Learn how to read sports betting odds. Our video tutorial explains sports betting odds in simple language. Use this knowledge hone your skills. Below, we’ll discuss point spreads, totals, and moneylines from various sports leagues. We also introduce the Asian Handicap to soccer bettors.
Table of Contents
Tutorial Video
Point Spreads
| Point Spread Game |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Bulls
Celtics
12/15/22 8:00pm EDT
|
+9.5 -115
-9.5 -105
|
Point Spread Basics
12/15/22 is the game date. 8:00 PM is the game time. You must place a point spread bet before gametime.
The visiting team comes first. In the example, the Chicago Bulls are the visiting team. The home team follows below. The Boston Celtics are the home team.
Point Spread Line
Teams with a plus line are the underdog. In the example, the Chicago Bulls are the +9.5 point underdogs.
Teams with a minus line are the favorite. The Boston Celtics are the -9.5 point favorites.
Why Does the Point Spread Line Have a ½ Point?
A ½ point spread means no tie bets. Either Bulls bettors or Celtics bettors will win. Oddsmakers use ½ points strategically to avoid pushing players.
A tie is possible when the point spread line is a whole number like 8, 10, or 15. If the final score difference ties the spread, your bet will be refunded. Neither Bulls bettors nor Celtics bettors will win.
Point Spread Odds
The numbers next to each point spread line are odds. These numbers determine your bet’s risk and win amounts.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, -115 means you lay $115 to win $100 on the underdog Chicago Bulls. -105 means you lay $105 to win $100 on the favorite Boston Celtics.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. Suppose the Bulls +9.5 had +120 odds. +120 would mean you win $120 for risking $100.
+100 or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100.
NBA Odds Example
|
Game |
 BetMGMBet |
|---|---|
Hawks
Hornets
6:10pm EST | -5.5 -110+5.5 -110 |
Underdog Charlotte Hornets - Charlotte Hornets bettors risk $100 to win $90.91 at -110 odds.
A +5.5 Charlotte Hornets underdog bet wins if they lose by 5 or fewer, tie, or win outright. Your bet loses if they lose by 6 or more.
Favorite Atlanta Hawks - Atlanta Hawks bettors risk $100 to win $90.91 at -110 odds.
A -5.5 Atlanta Hawks favorite bet wins if they win by 6 or more. Your bet loses if they win by 5 or fewer, tie, or lose outright.
Total Bets
| Total Game |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Avalanche
Lightning
01/22/23 7:30pm EDT
|
4.5 o -110
4.5 u -110
|
Total Bet Basics
01/22/23 is the game date. 7:30 PM is the game time. You must place a total bet before the game starts.
The visiting team appears over the home team. The over-under total bet is made against the sportsbook’s total line. This differs from the point spread or moneyline, where you pick a team to win.
Total Bet Line
Sportsbooks set a over-under total line that combines the estimated final scores of each team. In this example, the sportsbook has set a 4.5 total line for the Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning matchup.
o is an abbreviation for “over”. u is an abbreviation for “under”.
You decide whether the actual goal total will be over or under the sportsbook’s line.
Why Does the Total Line Have a ½ Point?
A ½ total line means no tie bets. The actual point total will be either over or under the sportsbook’s line.
A tie is possible when the total line is a whole number like 5, 6, or 9. If the actual point total equals the sportsbook’s line, your bet will be refunded. Neither the over nor the under will win.
Total Bet Odds
The numbers next to each total bet line are odds. These numbers determine your bet’s risk and win amounts.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, -110 means you lay $110 to win $100 on both the over and under.
Sometimes the numbers will differ. The over might have -115 odds while the under has -105. In this case, you would lay $115 to win $100 on the over. Or, you would lay $105 to win $100 on the under.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. Suppose the under had +120 odds. That means you win $120 for risking $100 on the under.
+100 or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100.
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Moneylines
| Moneyline Game |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Tigers
Royals
7/11/22 2:10pm EDT
|
+115
-134
|
Moneyline Bet Basics
07/11/22 is the game date. 2:10 PM is the game time. You must place a moneyline bet before the game starts.
The visiting team comes first. In the example, the Detroit Tigers are the visiting team. The home team follows below. The Kansas City Royals are the home team.
Moneyline Bet Odds
The moneyline favorite will have a minus value. The moneyline underdog will have a plus value.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, the favorite Royals have a -134 moneyline. That means you risk $134 to win $100.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. The underdog Tigers have a +115 moneyline. That means you win $115 for risking $100.
+100 or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100 on the underdog. You’ll only see this when the favorite has -120 odds.
Rarely, both sides will have -110 moneylines. That means there’s no favorite or underdog. The sportsbook regards this game as an equal matchup. Risk $110 to win $100 on either team.
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Asian Handicaps
| Asian Handicap Game |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Columbus Crew
DC United
7/13/22 8:00pm EDT
|
+0.25 -120
-0.25 +100
|
Asian Handicap Bet Basics
07/13/22 is the game date. 8:00 PM is the game time. You must place an Asian Handicap bet before the game starts.
