How to Read Betting Lines: Complete Guide to Spreads, Totals, and Moneylines
Understand betting lines in 15 minutes. Simple explanations with examples for point spreads, over/under, and moneyline bets.
Quick Answer: What Are Betting Lines?
Betting lines tell you:
- Who the sportsbook thinks will win (and by how much)
- How much you’ll win if you’re right
- How much you must risk to make that bet
Key insight: Lines aren’t predictions—they’re market prices set to balance action from bettors on both sides.
Moneyline (The Simplest Bet)
Moneyline = straight bet on who wins.
How to Read Moneyline
| Format | Example | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| -150 | Chiefs -150 | Risk $150, win $100 |
| +130 | Texans +130 | Risk $100, win $130 |
| PK (Pick) | PK or -110 | Either team, risk $110, win $100 |
Real-World Example
NFL Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
Moneyline: Chiefs -150 | Texans +130
If you bet on Chiefs:
- Risk: $150
- Profit: $100
- Total return: $250 ($150 back + $100 profit)
If you bet on Texans:
- Risk: $100
- Profit: $130
- Total return: $230 ($100 back + $130 profit)Quick check: The team with negative odds (-150) is the favorite expected to win. The team with positive odds (+130) is the underdog.
Point Spread (Leveling the Playing Field)
Spread adds or subtracts points to create a ~50/50 chance.
How Spreads Work
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chiefs -7.5 | Chiefs must win by 8+ points |
| Texans +7.5 | Texans can lose by 7 or less |
What “Covering the Spread” Means
- Betting Chiefs -7.5: Chiefs win by 8+ points = you win
- Betting Texans +7.5: Texans lose by 7 or fewer = you win
- Chiefs win by exactly 7: Push (bet returned, no profit)
The hook: That .5 means ties are impossible (can’t lose by exactly 7.5). This guarantees a winner for the sportsbook.
Spread Betting Example
NBA Game: Lakers vs. Celtics
Spread: Lakers +4.5 | Celtics -4.5
Scenario 1: You bet Celtics -4.5
- Final score: Celtics 102, Lakers 95 (Celtics win by 7)
- Result: ✅ Win (7 > 4.5)
Scenario 2: You bet Celtics -4.5
- Final score: Celtics 98, Lakers 95 (Celtics win by 3)
- Result: ❌ Loss (3 < 4.5)Spread Payouts
Spread bets usually pay at -110 odds (risk $110 to win $100), not true even money. This is the sportsbook’s fee.
Total (Over/Under): Betting the Combined Score
Total bets focus on combined points, not the winner.
How Totals Work
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Over 45.5 | Both teams score 46+ points combined |
| Under 45.5 | Both teams score 45 or fewer points combined |
Why the .5? Prevents pushes (ties). If final total is exactly 45, some bettors get money back—sportsbooks don’t like that.
Total Betting Example
Soccer Game: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
Total: 2.5 goals
Scenario 1: You bet Over 2.5
- Final score: United 1, Liverpool 2 (Total: 3 goals)
- Result: ✅ Win (3 > 2.5)
Scenario 2: You bet Over 2.5
- Final score: United 1, Liverpool 1 (Total: 2 goals)
- Result: ❌ Loss (2 < 2.5)When to Bet Overs
Good for:
- High-scoring teams with weak defenses
- Good weather (helps offense in football/soccer)
- Fast-paced games (NBA, not NFL grind-it-outs)
When to Bet Unders
Good for:
- Strong defenses or struggling offenses
- Bad weather (rain, snow hurts scoring in football/soccer)
- Low totals (games set at 38-40 in NFL, not 50+)
Putting It All Together: Reading a Full Betting Line
Here’s what a complete betting board looks like:
CHIEFS vs. TEXANS
Moneyline: Chiefs -150 | Texans +130
Spread: Chiefs -7.5 | Texans +7.5 (-110 both sides)
Total: O 45.5 | U 45.5 (-110 both sides)Which Bet Type is Easiest to Win?
| Bet Type | Why Beginners Like It |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Simple—just pick winner |
| Spread | More action (even if lopsided games) |
| Total | Don’t care who wins, just scoring |
Beginner recommendation: Start with moneyline bets. Spreads and totals add complexity—master one before diversifying.
Line Movement: What Changes Mean
Lines move based on public betting patterns.
Typical Movement Patterns
| Movement | What It Signals |
|---|---|
| Chiefs -7.5 → -9 | Heavy public action on Chiefs (line moves against favorite) |
| Total 45.5 → 43 | Sharp money betting under (professional bettors see value) |
| Odds -110 → -105 | Balanced action on both sides |
Sharp vs. public: When lines move significantly early (before most casual bettors act), it’s usually “sharp money”—professional bettors finding value.
Common Mistakes Reading Lines
| Mistake | Why It’s Bad | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing -7.5 vs. +7.5 | Same thing, different side | Remember: always shows points added/subtracted |
| Betting wrong side of spread | Accidentally bet +7.5 instead of -7.5 | Double-check: favorite always has minus |
| Ignoring hook (the .5) | Thinking ties are possible | They’re not—hooks prevent pushes |
| Forgetting spread payouts -110 | Thinking it’s even money | Most spreads pay -110, not +100 |
Quick Reference: Betting Lines at a Glance
| Bet Type | Display | Risk | Payout (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -150 or +200 | 1:1 to 2:1 | |
| Spread | -4.5 or +4.5 | -110 (risk $110, win $100) | |
| Total | O 45.5 or U 45.5 | -110 (risk $110, win $100) | |
| PK (Pick) | -110 both sides | Even money with vig |
Bottom line: Reading betting lines takes 10 minutes to learn, but months to master. Start small, focus on one bet type, and understand the vig (sportsbook fee) before risking serious money.
Summary
Betting lines tell you the market’s prediction and your potential payout. Moneyline = pick winner, spread = margin of victory, total = combined score. Lines move based on public betting patterns and sharp money—watching these movements can help you find value.
Your first read: Focus on moneyline bets first. Once you understand who’s the favorite (negative odds) and who’s the underdog (positive odds), spreads and totals become much clearer.
