How to Read Sports Betting Lines

Reading sports betting lines is a skill that every bettor needs to master before placing a single wager. Once you understand what the numbers mean, you'll be able to evaluate any bet in any sport confidently.

American Odds Explained

American odds use plus and minus signs to indicate favorites and underdogs. The minus sign shows how much you must bet to win $100. The plus sign shows how much you win on a $100 bet.

• -150: Bet $150 to win $100 (favorite)
• +130: Bet $100 to win $130 (underdog)
• -110: Standard spread odds — bet $110 to win $100

Reading the Point Spread

A typical spread listing looks like this: Cowboys +3.5 (-110) vs Eagles -3.5 (-110). The Eagles are 3.5-point favorites. They must win by 4 or more for a spread bet on them to win. The Cowboys can lose by 3 or fewer — or win outright — for a spread bet on them to win. The -110 means both sides cost $110 to win $100.

Reading the Moneyline

Moneyline: Cowboys +165 / Eagles -195. Eagles are big favorites — you need to risk $195 to win $100. Cowboys are underdogs — a $100 bet wins $165 if they win outright. Moneylines are simpler than spreads but favorites cost significantly more.

Reading Totals (Over/Under)

Total: Over 44.5 (-110) / Under 44.5 (-110). You're betting whether both teams combined will score more or fewer than 44.5 points. Both sides typically cost -110. Overs are popular with casual bettors — sharps often find more value on unders.

The Juice/Vig Explained

The -110 on both sides of a spread is called the juice or vig. This is how sportsbooks make money. You need to win 52.4% of your bets at -110 just to break even. This is why line shopping and finding +EV bets matters so much.

Now that you understand the lines, get our expert free sports picks to put this knowledge to work.