Understanding Sports Betting

Learn about the three main types of team-based sports bets and how to make informed decisions.

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Money-Line Bet

The simplest form of betting where you pick which team will win the game outright.

Example

Los Angeles Lakers-150
Boston Celtics+130

A -150 odds means you need to bet $150 to win $100. +130 means a $100 bet wins $130.

Pros

  • ✓Simple and straightforward
  • ✓No point spread to consider
  • ✓Good for beginners

Cons

  • ✗Higher risk for favorites
  • ✗Lower payouts for favored teams
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Over/Under Bet

Also known as totals betting, you bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number.

Example

New York Knicks vs Miami Heat
Over 215.5-110
Under 215.5-110

If you bet over 215.5, you win if the total score is 216 or more. If you bet under, you win if it's 215 or less.

Pros

  • ✓Not dependent on who wins
  • ✓Good for defensive/offensive matchups
  • ✓Can be combined with other bets

Cons

  • ✗Requires understanding of team scoring patterns
  • ✗Can be affected by game pace
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Spread Bet

A bet where the favorite must win by a certain number of points, or the underdog must lose by less than that number.

Example

Golden State Warriors-7.5
Chicago Bulls+7.5

Warriors must win by 8 or more points to cover the spread. Bulls can lose by 7 or fewer points to cover.

Pros

  • ✓More balanced odds
  • ✓Can make lopsided games interesting
  • ✓Higher potential payouts

Cons

  • ✗More complex than moneyline
  • ✗Half-point spreads can be tricky