what does the line mean in sports betting

This means that you are really betting on the fact that neither team deserves to be considered 'unlikely' to win. You can have a situation where there is no favorite, meaning that both teams are listed with more than 50% odds to win (with the juice added). You will often see teams with a (+) symbol called 'plus money' or 'underdogs.' Are Favorites a Must? For example, if the Reds are +200 to win, a $100 bet on them would win you $200 alongside your $100 wager. When you see the (+) symbol used, this means that you will win that number for every $100 you bet. This is a bit hard to think about odds-wise, but that is the result of your wager. For example, if the Browns were listed at -180, you would have to bet $180 to win $100. When the odds show a (-) symbol, that means that if you were to bet the number listed, you would win $100 back. While describing the use of the (+) and (-), I like to make it as direct as possible when it comes to the numbers listed. However, if the game is very close, it’s possible that both teams have a (-) symbol next to their moneyline odds.įor example, if the Bengals were playing the Texans and the Bengals were listed at -115 on the moneyline, and the Texans were -105, there is still a favorite, but they both are 'minus money.' The way to identify the favorite, in this case, is the team with the larger number attached to the (-) symbol. In general, the team with the (-) symbol listed in front of their moneyline odds are the favorite.

We are going to be focused on American odds, or odds that are listed starting with (+) or(-).

The odds can be a bit confusing to newcomers, and there are even different ways you can see them written out depending on where you look. Understanding the odds and what to expect from each bet is really important when it comes to starting out in sports betting.

What does the line mean in sports betting