If you’re new to sports betting or looking to expand your knowledge, it’s important to understand the different types of bets available. Three of the most popular types are Moneyline, Spread, and Totals (Over/Under) bets. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Moneyline Bets
A Moneyline bet is the simplest form of sports betting. You are betting on which team or player will win the game or match, without considering the point spread.
- How It Works: Each team is assigned odds based on their likelihood of winning. The favorite will have lower odds (e.g., -150), meaning you must wager $150 to win $100. The underdog will have higher odds (e.g., +200), meaning a $100 bet will win you $200 if they pull off the upset.
- Example:
- Team A: -180
- Team B: +160 Betting on Team A requires wagering $180 to win $100. Betting on Team B requires a $100 wager to win $160.
Spread Bets
Point spread betting is popular in team sports like football and basketball. In spread bets, the bookmaker sets a margin of victory (the “spread”) that the favored team must win by in order for the bet to be successful. The underdog can lose by fewer points than the spread or win outright to cover the spread.
- How It Works: The favored team will have a negative number (e.g., -7.5), meaning they must win by more than 7.5 points for a successful bet. The underdog will have a positive number (e.g., +7.5), meaning they can lose by up to 7.5 points, or win the game, for your bet to win.
- Example:
- Team A: -5.5
- Team B: +5.5 If you bet on Team A, they need to win by at least 6 points. If you bet on Team B, they need to either win the game or lose by 5 points or fewer.
Totals (Over/Under) Bets
Totals betting, also known as Over/Under, involves betting on the total number of points, goals, or runs scored by both teams in a game. The bookmaker sets a total, and you can bet whether the actual combined score will be over or under that number.
- How It Works: If the bookmaker sets the total at 48.5 for a football game, you can bet “over” if you believe the combined score will be 49 or higher, or “under” if you believe the combined score will be 48 or lower.
- Example:
- Over/Under: 210.5 (basketball game) If you bet “over,” the total combined points of both teams must be 211 or more. If you bet “under,” the combined points must be 210 or fewer.
Conclusion
Understanding Moneyline, Spread, and Totals bets is essential for making informed decisions in sports betting. Moneyline bets focus on the outright winner, spread bets account for the margin of victory, and totals bets let you wager on the overall score. By mastering these bet types, you’ll enhance your sports betting experience and improve your chances of success.
