BasicsGuide 02 of 05
Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals
The three markets that make up almost every card. When to use each, and when the extra point is a trap.
OddsListing education desk
Updated · 6 min read
Moneyline
Pick a winner. No points. You are paying juice to be right about the result, not the margin. Use it when you like a favorite but not the number, or when you like a dog to win outright. A reduced-juice book turns −120 into −112 and that is real money over a season.
Spread
The book lends points to the dog. A −3 favorite has to win by more than a field goal. +3 has to stay within three. In the NFL, 3 and 7 are not like other numbers. Buying a half-point off 3 is often worth more than the extra dime of juice. Buying a half-point off 9 is usually a donation.
Totals
Over or under the combined score. Totals move on weather, pace, and injuries to offensive line and secondary — not on who you like. If you find yourself betting an over because you like a quarterback, you are mixing products. Pick one market.
Education, not a wagering instruction. Confirm every number on the sportsbook. 21+.
