 20 middles,
this is an extremely lucrative strategy. Middle betting presents the perfect balance between risk and reward in sports betting. You're not gambling. You're making calculated investments with a cap downside and an unlimited
upside. Middle betting is mixed into my daily betting portfolio activity two strategies together create an extremely powerful ROI and unlimited upside. And if you want to know the step-by-step tutorial on how exactly to
smash arbitrage bets, the FAQs, what books to attack, things that you need to be on the lookout for, then click this video right here on the screen. This you need to know to execute this strategy like a pro. So, by the end of
the video, you'll be ready to attack the sports books, making easy profits.