Spread, Moneyline & Total Explained
Almost every sports bet you'll see comes down to three core markets: the spread, the moneyline, and the total. Learn these three and you can read the odds on virtually any game.
The point spread
The spread is a handicap that levels the field between a stronger and weaker team. The favorite "gives" points; the underdog "gets" them.
Say the Chiefs are −6.5 against the Broncos at +6.5:
- Bet the Chiefs (−6.5) and they must win by 7 or more for you to cash.
- Bet the Broncos (+6.5) and you win if they either win outright or lose by 6 or fewer.
The half-point (the ".5") exists so there's no tie. Spreads are usually priced around −110 on each side, meaning you risk $110 to win $100 — that small premium is the sportsbook's margin.
The moneyline
The moneyline strips away the points: you simply pick who wins. The odds do the balancing instead of a handicap. A heavy favorite might be −250 (risk $250 to win $100) while the underdog sits at +200 (risk $100 to win $200). The bigger the mismatch, the more lopsided the prices. Moneylines are popular in low-scoring sports like baseball, hockey, and soccer, where a single point spread is less meaningful.
The total (over/under)
The total is the sportsbook's prediction for the combined score of both teams. You bet whether the real total will go over or under that number. If the total is 47.5 and the final score is 28–24 (52 points), the over wins. A 20–17 final (37 points) means the under wins. Totals don't care who wins — only the combined points.
A quick note on the "juice"
You'll often see −110 attached to spreads and totals. That −110 is the vig: bet $110 to win $100. It's how sportsbooks make money, and it's why shopping for the best available number across books matters — a slightly better line or lower juice adds up over time.
See all three on one screen
On LineScout, every game shows its spread, moneyline, and total side by side, and you can compare each across sportsbooks to find the best number. New to the odds notation above? Start with how to read betting odds. Browse live games →