1. Moneyline: Betting on the Winner
The Moneyline is the most straightforward type of bet. You are simply wagering on which team or player will win the game or match outright. The margin of victory does not matter.
Example: NFL Moneyline
Team A: -200
Team B: +160
Betting on Team A (-200) means you wager $200 to win $100 profit if they win.
Betting on Team B (+160) means you wager $100 to win $160 profit if they win.
Negative odds indicate the favorite, positive odds the underdog.
Moneyline bets are popular when you strongly believe an underdog has a real chance of winning, as they offer higher payouts than betting the favorite on the spread.
Learn more about reading Moneyline odds on our How to Read Betting Lines page and converting them on the Understanding Odds page.
2. Point Spread: Betting on the Margin
Point Spread betting is designed to create a more balanced market when one team is a clear favorite. The bookmaker sets a handicap (the spread) that the favorite must overcome to win the bet, or the underdog benefits from. You are betting on the *margin* of victory, not just the winner.
Example: NBA Point Spread
Team C: -7.5
Team D: +7.5
Betting on Team C (-7.5) means Team C must win by 8 points or more for your bet to win.
Betting on Team D (+7.5) means Team D can lose by 7 points or less, or win the game outright, for your bet to win.
If the final score difference exactly matches the spread (e.g., Team C wins by 7 when the spread is -7), it's often a "push," and your stake is returned.
Point Spreads are common in high-scoring sports like basketball and football where margins of victory vary more widely.
3. Over/Under (Totals): Betting on the Score
Over/Under betting, also known as Totals, focuses on the combined final score of both teams in a game. The bookmaker sets a total number, and you bet whether the actual combined score will be OVER or UNDER that number. The winner of the game is irrelevant to this bet type.
Example: Soccer Over/Under Goals
Total Goals: 2.5
Over 2.5
Under 2.5
Betting 'Over 2.5' means you win if the combined goals scored by both teams is 3 or more.
Betting 'Under 2.5' means you win if the combined goals scored is 0, 1, or 2.
The .5 is used to prevent pushes.
Totals bets are popular when you have a strong opinion on whether a game will be high-scoring or low-scoring but are less certain about the outcome.
Bet Better's analytics provide insights into offensive and defensive performance metrics that are key for Totals betting.
4. Choosing the Right Bet Type
Deciding which bet type to use depends on your analysis of the specific game and where you perceive value. If you think an underdog is being significantly undervalued and has a real chance to win, the Moneyline might be the play. If you believe a favorite will dominate and cover a large spread, or that an underdog will keep it close, the Point Spread is relevant. If you have strong data suggesting a game will be a shootout or a defensive battle, the Over/Under is the focus.
How Bet Better Helps: Bet Better provides data-driven probability assessments for Moneyline, Spread, and Total outcomes. By comparing our probabilities to the odds offered by sportsbooks, we highlight where the greatest value lies for a given game, helping you determine which bet type (and side) offers the most profitable opportunity according to our analytics.
Conclusion: Master the Basics, Bet Smarter
Moneyline, Point Spread, and Over/Under are the cornerstones of sports betting. Understanding how each works and when to consider them is fundamental to building an effective betting strategy. By combining this foundational knowledge with objective data analysis, you can make more informed decisions and increase your chances of long-term success.
Ready to apply data-driven insights to these common bet types? Explore Bet Better Subscriptions and access the analytics that help you find value in Moneyline, Spread, and Totals markets.