American odds
The +/− price on a bet. A minus number (−150) is what you risk to win 100; a plus number (+130) is what you win if you risk 100. In units: −150 means risk 1.5u to win 1u.
Learn more: Reading oddsStart Here
Betting glossary
34 terms in plain English. In lessons, tap any dotted word to see its meaning without leaving the page.
ATS
“Against the spread.” A team that’s 4–2 ATS covered 4 times and failed to cover twice, no matter who won the games.
Learn more: SpreadsBackdoor cover
A late score, often in garbage time, that flips the spread result without changing who wins.
Learn more: College vs NFLBankroll
Money set aside only for betting, sized so losing all of it wouldn’t hurt your bills, savings or life.
Learn more: Bankroll & unitsBreak-even rate
The win rate you need to finish at zero units. At −110 it’s 52.4% (110 ÷ 210). Winning half your bets at −110 loses money.
Learn more: Reading oddsClosing line
The last number before kickoff. It has the most information baked in of any line, which makes it the best yardstick for a bet.
Learn more: The close (CLV)CLV (closing line value)
How your number compares to the close. Took +4.5 and it closed +3? You beat the close. Over many bets, beating the close is a better sign of good betting than a short win-loss record.
Learn more: The close (CLV)Consensus line
The typical number across the market at a moment in time, rather than any one shop’s number.
Learn more: Line movementCover
Beating the spread. A −6.5 favorite covers by winning by 7 or more; a +6.5 underdog covers by losing by 6 or fewer, or winning.
Learn more: SpreadsFavorite
The team the market expects to win. It has the minus sign: −6.5 on a spread, or a minus price on a moneyline.
Learn more: SpreadsFBS
College football’s top level (Football Bowl Subdivision). It has more than 130 teams, so many games get far less attention than any NFL game.
Learn more: College vs NFLHook
The half point, as in −6.5 or +3.5. It makes a push impossible, and on key numbers it can be worth a lot.
Learn more: SpreadsHouse edge
The share of each bet the sportsbook expects to keep over time. About 4.5% on a −110 spread; much more on most parlays.
Learn more: Parlays & teasersImplied probability
The win chance a price implies. −110 implies 52.4%; +150 implies 40%. Because of the vig, both sides of a bet add up to a bit more than 100%.
Learn more: Reading oddsKey numbers
Final margins that come up much more often than others. In the NFL, 3 and 7 by a wide margin, then numbers like 6, 10 and 14. Moving a line across one matters more.
Learn more: Key numbersLine movement
How a spread, total or price changes between open and kickoff, driven by news (injuries, weather) and by money.
Learn more: Line movementMoneyline
A bet on who wins the game outright, no points involved. Favorites cost more than they pay; underdogs pay more than they cost.
Learn more: MoneylinesNo-vig probability
A price’s implied probability with the vig taken out, so the two sides add up to exactly 100%. A cleaner read of what the market thinks.
Learn more: MoneylinesOpening line
The first number posted for a game. It usually moves as news and bets come in.
Learn more: Line movementParlay
One ticket with two or more bets that all have to win. Payouts grow fast, but so does the house edge.
Learn more: Parlays & teasersPick’em (PK)
A spread of zero. Whoever wins the game wins the bet.
Learn more: SpreadsPoint spread
A handicap to even out a game. The favorite gives points (−6.5), the underdog gets them (+6.5). Your side has to beat the spread, not just win.
Learn more: SpreadsProp
A bet on something other than the final result, like a player’s receiving yards.
Learn more: Using FRDPush
The result lands exactly on the number, like a 7-point win on a −7 spread. It’s a tie: the stake comes back, no win or loss.
Learn more: SpreadsROI
Units won divided by units risked. +5% ROI means 5 units of profit for every 100 units bet. Pushes are left out.
Learn more: Bankroll & unitsSame-game parlay
A parlay with several bets from one game. The legs are linked, which makes the real price hard to judge.
Learn more: Parlays & teasersSharp
A bettor the market respects because they have a long record of getting good numbers. Their bets tend to move lines more than many small ones.
Learn more: Line movementSteam
A fast, sharp move across the market, usually after bets from respected bettors or breaking news.
Learn more: Line movementTeaser
A parlay where you move each spread or total in your favor (often 6 points) in exchange for a smaller payout. Every leg still has to win.
Learn more: Parlays & teasersTotal (over/under)
A bet on combined points by both teams. Over 44.5 wins if they score 45 or more together; under wins at 44 or fewer.
Learn more: TotalsUnderdog
The team the market expects to lose. It gets points on a spread (+6.5) or a plus price on a moneyline.
Learn more: SpreadsUnit (u)
A standard bet size. Results are tracked in units, not money, so a record reads the same no matter how much anyone bets. +4u means four standard bets ahead.
Learn more: Bankroll & unitsVariance
Short-term luck. Even a good bettor has long losing runs, and a bad one can get hot for a month. It takes a lot of bets to tell the two apart.
Learn more: Bankroll & unitsVig (juice)
The sportsbook’s built-in cut. It’s why both sides of a spread are usually −110 instead of +100: you risk 1.1u to win 1u.
Learn more: Reading oddsNo matching terms. Try a shorter word.
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