Public betting percentages show what proportion of bets and money is on each side of a game. They're a useful filter for identifying sharp vs. square action.
The Data You Can Find
Bet count percentage: What % of individual tickets bet on each side. Reflects the volume of recreational bettors.
Money percentage: What % of total dollars bet on each side. Reflects where larger bets (often sharper) are going.
Line movement: Where has the line moved since opening?
Reading the Signals
Public side + line moves toward public: Normal market behavior. No unusual signal.
Public side + line moves AGAINST public (reverse line movement): Sharp money is betting the other side hard enough to move the line against the public weight. Strong sharp signal.
Money % differs from bet %: If 75% of tickets are on Team A but only 55% of dollars, large bets are going on Team B. Those larger bets are often sharper.
How to Use It
Don't blindly fade the public. Use betting percentages as a confirmation tool when you already have an analytical reason to be on a side. When your handicapping and the sharp-action signal agree, bet with more confidence.
Sources
Action Network, The Odds Shopper, and other betting data sites provide percentage information. Some require subscriptions for detailed data.
[Combine public data with your own tracking in Oddible →]
