Sports Betting Guide: Spread vs Money Line

If you are new to sports betting, there are a few things you should know before you place your first bet, the most important of which is the difference between Spread vs Money Line, which are the two most popular types of bets that are placed on sporting events.

Here is a quick breakdown of both types of bets.

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Sports Betting Guide: Spread vs Money Line

When diving into sports betting, two of the most popular types of wagers are spread bets and moneyline bets.

Each has distinct characteristics and are played in different situations depending on the bettor’s strategy and risk tolerance.

The Difference Between Spread Bet vs. Moneyline Bet

A moneyline bet is straightforward: it involves picking the team or player to win the game outright.

The odds indicate the payout based on how likely or unlikely a team is to win.

A spread bet involves betting on a team to win by a certain margin or not lose by more than a set amount.

This is often used in team sports to balance the perceived skill gap between opponents.

Understanding the differences between these bets is crucial for developing a successful sports betting strategy.

Money Line Betting

Money line betting is when you pick a team to win a contest outright, regardless of if the team you pick is the favorite or the underdog.

This type of betting has two extremes in terms of payouts, if you pick a favorite to win, your payout is not as much as it would be if you pick an underdog to win.

Due to that reason, a lot of people who bet the money line tend to favor the underdog, because they will make more money if the underdog wins the contest.

One of the biggest benefits of the money line is the fact that you don’t have to worry about your team covering a spread, which makes betting on games easier.

Whenever you want to bet on the money line, you have to consider a few things, like the odds and the potential payout.

Despite the fact that the favorite is likely to win most of the time, there are some exceptions to the rule, and some underdogs end up winning, but that doesn’t happen on a consistent basis.

So don’t waste your money hoping an underdog will come through for you.

How Do Moneyline Bets Work?

A moneyline bet is simple: pick the team you think will win.

The odds for a moneyline bet are based on the implied probability of each team winning.

For Example:

• Team A -150 vs. Team B +130
• A bet on Team A -15) means you must wager $150 to profit $100.
• A bet on Team B +130 means a $100 wager returns $130 in profit.

The favorite has a negative (-) number, indicating how much needs to be wagered to win $100.

The underdog has a positive (+) number, showing how much a $100 bet will return in profit.

More Examples:

If the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are going to play against each other, and the money line is:

• New York Yankees -700.
• Boston Red Sox- +500.

This means that you have to place $700 to win $100 if the Yankees defeat the Red Sox, and if you bet $100 on Boson, you will win $500 if they defeat the Yankees.

These types of lines are the reason some people feel that it isn’t worth it to place bets on the money line, especially when there is an overwhelming favorite.

Because of the potential payout if the Red Sox win, a lot of people who are new to sports betting will put their money on Boston, which is what the odd makers are hoping will happen.

You have to understand that in this situation, the Yankees are the favorites because they are considered the better team.

Unless a freak injury occurs, the Yankees are probably going to win that matchup 70% of the time.

Point Spread Betting

Due to the low payout of favorites on money line bets, a lot of sports betting has shifted to the point spread.

This allows people placing wagers to still be able to bet on underdogs if they wish, with some extra insurance in terms of the point spread.

Favorites Using Point Spreads

With the point spread bets, you still have the favorites and underdogs in every game.

But if you are picking a favorite to win a game, they have to win by a certain amount of points, and if you are picking an underdog, they either have to win, or can’t lose by more than a certain amount of points.

This is a very appealing way to bet on sports for a lot of people, because you can get back close to what you are betting on the game, and in some instances, the exact amount you are betting, which makes it worth the gamble.

Traditionally, when you bet using the point spread, the worst odds that you will get are -110 or -120.

This means that you will make $90 on a $100 bet at -110, and $80 on a -120 bet, which is way more than you will make if you picked a big favorite on the money line.

Just like the money line, there is a downside to using the point spread, which is the fact that the team you pick has to cover the spread in order to win.

If you pick a team to win at -3, it means that they have to win the game by more than three points, which means if they win by three points, the bet is called a push, which is a draw, and you get your money back.

Underdogs Using Point Spreads

The same principle applies to the underdogs, if you pick a team at +3, it means that they either have to win the game, or can’t lose by more than three points.

If they lose by three points, it is considered a push, and you get your money back.

These are the major differences between money line betting and point spread betting, each technique is different, but can be very profitable if used correctly.

How Do Spread Bets Work?

A point spread is designed to level the playing field between two teams by assigning a handicap to the favorite and an advantage to the underdog.

