See where the public and sharp bettors are placing their money to make more informed decisions.
The percentage of total bets placed on each side of a market. This represents how many individual wagers have been placed, regardless of size.
The percentage of total money wagered on each side. This represents the actual dollar volume and can differ significantly from ticket percentages when large bets are placed.
Indicates where professional bettors appear to be placing their money. Sharp action is identified through various signals including:
Consensus data can be valuable in several ways:
Betting against the public (going "contrarian") can be profitable, especially when more than 70% of tickets are on one side. The sports betting market tends to overvalue favorites and popular teams.
When there's a significant difference between ticket percentage and handle percentage, it often indicates sharp money on the side with the higher handle relative to tickets. This "smart money" signal can be valuable.
When a line moves in the opposite direction of the betting percentages (e.g., line moves toward a team despite most bets being against them), it's a strong indication of sharp money. This "reverse line movement" is a powerful signal.
Consensus data tends to be most valuable closer to game time when more bets have been placed. However, early sharp action can provide an opportunity to get value before lines adjust to reflect professional opinion.