The visiting team comes first. In the example, the Columbus Crew are the visiting team. The home team follows below. DC United is the home team.
Asian Handicap Line
Teams with a plus line are the underdog. In the example, the Columbus Crew are the +0.25 point underdogs.
Teams with a minus line are the favorite. DC United is the -0.25 point favorites.
The Asian Handicap functions like a point spread. The line’s numerical value determines how the bet wins or loses.
0.5 Goal Asian Handicap
A ½ point spread means no tie bets. Either the favorite or underdog bettors will win. Oddsmakers use ½ points strategically to avoid pushing players.
A tie is possible when the Asian Handicap line is a whole number like 2, 3, or 4. If the final score difference ties the spread, your bet will be refunded. Neither the favorite nor the underdog betters will win.
0.25 Goal Asian Handicap
Lines with a quarter goal increment, like 0.25 or 0.75, mean your bet is split equally between the halves closest to each number. This also includes lines like 1.25 or 1.75, or 2.25 or 2.75.
In the example, a bet on the underdog Columbus Crew means half your bet goes against +0 and the other half against +0.5. Both +0 and +0.5 are the two halves closest to +0.25.
Similarly, a bet on the favorite DC United means half your bet goes against -0 and the other half against -0.5. Both -0 and -0.5 are the two halves closes to -0.25.
You can also just add 0.25 and then subtract 0.25 to get each line.
Asian Handicap Odds
The numbers next to each Asian Handicap line are odds. These numbers determine your bet’s risk and win amounts.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, -120 means you lay $120 to win $100 on the underdog Columbus Crew. The 0.25 line means your bet is split equally against +0 and +0.5. That means $60 to win $50 against +0 and $60 to win $50 against +0.5.
+100 means you lay $100 to win $100 on the favorite DC United. The 0.25 line means your bet is split equally against -0 and -0.5. You’re betting $50 to win $50 against -0 and $50 to win $50 against -0.5
+100 or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. Suppose DC United -0.25 had +120 odds. +120 would mean you win $120 for risking $100. With a 0.25 line, you’d be betting $50 to win $60 against -0 and $50 to win $60 against -0.5.
Read more about the Asian Handicap in our detailed soccer betting tutorial.
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Finding Value
Given two equal point spreads or totals, bet at the sportsbook charging less juice. A lower commission means you won’t have to risk as much to bet on the favorite.
Also shop positive juice numbers. Under 35 +118 at one book is less profitable than +120 at another. You’ll get an extra $2 reward for making this bet at the other book!
Tables and Reference
MLS Futures Odds
|
Team | BetMGM |
|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | +135 Bet |
| Orlando City SC | +175 Bet |
| Seattle Sounders FC | +400 Bet |
| New York Red Bulls | +500 Bet |
Other Sports Betting Information
- March Madness Futures
- Stanley Cup Betting
- World Series Betting
- College Football Betting
- Soccer Betting
- Point Spread Bet Tutorial
- Total Bet Tutorial
- Moneyline Bet Tutorial
FAQs
-0.25 is an Asian Handicap. Half your bet goes against -0 and the other half against -0.5. The bet pays according to the line’s odds. Divide the total risk and win amounts in half to calculate each half bet’s risk and win amounts.
-0.75 is an Asian Handicap. Half your bet goes against -0.5 and the other half against -1. The bet pays according to the line’s odds. Divide the total risk and win amounts in half to calculate each half bet’s risk and win amounts.
If the actual game run total equals the sportsbook’s line, your bet “pushes” or ties. Your bet will be refunded. Neither the over nor the under win.
No. Only Asian handicaps with quarter goal increments get split into two bets. Half goal and whole goal spreads work like any other point spread bet.
PK, or “Pick ’em”, means the point spread line is 0. In this case, the point spread bet becomes a moneyline. The odds values indicate risk and win amounts for each side.
+100 means the bet pays even money. You risk $100 to win $100. This can also be written as EV.
ML can mean Moneyline in sports betting. In horse racing, ML means “morning line.”
-3 means the favorite must win by 4 or more points for your bet to win. A 3 point victory would tie the spread.
Two -110 moneylines mean the sportsbook considers both teams evenly matched. There is no favorite team. Risk $110 to win $100 on either team.
The point spread is called the “Run Line” in baseball betting. Bet whether the favorite will win by more than the run line, or if the underdog will lose by less than the run line.
The point spread is called the “Puck Line” in hockey betting. Bet whether the favorite will win by more than puck line, or if the underdog will lose by less than the puck line.
Winning against the spread means the team has covered the point spread. The favorite won by more than the spread or the underdog lost by less than the spread.
Covering means the team has won the game based on their point spread value. The favorite won by more than the spread or the underdog lost by less than the spread.
– before a betting line indicates the side is the favorite. + before a betting line indicates the side is the underdog.