What Is A Lean In Sports Betting | 4 Tips You Should Know

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WHAT IS A LeAN IN
SPORTS BETTING?

A lean in sports betting is a slight preference for one team or side in a game or event. For example, a matchup between the Patriots and Bills might have an over-under line set at 46 points, but the bettor believes the game will finish closer to 50 points, thus the game leans towards the ‘over’. A lean should be based on research and analysis to minimize personal biases. 

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots a three-point basket over Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. In sports betting, understanding "What is a Lean in Sports Betting" can be crucial for bettors, as it refers to a slight preference or inclination toward one side of a bet, though not strong enough to be a full recommendation. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN

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What is a Lean in Sports Betting?

A lean in sports betting is a slight preference for one team or side in a game or event. It’s important to note that a lean is not a strong conviction or a sure thing. Rather, it’s a small preference that is often based on research and analysis. A lean may also be influenced by personal biases or intuition. For this reason, Leans AI takes emotion out of each lean and only uses data driven decisions.

Sports betting can be a tricky game to navigate, and there are many different terms and concepts that can be difficult to understand for beginners. One such concept is the idea of a “lean” in sports betting. In this article, we will explain what a lean is, how it is used in sports betting, and some tips for incorporating leans into your own betting strategy.

A lean is used by bettors as a way to help inform their decision-making process when placing a bet. For example, if a bettor has a lean toward the underdog in a particular game, they may be more likely to place a bet on that team. However, it’s important to note that a lean is not a guarantee of success, and bettors should always do their own research and analysis before placing a bet.

Tip 1 | How is a Lean Used in Sports Betting?

A lean is used in sports betting as a tool to help bettors make more informed decisions. By having a slight preference for one team or side, bettors can use that information to guide their betting strategy.

For example, let’s say a bettor is looking at an upcoming football game between Team A and Team B. After researching both teams and analyzing the game, the bettor feels that Team A has a slight advantage. They may have a “lean” toward Team A, which means that they are more likely to place a bet on that team.

However, it’s important to note that a lean is not a sure thing. Even if a bettor has a slight preference for one team, they should still do their own research and analysis before placing a bet. This includes looking at factors such as the teams’ records, injuries, and other variables that could impact the outcome of the game.

New York Jets cornerback Shemar Bartholomew (40) breaks up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Miles Boykin (81) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. In sports betting, understanding what is a lean can be crucial, as it refers to a slight preference or inclination towards a particular bet, even if it doesn’t lead to a formal wager. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN

Tip 2 | Incorporating a Lean into Your Betting Strategy

If you’re interested in incorporating leans into your sports betting strategy, there are a few tips that can help you get started:

  1. Do your research: Before making any bets, it’s important to do your own research and analysis. Look at factors such as the teams’ records, injuries, and other variables that could impact the outcome of the game. This can help you make more informed decisions and give you a better understanding of the game.
  2. Keep track of your leans: If you have a lean toward a particular team or side, keep track of it. This can help you see patterns in your decision-making and identify any biases or tendencies that you may have.
  3. Use leans as part of a larger strategy: Leans are just one tool in a larger betting strategy. Use them as part of a larger plan that includes other factors such as bankroll management, research, and analysis.
  4. Be open to changing your mind: Just because you have a lean toward a particular team or side doesn’t mean you should be stubborn about it. If new information becomes available that changes your analysis, be open to changing your mind and re-evaluating your betting strategy.

Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN

Tip 3 | Examples of a Lean Sports Betting

Let’s say there’s an upcoming NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers are favored to win the game by 5 points, but you have a lean toward the Celtics.

You’ve looked at the teams’ recent performances, injury reports, and head-to-head history, and you feel that the Celtics have a good chance of keeping the game close, if not winning outright. However, you’re not completely confident in this prediction and you acknowledge that the Lakers could still cover the spread and win by more than 5 points.

In this scenario, your lean is toward the Celtics. You’re not 100% convinced that they’ll win or cover the spread, but you feel that they have a slightly better chance than the odds suggest. You might consider placing a smaller bet on the Celtics, or you might decide to skip this game entirely if you don’t feel confident enough in your lean.

Other bettors may have a different lean in this game, and the line can shift as more money is bet on either side. This is why it’s important to do your own research and analysis and make data driven decisions based on the information available to you.

Game Line AI Lean Prediction Probability Cover
Lakers @ Celtics Celtics -5 Celtics -7  Celtics 54.5%
Nuggets @ Pacers Nuggets -8 Nuggets -6 Pacers 54.5%

In each of these examples, the bettor is using a consistent unit size based on their bankroll. This helps them manage their bankroll and make more informed betting decisions.

Guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in the Short North. Though there are no on-site betting windows, eligible customers can place bets through the DraftKings app. This allows bettors to lean into their predictions by placing strategic wagers directly from their devices, a practice often referred to as a "lean" in sports betting, where individuals place smaller bets based on their slight preference or perceived edge on a particular outcome. CREDIT: USA TODAY IMAGN

Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN

Tip 4 | Are Leans Subjective?

One important thing to keep in mind about leans is that they are subjective. What one bettor may consider a lean toward one team, another bettor may consider a toss-up or a lean toward the other team. This is why it’s important to do your own research and analysis, and not rely solely on other bettors’ opinions or tips.

Leans AI generates a lean for each game, meaning the algorithm believes a game will trend one direction or another. However, this is only what the AI algorithm believes. Due to the high volatility of predictive analytics, this doesn’t guarantee the game will trend the same way.

Another thing to consider is that leans can change as new information becomes available. For example, if a key player on one team is injured, that could change a bettor’s lean toward the other team. This is why it’s important to stay up-to-date on news and information leading up to a game or event.

Finally, it’s worth noting that leans are just one tool in a larger betting strategy. In addition to doing your own research and analysis, you should also consider factors such as bankroll management, line shopping, and understanding the different types of bets and bet types available to you.

Xavier Musketeers guard Desmond Claude (1) floats a shot in the first half of the NCAA Big East Conference Tournament first-round game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Butler Bulldogs at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. This critical moment in the game, where every point matters, leads bettors to ask what is a lean in sports betting — a term referring to a slight preference or unofficial pick that a bettor might have based on the game dynamics, but without full confidence or commitment to a wager. CREDIT: USA TODAY IMAGN

Credit: USA TODAY/IMAGN

Why Use a Lean in Your Strategies?

A lean in sports betting is a slight preference for one team or side in a game or event. It’s a tool that can help bettors make more informed decisions and guide their betting strategy. However, it’s important to remember that a lean is not a sure thing. Bettors should always do their own research and analysis before placing a bet. By incorporating leans into a larger betting strategy and being open to changing your mind, you can use this concept.

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