For example, consider a football game with the following spread:

• Team A -7.5 vs. Team B +7.5

This means that Team A must win by at least 8 points for a bet on them to be successful.

If they win by fewer than 8 points or lose outright, bets on Team B will win.

Spread bets are typically priced around -110 on both sides, meaning a sports bettor must wager $110 to profit $100.

What Is the Concept of “Covering the Spread”?

A team covers the spread when they exceed the expectations set by the point spread.

• If the favorite wins by more than the spread, they have covered.
• If the underdog loses by fewer points than the spread or wins outright, they have covered.

For example:

• If Team A -7.5 wins 30-20, they covered the spread.
• If Team A wins 27-21, they did not cover, and bets on Team B +7.5 win.

Betting Advantages and Disadvantages of Spread vs Money Line

Advantages of Spread Betting:

1. More Balanced Payouts:
   Since spreads are often set at -110 juice, bettors don’t need to wager significantly more on favorites compared to the moneyline.
2. More Betting Options:
   Bettors can wager on underdogs with more confidence, as they don’t need to win outright to cover the spread.
3. Better Value on Favorites:
   Betting a heavy favorite on the moneyline can be costly, but with the spread, odds are often more reasonable.

Disadvantages of Spread Betting:

1. Risk of Late Scores Affecting the Bet:
   A meaningless touchdown or basket late in a game can cause a team to fail to cover.
2. Higher Variance:
   Even if a team wins, they may not cover the spread, causing a loss for bettors.

Advantages of Moneyline Betting:

1. Straightforward Betting:
   Just pick the winner without worrying about margins.
2. Better for Underdog Upsets:
   Betting on an underdog moneylines can lead to bigger payouts if they win outright.
3. Less Affected by Late-Game Variance:
   Unlike spread bets, the final score margin does not impact the outcome of a moneyline bet.

Disadvantages of Moneyline Betting:

1. High Cost on Favorites:
   Betting on strong favorites requires a large wager for a small profit.
2. Lower Value on Close Games:
   When two evenly matched teams compete, the payout may not be as attractive as betting on the spread.

Betting Parlays, Live Betting, and Analyzing Line Movements

How Do I Use Spread and Moneyline Bets in Parlays?

A parlay is a single wager that combines multiple bets.

All bets must win for the parlay to cash.

• A parlay with two moneyline bets increases potential payouts but is riskier.
• Combining a moneyline and spread bet can create a strategic mix of safer and higher-reward picks.

For example:

• Parlay: Team A -200 ML + Team B +5.5 Spread
• If Team A wins outright and Team B covers the spread, the bet wins.

How Do I Use Spread and Moneyline Bets in Live Betting?

Live betting allows wagers to be placed during a game, with odds fluctuating based on real-time events.

• If a team falls behind early, betting their moneyline at better odds could provide value.
• If a favorite is struggling but expected to recover, betting them to cover a reduced spread may be advantageous.

How Do I Analyze Line Movements for Spread and Moneyline Bets?

Line movement reflects betting action and oddsmakers’ adjustments:

• If moneyline odds shift toward the favorite -150 to -180, it indicates more money is coming in on them.
• If a spread moves from -6.5 to -7.5, sportsbooks may be adjusting for sharp bettors backing the favorite.
• Monitoring line changes and comparing with betting trends can indicate where professional bettors, the sharps, are placing money.

Both spread bets and moneyline bets are fundamental to sports betting strategies.

Spread betting offers flexibility but comes with risks of variance, while moneyline betting is simpler but can be costly on favorites.

Understanding how to use each in different scenarios, from parlays to live betting, can help bettors make more informed decisions.

By analyzing line movements and understanding how odds are set, bettors can increase their chances of making profitable wagers in the long run.

MyBookie’s Sportsbook Betting Guide | Spread vs Money Line

Now that you know the difference between spread betting and money line betting, check out more about sports betting strategies in MyBookie’s Sports Betting Guide.
Time to increase your sports betting knowledge and know what you’re doing when placing your next spread or money line bet!

• Spread Betting Tips
• Understanding When to Bet Spread Betting vs. Money Lines
• Sports Betting Guide: Spread vs Money Line
• Playing Difference of Point Spread vs. Moneyline Sportsbetting
• Wagering on Moneyline or Straight Up Bets
• Five Questions You Should Ask Yourself When Betting On Sports
• Is Paying for Picks Worth it?
• How to Get Max Value When Betting
• Types of Sports Bettors

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