How to Bet
New to sports betting? Start here. Learn the odds formats, common bet types, and the terminology you'll see across every pick.
Why this matters
Betting profitably is about understanding value, not picking winners. Once you can read odds and recognize a good price, you can evaluate any pick — including ours — with confidence. This guide covers the fundamentals before you risk a dollar.
Understanding Odds
Odds tell you two things at once: how likely an outcome is (implied probability) and how much you'll win. The same bet can be shown three different ways depending on the sportsbook and region.
American Odds
+150 / -200Used by US sportsbooks. A minus (−) shows the favorite and how much you must risk to win $100. A plus (+) shows the underdog and how much you'd win on a $100 bet. Example: −200 means risk $200 to win $100; +150 means risk $100 to win $150.
Decimal Odds
2.50Common in Europe and Canada. The number represents the total return on a winning bet, including your stake. A $100 bet at 2.50 returns $250 (your $100 stake plus $150 profit). Higher decimals = bigger payout = less likely outcome.
Fractional Odds
3/1Popular in the UK and horse racing. The first number is the profit, the second is the stake. 3/1 means you win $3 for every $1 wagered, plus your $1 back. 1/2 (odds-on) means you win $1 for every $2 risked.
Common Bet Types
Most bets fall into a handful of categories. Knowing each one helps you understand what a pick is actually recommending.
Moneyline
A straight bet on which team or player will win the game outright. The odds reflect each side's chance of winning. Simplest bet type — pick the winner.
Point Spread
The sportsbook sets a margin of victory (the spread). The favorite must win by more than that number; the underdog can lose by less than it (or win outright). A spread of −7 means the favorite must win by 8+.
Totals (Over/Under)
A bet on the combined final score of both teams, not the winner. You wager whether the total points/goals/runs will go Over or Under a number set by the book (e.g., Over/Under 48.5 points in an NFL game).
Parlay
Combining two or more picks into a single wager. All selections must win for the parlay to pay. Bigger potential payout, but higher risk — one loss and the whole ticket loses.
Prop Bet
A wager on a specific outcome within a game that isn't tied to the final result — e.g., a player's passing yards, first team to score, or whether a player hits a home run.
Teaser
A parlay where you adjust the point spread in your favor on each leg (usually 6–7 points) in exchange for a lower payout. All legs must still win.
Key Terminology
The vocabulary you'll see in our analysis and across every sportsbook. Bookmark this list and refer back as you go.
Vig / Juice
The commission a sportsbook takes on a bet — built into the odds. That's why both sides of a bet often pay less than even money.
Bankroll
The total amount of money you've set aside specifically for betting. Smart bettors risk a small percentage of their bankroll per wager.
Unit
A standard bet size, usually 1%–2% of your bankroll. Picking 2 units means twice your standard play — it lets you size bets by confidence without dollar amounts.
ATS (Against the Spread)
Betting against the point spread rather than on the outright winner. A team's ATS record shows how often it covered the spread.
Cover
When a team beats the spread. A −7 favorite that wins by 10 'covered.' If they win by exactly 7, it's a push and the bet is refunded.
Sharp vs. Square
A 'sharp' is a professional, informed bettor; a 'square' is a casual bettor. Sharp money can move lines; square money usually follows public opinion.
Line Movement
When the odds or spread change before the game. Movement can signal where money is going or how the book is balancing risk.
Public Betting %
The share of bets (or money) on each side of a wager. Heavy public action on one side doesn't mean it's the right side.
Chalk
The favorite in a matchup — the side expected to win. Betting 'chalk' means backing favorites.
Implied Probability
The win chance baked into the odds. Convert odds to a percentage to see what the book thinks the true likelihood is — and to spot value.
Ready to put it into practice?
See how these concepts show up in real, tracked picks — every recommendation includes the bet type, odds, units, and reasoning.
