Follow a match closely: Your guide must have a column that must describe in detail why your team won or lost. Very often, the final scores do not tell the correct tale of a match. A team that may have lost may have actually played better basketball.
Such match descriptions will help you form a better opinion of teams, and their players.

4. Public opinion: Strong public opinion in favor of a team leads to heavy betting on them. Every one wants to wager on a team that is winning. This makes the bookies reduce the odds. Even if you win, your earnings are meaningless. So, stay away from such teams or bet low on them. Put you money on teams that are dark horses or strong fighters.
5. Make more straight bets: It is better to win four straight bets and loose two over a week, than to go for two parlays and lose both. Parlays can bring you big money, but the stakes are very high. Even one wrong result can undo your good work.