Key takeaways
- A moneyline bet picks the winner outright, and American odds show how much you risk or win.
- A point spread levels the game by giving the favourite a minus number and the underdog a plus number.
- The standard spread price of -110 on both sides carries about a 4.8% overround, which is the bookmaker's built-in margin.
- A push refunds your stake, and half-point lines remove the chance of a push.
American sports betting runs on two bet types: the moneyline and the point spread. They are the core of NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL betting, and they appear on every sportsbook homepage. The numbers can look confusing, with plus and minus signs everywhere, but the logic is simple once you know what each sign means.
This guide explains both bet types with worked examples, then covers totals, pushes and how the bookmaker earns its margin. Prices on US sites are shown in American odds by default, so you may also want the odds converter open in another tab.
What is a moneyline bet?
A moneyline bet is a bet on who wins the game. The margin of victory does not matter. If your team wins, you win the bet.
American odds show how much you win or risk:
- A minus number (the favourite) is how much you must stake to win 100. At -180, you stake 180 to win 100.
- A plus number (the underdog) is how much you win on a 100 stake. At +150, a 100 stake wins 150.
Worked example: a moneyline bet on both sides
An NFL game is priced Team A -180 and Team B +150.
Team A at -180, with a $50 stake:
- Profit if it wins = 50 x 100 / 180 = $27.78.
- Total return = 50 + 27.78 = $77.78.
- Decimal odds = 1 + 100 / 180 = 1.556, which is 5/9 in fractional.
Team B at +150, with a $50 stake:
- Profit if it wins = 50 x 150 / 100 = $75.
- Total return = $125.
- Decimal odds = 2.50, which is 3/2 in fractional.
Implied probabilities: Team A is 180 / 280 = 64.3% and Team B is 100 / 250 = 40.0%. Together that is 104.3%, so the margin is 4.3%. Without the margin, the fair chances are 61.6% and 38.4%.
Moneyline prices are driven by the gap in quality. Heavy favourites pay very little, which is why bettors often turn to the spread instead. For a refresher on reading these prices, see how betting odds work.
What is a point spread?
A point spread, or just spread, evens out a mismatch. The sportsbook gives the favourite a deficit (a minus number) and the underdog a head start (a plus number). The final score is adjusted before the bet is settled.
- A team at -6.5 is the favourite and must win by 7 or more to cover.
- A team at +6.5 is the underdog and covers by winning the game or losing by 6 or fewer.
Both sides are normally priced at -110, which means you stake 110 to win 100. The spread is chosen to split bettors roughly evenly, not to predict the exact margin.
| Final score | Team A -6.5 | Team B +6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Team A wins 27-20 (by 7) | Covers, bet wins | Does not cover, bet loses |
| Team A wins 27-21 (by 6) | Does not cover | Covers, bet wins |
| Team A wins 30-10 (by 20) | Covers | Does not cover |
| Team B wins 24-20 | Does not cover | Covers |
Worked example: a spread bet at -110
You bet $55 on Team A -6.5 at -110.
- Profit if it covers = 55 x 100 / 110 = $50.
- Total return = $105.
- Decimal odds = 1 + 100 / 110 = 1.909, which is 10/11 in fractional.
- If it fails to cover, you lose the $55 stake.
At -110 on both sides, the implied probabilities are 110 / 210 = 52.4% each, which total 104.8%. The 4.8% overround is the sportsbook’s margin. To win money over time at -110 you need to be right more than 52.4% of the time. Check any pair of prices with the margin calculator.
Pushes and half points
If the final margin equals the spread exactly, the bet is a push. Team A -7 winning by exactly 7 is a push, and your stake is returned. That is why most spreads are set at half points, such as -6.5 or -7.5, to avoid a push.
Moneyline versus spread
| Moneyline | Point spread | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pick | The winner | A team to beat the adjusted score |
| Margin of victory matters | No | Yes |
| Typical price | Varies with the favourite | Usually around -110 each side |
| Best for | Close games and underdog picks | Heavy favourites and mismatches |
| Risk of a push | No | Yes, on whole-number spreads |
Imagine Team A is a 10-point favourite at -450 on the moneyline. A $45 stake wins only $10. On the spread at -10, the price is around -110, and you win $50 on a $55 stake if Team A wins by 11 or more. The spread offers a better return but needs a bigger win, so you are betting on a margin, not just a winner.
Totals: the third core market
Most games also offer a total, or over/under, a bet on the combined score of both teams. A total of 47.5 in an NFL game means you bet on the sum of both teams’ points being over or under that number. Totals are priced like spreads, usually at -110 each side. Because it ignores who wins, a total gives you a way to bet on pace and scoring without picking a team.
Other sports use spread variants:
- Baseball (run line): usually 1.5 runs.
- Hockey (puck line): usually 1.5 goals.
- Soccer (handicap): see our Asian handicap guide for the football version.
How to place a spread or moneyline bet
- 1
Find the game
Open the sport and choose the game. The main market shows spread, moneyline and total side by side.
- 2
Choose your market
Pick moneyline if you only care who wins, spread if the margin matters to you.
- 3
Check the line and the price
Look at both the number (-6.5) and the odds (-110). A half-point difference or a small price change adds up.
- 4
Enter your stake
The slip shows your potential profit. Check it matches your own calculation.
- 5
Confirm and track
Record the bet and the closing line afterwards to see whether you consistently got a better number than the market.
You can combine spreads, moneylines and totals from different games into a parlay. Each leg’s odds multiply, so use the parlay calculator and read accumulator bets explained before you do.
Sports betting is legal state by state in the US, and in Ontario and other Canadian provinces under provincial rules, so check that a site is licensed where you live. Set deposit limits before you start, and see our responsible gambling hub for tools and support.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a moneyline and a point spread?
A moneyline bet picks who wins the game outright. A point spread bet adjusts the final score by a set number of points, so the favourite must win by more than the spread to cover.
What does -110 mean on a spread bet?
It means you must stake 110 to win 100 in profit. The extra 10 is the sportsbook's commission, known as the vig or juice.
What does it mean to cover the spread?
A team covers when it beats the spread after the adjustment. A favourite at -6.5 covers by winning by 7 or more, and an underdog at +6.5 covers by winning or losing by 6 or fewer.
What is a push in betting?
A push is a tie against the line, such as a favourite at -7 winning by exactly 7. The bet is refunded and nothing is won or lost.
Should I bet the moneyline or the spread?
The moneyline suits close games and underdog picks. The spread suits heavy favourites, where the moneyline price is too short. Compare the payouts and your view of the margin.
What are the run line and puck line?
They are the spread equivalents in baseball and hockey, normally set at 1.5 runs or goals, so a favourite at -1.5 must win by two or more.
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About the author
Daniel WardFounder and Editor
Daniel Ward founded BettingSeeker and is responsible for everything published on it. He has spent his career in SEO and content for online betting and casino comparison sites, and today leads SEO for a portfolio of gambling comparison sites across several countries.
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