There are a few things better than betting on the Stanley Cup Finals, like having sex, but right now let’s focus on what’s in front of us…unless you have a naked girl on your lap right now. That’s beside the point, though.

Just like sex, you have to be prepared for Stanley Cup betting before you dive right in. Often times a bettor will just bet on the first Stanley Cup odds that he sees, but a smart person would be a little more selective.

Here’s a brief checklist you should follow:

1. Shop Around

Before you find a sexy sportsbook to insert your money into - if you get what I’m saying - think about which places offers you the most bang for your buck. If you’re gonna give the girl some money, you want to make sure you are getting the right return on investment.

Some sportsbook odds just post up simple game lines for the Stanley Cup finals, and they don’t offer props or exotic bets. Furthermore, their lines have high juice and just rip you off when you consider that another sportsbook can offer lines at a better price.

So, shop around. Make sure you find a place that will offer you lots of bets and offer you the best prices.

2. Do Your Homework

Betting on the Stanley Cup odds is like hooking up with a chick: it’s dangerous if you haven’t done your homework on the girl. Learn about your, ahem, opponent. You need to know about the two teams who in the Finals, what their strength and weaknesses are, how they got there, what shape they are as far as injuries go as so on.

Believe it or not, but just like you and the super drunk passed-out girl at the party, there are mismatches even in the Finals.

3. Who Has Home-Ice Advantage?

Although some people pawn it off as irrelevant, home field advantage really does matter whether we’re talking hookups or Stanley Cup Finals. In your pad, the girl is out of her element and that gives you an advantage. It gives you the home-field advantage. In grander terms, it means the same thing for Stanley Cup betting lines because the team that has the extra game at home will be favored to win the series.

Also, the percentages highly favor the team that wins Game One of the series and obviously home-ice advantage helps the home team win Game One, since the series start in the arena of the team who finished with the better record.

Lastly, home-ice advantage is a big deal for Game Seven. If the series is in fact tied 3-3 and there is an ultimate, final game, the team that is at home for Game Seven will be a much bigger favorite for the Stanley Cup odds because history shows that the teams that are at home in Game Seven dominate.

4. What Is Your Betting Strategy?

Just like your sexual strategy, you have to be consistent with your betting strategy. With sex, you don’t start with threesomes, chains and candle wax, then move down to light kissing and soft sex. With gambling, you don’t want to do that either. Set up a strategy where you organize your bets. Don’t bet your kid’s college fund on Game One of the series when you know that if you lose, you’ll be going limp the rest of the series.

Your betting strategy has to be monitored so that you are betting reasonable amounts on each game. If you really like a game, then you bet a bit more on the Stanley Cup odds. If you like a game less, then you bet a little bit less. But if you blow your load all on one game, you might win big but eventually you’ll give it all back because you’re out of control.

So just remember to practice safe sex and safe Stanley Cup betting. It will save you some late night itching and scratching.