Sports Betting 101: Understanding Moneylines

Those just starting to bet on NCAA football should be aware that you don’t just have to bet on spreads.  The moneyline is just as easy to bet on, although it looks scary if you’re just beginning in the online sports betting game.

In moneylines, the favorite is denoted by a minus (-), while the underdog is denoted by a plus (+).  Now that you know that, this is how a matchup would look, for example:

Miami (+130) at Florida State (-160)

If you’re looking to bet on the Hurricanes on the road, you’re going to bet on $100 to win $130 for the underdog.  On the other hand, if you’re betting on the Seminoles at home, you’re going to have to bet $160 to win $100.

Moneylines are mostly used in sports where the point spread doesn’t really matter, like baseball, boxing and tennis.  Spread betting is much more prevalent in football, but moneyline betting is making gains in the sports betting industry.  It’s really no easier or tougher for players to bet on moneylines rather than spreads.  They’re really just a chance to give sports betting players another option, or different way to bet, in their favorite sportsbook.  It’s also a way for sportsbooks to try and balance the amount of action on both sides of a match.

Get some practice with moneylines and don’t bet crazy amounts until you’re comfortable with the moneyline system.  If you get it right and make a big underdog sports bet, you could make a killing.