With the increasing popularity of sports betting, more and more beginners are diving into this fun hobby. However, not everyone knows a lot about sports betting and its most important aspects. Here are five common sports betting questions and answers. Links to our detailed tutorials follow each sports betting FAQ.
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What does -7 mean in point spread?
-7 means a team is a 7 point favorite. The books expect this team to win by seven points.
At the end of the game, you subtract the spread from that team’s final score. If the favorite team wins the game 22-14, they would cover the spread: 22 – 7 = 15. 15 is greater than the underdog’s 14 points.
However, if the favorite team wins 17-14, they would NOT cover the spread: 17 – 7 = 10. 10 is less than the underdog’s 14 points.
Tying the Spread or Push
Your bet will be returned if the final score ties the spread.
For example, the favorite team wins 21-14. 21 – 7 point spread = 14. 14 equals the underdog’s 14 point score. Similarly, if you took the underdog: 14 + 7 point spread = 21. 21 equals the favorite’s 21 point score.
This result ties the spread. Neither team wins against the spread. Your bet will be refunded.
What does -110 mean in sports betting?
In sports betting, -110 is one of the most common odds you will see.
-110 refers to the “juice” that you will pay on your spread bet. That means you lay $110 to win $100. A $100 bet would yield a payout of $90.91. Charging juice on each bet allows sportsbooks to profit.
-110 is also a common odds for Yes/No prop bets.
What does the “+” and “-” mean in sports betting?
Bettors must know the difference between + and -. The symbols mean the same in sports betting as they do anywhere else. However, there is a little more to it than that.
+ Symbol Point Spread
A “+” refers to the underdog. +3 means the team is a three-point underdog. The books think this team will lose by three or fewer points.
At the end of the game, you add the spread to that team’s final score. If the underdog loses the game 14-12, they would cover the spread: 12 points scored + 3 points spread = 15. 15 is greater than the favorite’s 14 points.
+ Symbol Moneyline
A + next to a number indicates the underdog. The number determines how much you win for every $100 bet.
An underdog team could have a +200 moneyline. That means you win $200 for every $100 bet. Similarly, a +450 moneyline means you win $450 for every $100 bet.
– Symbol Point Spread
A “-” refers to the favorite. -3 means the team is a three-point favorite. The books think this team will win by three or more points.
At the end of the game, you subtract the spread from that team’s final score. If the favorite team wins the game 14-12, they would NOT cover the spread: 14 points scored – 3 point spread = 11. 11 is less than the underdog’s 12 points.
– Symbol Moneyline
A – next to a number indicates the favorite. The number determines how much you bet to win $100.
A favorite team could have a -180 moneyline. That means you risk $180 to win $100. Similarly, a -250 money means you risk $250 to win $100.
What does +150 mean in betting?
A bet on a line of +150 would net you 1.5 times your bet. For example, a $200 bet at +150 would net you $300. Teams with odds of +150 are considered underdogs. In prop bets or other types of bets, a betting option that pays out +150 is considered less likely to occur than one that pays out with a “-” in front of it. The higher the “+” number, such as +400, the higher the payout and the less likely the even occurring in the eyes of the books.
What do “O” and “U” mean in total betting?
In sports betting, “O” and “U” means Over and Under.
The Over and Under refers to the matchup point total. The total is the combined points of both opponents.
When you bet on the Over you are betting that the combined points go above the total line. Under is the opposite of Over. Betting on the Under means you need the combined points below the total line.
NFL 50 Point Total Example
Betting the over requires a combined score to surpass those 50 points. If the total lands on the exact number set by the book than the bet will push. The bet will be returned.
It is important to remember that total bets include any potential overtimes or extra innings in a contest. Typically O/U bets have odds of -110.
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Sports Betting Lessons
- What + and – mean in betting
- What +125 and -125 odds mean
- What +1000 and -1000 odds mean
- +2.5 and -2.5 point spread
- +7 and -7 point spread
- 3 Game Parlay Bet Payout
- 5 Game Parlay Bet Payout
- 3-Way Moneyline
- +1.5 and -1.5 run line
- +1.5 and -1.5 puck line
- PK Point Spread Line
- Asian Handicap Lines
- What a Push Means
- Alternate Betting Lines
- “No Action” Bet
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Sports Betting Resources
- How to Read Sports Betting Odds – Our helpful tutorial explains what the numbers mean for point spread, moneyline, total, and Asian Handicap bets.
- Sports Betting Questions and Answers – Common sports betting questions and answers, a simple quick reference for beginners.
- Sports Betting vs Casino Gambling – Learn how sportsbooks and casinos make money, and the important differences between each business model.
- How to Read NFL Odds – Short and sweet guide to NFL point spreads, totals, and moneylines. We’ve got live example bets from upcoming NFL matchups.
- Point Spread Bet – Understanding the point spread is key to betting on football and basketball. Learn how the point spread bet works with our tutorial video and text.
- Over-Under Total Bet – Bet over or under the sportsbook’s line. We explain how to place this bet with easy examples, a video, and text explainer.
- Moneyline Bet – Whether it’s a 2-way or 3-way moneyline, we’ve got you covered. Moneylines are available for almost every major sport league, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and combat sports.
- Teaser Bet – A teaser is a modified parlay that lets you buy points to shift point spread and total lines in your favor. Our fun tutorial video and detailed text article explain how to place this bet.
- If Bet Win-Only – Sequence multiple bets together in an if-then sequence. Your next bet only sees action if the previous one wins. Ideal for bettors with small bankrolls.
- Futures Bet – We explain what a futures bet is, how it works, and when to bet on a future sporting event. Common futures bets include the winners of the Super Bowl, Final Four, Stanley Cup, World Series, and NBA Finals.
- Parlay Bet – Combine multiple selections into one bet that returns a huge payout if all your selections were correct. We explain how parlay bets work and provide common parlay payout tables.
- Progressive Parlay Bet – Also known as a “Close Call Parlay”, this parlay variant can win even if one or more of selections lose. Our article describes this bet in detail.
- Parlay Card Betting – Parlay cards are issued by major sportsbooks midweek, allowing bettors to make multiple point spread, total, and prop bet selections that can return big payouts. Not to be confused with an “off the board” parlay!
- Prop Bets – We explain what a prop bet is, how to place a prop bet, and provide an expansive list of sports leagues with plenty of props to bet on right now.
Common Sports Betting FAQs
-7 means a team is a 7 point favorite. The books expect this team to win by seven points.
-110 are standard betting odds. That means you lay $110 to win $100. A $100 bet at -110 odds pays $90.91.
A “+” refers to the underdog. +3 means the team is a three-point underdog. A “-” refers to the favorite. -3 means the team is a three-point favorite.
A bet on a line of +150 would net you 1.5 times your bet. For example, a $200 bet at +150 would net you $300.
In total betting, “O” and “U” means Over and Under. The Over and Under refers to the matchup point total. The total is the combined points of both opponents.