Home Forums Sports Betting Education Center The Library of Sportsbetting Standard Bet Types

This will be an area where I educate on the standard bet types and I'm being specific to the big four sports NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB.

The Standard Wager Types:

Moneyline

Betting on which team wins the game outright.

Point Spread

Betting on the margin of victory.
Common in NFL and NBA.
MLB and NHL use runlines/pucklines instead.

Totals (Over/Under)

Betting on whether the combined score goes over or under the posted number.
Standard across all four sports.

Parlays

Combining multiple bets into one ticket.

All legs must win.

Same‑Game Parlays

Multiple correlated bets from the same game.
Now standard across all four sports.

Teasers (NFL & NBA primarily)

Adjusting spreads/totals in your favor in exchange for lower payout.
Common teaser sizes: 6, 6.5, 7 points.

Runline / Puckline (MLB & NHL)

The spread version for baseball and hockey:

MLB runline: usually –1.5 / +1.5
NHL puckline: usually –1.5 / +1.5

Team Totals

Betting on how many points/runs/goals one team will score.

Player Props

Betting on individual player performance.

Examples:

NFL: passing yards, TDs
NBA: points, rebounds, assists
NHL: shots on goal, points
MLB: strikeouts, hits

Game Props

Betting on specific events within the game.

Examples:

First team to score
Race to X points
Will there be overtime
Winning margin ranges

Halves / Quarters / Periods

Segment‑based betting:

NFL: 1H / 2H, 1Q / 2Q / 3Q / 4Q
NBA: 1H / 2H, all four quarters
NHL: 1st / 2nd / 3rd period
MLB: First 5 innings (F5)

Live Betting (In‑Game Betting)

Betting while the game is in progress.
Lines move constantly based on game flow.

Futures

Season‑long bets.

Examples:

Super Bowl winner
NBA champion
MLB division winner
NHL MVP

Win Totals

Betting on how many games a team will win over the season.
Over or under a posted number.

Alternate Lines

Adjusted spreads or totals with different prices.
Example: instead of –3 at –110, you take –6.5 at +150.

Moneylines:

A moneyline bet is the simplest form of sports wager. You are betting on which team wins the game outright. There is no point spread involved. The odds determine how much you risk or how much you win.

Negative moneyline odds (favorites) show how much you must risk to win $100.

Example: -150 means you risk $150 to win $100.

Positive moneyline odds (underdogs) show how much you win on a $100 bet.

Example: +150 means you risk $100 to win $150.

Moneyline odds reflect implied probability, not certainty. A -150 favorite implies a higher probability of winning than a +150 underdog, but the sportsbook’s vig is built into both sides.

Moneylines are used in all four major American sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. They are most common in MLB and NHL, where scoring margins are smaller and spreads are less meaningful.

Moneyline bets can be placed on full games, halves, quarters, periods, or live during the game. They can also be used in parlays, same‑game parlays, and futures markets.

Why Moneylines Are Good

Simple and easy to understand.
You only need your team to win the game.
Useful when spreads feel uncertain.
Underdogs can provide strong value if priced incorrectly.
Ideal for low‑scoring sports like MLB and NHL.

Why Moneylines Can Be Bad

Favorites can be overpriced, forcing you to risk too much.
Underdogs lose more often, creating long losing streaks.
The vig can be higher than it appears, especially in two‑way markets.
Public bias often inflates favorite prices.
Not always the best option when spreads offer better value.

Point Spread

A point spread is a handicap created by the sportsbook to make both teams an equal betting option. Instead of simply picking the winner, you are betting on the margin of victory. The favorite must win by more than the spread, and the underdog can either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.

The favorite is shown with a minus sign.

Example: -7 means the favorite must win by more than 7 points.

The underdog is shown with a plus sign.

Example: +7 means the underdog can win the game or lose by up to 6 points.

If the final margin lands exactly on the spread, the bet is a push and your stake is refunded.

Point spreads are most common in the NFL and NBA, where scoring margins are larger and more predictable. MLB and NHL use runlines and pucklines instead, which are fixed spreads (usually -1.5 and +1.5).

Spread bets are almost always priced around -110 on both sides, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. The vig is built into these prices, and the sportsbook adjusts the spread or the juice based on betting action.

Point spreads can be bet for the full game, halves, quarters, or live during the game. They can also be used in parlays, teasers, and same‑game parlays.

Why Point Spreads Are Good

They balance mismatches and create competitive betting markets.
You don’t need your team to win outright, only to cover the number.
They offer better value than moneylines on big favorites.
They are predictable in high‑scoring sports like NBA and NFL.
They are the foundation of teasers and many advanced strategies.

Why Point Spreads Can Be Bad

Hook numbers (.5) can be brutal and create thin margins.
Public bias can inflate popular teams and distort the true line.
Late injuries or weather changes can make spreads stale quickly.
You can beat the game but lose the bet if the team wins without covering.
The vig on spreads adds up over time if you don’t find value.

Totals

A totals bet, also known as an over/under, is a wager on the combined number of points, runs, or goals scored in a game. You are not betting on which team wins. You are betting on whether the final combined score will be higher or lower than the number set by the sportsbook.

If you bet the over, you need the combined score to be higher than the posted total.

If you bet the under, you need the combined score to be lower than the posted total.

Totals are used in all four major American sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. The number is based on expected pace, efficiency, matchups, injuries, weather, and historical scoring trends.

Totals can also be bet for halves, quarters, periods, or specific segments such as first five innings in MLB. Live totals are available during the game and adjust constantly based on game flow.

Most totals are priced around -110 on both sides, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. The vig is built into these prices, and sportsbooks adjust the total or the juice based on betting action.

Why Totals Are Good

You don’t need to pick a winner, only the scoring environment.
Useful when spreads or moneylines feel uncertain.
Weather, pace, and matchup edges can create strong opportunities.
Totals can be more predictable than sides in certain sports.
Segment totals (halves, quarters, periods) can offer softer numbers.

Why Totals Can Be Bad

Late scoring swings can ruin good positions.
Overtime can destroy under bets instantly.
Weather changes can make numbers stale quickly.
Public bias often pushes overs higher than they should be.
The vig adds up if you don’t find value in the number.

The above three are the standard of sports betting and I will cover more of the main list separately as they need a lot more explanation behind them