Moneyline, Spread, and Totals: Understanding Common Bet Types

The Three Core Bet Types Every Bettor Must Know

Every sportsbook—from DraftKings and FanDuel to BetMGM and Caesars—offers hundreds of betting markets for each game. But nearly all of them are built on three foundational bet types: moneyline, point spread, and totals (over/under). Mastering these three is the first step toward becoming a competent sports bettor.

This guide walks through each bet type with concrete examples from the NFL, NBA, and MLB, then covers additional bet types including props, parlays, teasers, and futures.

Moneyline Bets

A moneyline bet is the simplest wager in sports betting: you pick which team will win the game. No point spreads, no margins of victory—just pick the winner.

How Moneyline Odds Work

The odds reflect each team's perceived likelihood of winning. The favorite has negative odds (you risk more to win less), and the underdog has positive odds (you risk less to win more).

NFL Moneyline Example

Week 5: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are favored. Here's what a $100 bet looks like on each side:

• $100 on the Eagles (-210): If Philly wins, you profit $47.62. Total return: $147.62.
• $100 on the Cowboys (+175): If Dallas wins, you profit $175.00. Total return: $275.00.

Moneyline bets are ideal when you have a strong conviction about who will win but don't want to worry about the margin of victory. They're especially popular in MLB and NHL, where games are often decided by one or two runs or goals.

When to Use Moneyline Bets

• When you believe a moderate underdog will win outright.
• In low-scoring sports (hockey, soccer, baseball) where spreads are small.
• When the moneyline offers better value than the corresponding spread.

Point Spread Bets

Point spread betting is the most popular way to wager on football and basketball in the United States. The sportsbook assigns a handicap (the spread) to level the playing field between the favorite and the underdog.

How Point Spreads Work

The favorite must win by more than the spread for a bet on them to cash. The underdog can lose by fewer points than the spread (or win outright) for a bet on them to win.

NBA Point Spread Example

Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics

The Celtics are 5.5-point favorites. Here's how each bet resolves:

• Celtics -5.5: Boston must win by 6 or more points. If the final score is Celtics 112, Bucks 105 (a 7-point margin), your bet wins.
• Bucks +5.5: Milwaukee can lose by up to 5 points and your bet still wins. If the final score is Celtics 112, Bucks 108 (a 4-point margin), your bet wins because 108 + 5.5 = 113.5, which "covers" the spread.

The half-point (the ".5") eliminates the possibility of a push (tie). When spreads are whole numbers (like -3 or -7 in the NFL), a push is possible, and your stake is returned.

Key Spread Numbers in Football

In NFL betting, certain spread numbers carry extra significance because of how frequently games are decided by those margins:

Getting an extra half-point on or off these key numbers (buying the hook) can significantly affect your win rate.

Totals (Over/Under) Bets

A totals bet—also called an over/under—doesn't require you to pick a winner. Instead, you wager on whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook.

MLB Totals Example

New York Yankees at Houston Astros

The total is set at 8.5 runs:

• Over 8.5: If the final score is Yankees 5, Astros 4 (total: 9 runs), the over wins.
• Under 8.5: If the final score is Yankees 3, Astros 2 (total: 5 runs), the under wins.

Notice that the odds aren't the same on both sides. The over is priced at -115 while the under is at -105, meaning the sportsbook's models (and likely the betting public) lean slightly toward the over. These discrepancies are where smart bettors find edges.

Factors That Influence Totals

• Weather: Wind blowing out at Wrigley Field tends to push MLB totals higher. Cold, wet NFL games tend to suppress scoring.
• Pace of play: NBA teams that rank in the top five in pace tend to produce higher-scoring games.
• Starting pitchers: In MLB, the starting pitcher is the single largest factor in setting the total.
• Injuries: A team missing its top scorer or starting quarterback will typically see the total move lower.

Props (Proposition Bets)

Prop bets focus on specific events or performances within a game rather than the final outcome. The player props market has exploded in popularity, especially in the NFL and NBA.

Player Prop Examples

Game Props

Game props focus on the game itself rather than individual players. Examples include:

• Will there be overtime? (Yes/No)
• Which team scores first?
• Total first-half points over/under
• Winning margin ranges (1–6, 7–12, 13+)

Parlays

A parlay combines multiple individual bets (called legs) into a single wager. Every leg must win for the parlay to pay out. The upside is a significantly larger payout; the downside is significantly higher risk.

Example 3-Leg NFL Parlay:

A $50 bet on this parlay returns $347.50 in total ($297.50 profit) if all three legs hit. If any single leg loses, the entire parlay loses.

While parlays are exciting, they carry a heavy mathematical disadvantage. Sportsbooks love parlays because the compounding vig across multiple legs means their edge grows with each leg added.

Teasers

A teaser is a special type of parlay that lets you adjust the point spread or total in your favor by a set number of points (typically 6, 6.5, or 7 in football). In exchange for the more favorable lines, you accept a reduced payout.

Example NFL 6-Point Teaser:

Teasers are most popular in NFL betting, where moving through key numbers like 3 and 7 provides meaningful value.

Futures

Futures bets are long-term wagers on outcomes that will be decided weeks or months later. They're available year-round and cover championships, division winners, award races, and more.

Examples:

• Detroit Lions to win Super Bowl LX: +1400
• Caitlin Clark to win WNBA MVP: +350
• New York Yankees to win the 2025 World Series: +600

Futures offer large potential payouts but tie up your bankroll for extended periods.

Live (In-Game) Betting

Live betting allows you to place wagers while a game is in progress. Odds update in real time based on what's happening on the field or court. You can bet on moneylines, spreads, totals, and props that shift as the game unfolds.

Live betting requires quick decision-making and a good understanding of game flow. The fast-moving lines can create value for sharp bettors who react faster than the sportsbook can adjust.

How WagerWiz Helps You Compare Bet Types Across Sportsbooks

WagerWiz's screener lets you instantly compare moneyline, spread, and totals odds across every major US sportsbook for any game. Instead of manually checking DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and others, WagerWiz aggregates all the lines in one view and highlights the best available odds.

For example, if you want to bet the Over 8.5 on a Yankees-Astros game, WagerWiz might show you that BetMGM has it at -108 while DraftKings has it at -115. Grabbing the -108 line saves you money on every bet and compounds into a significant edge over time.

WagerWiz also flags +EV (positive expected value) bets automatically, so you can focus on the wagers most likely to be profitable in the long run.

FAQ

What is the safest type of bet?

No bet is truly "safe" since all wagers carry risk. However, moneyline bets on heavy favorites have the highest individual win probability. The trade-off is that they offer low payouts and require large stakes to earn meaningful profit. From a long-term profitability standpoint, the "safest" approach is focusing on +EV bets regardless of bet type.

Should beginners avoid parlays?

Parlays are entertaining but carry a significant mathematical disadvantage because the vig compounds across each leg. Most professional bettors avoid traditional parlays for this reason. If you enjoy parlays recreationally, keep the stakes small and treat them as entertainment rather than a core strategy.

What does "push" mean in sports betting?

A push occurs when the final result lands exactly on the spread or total number. For example, if you bet the Eagles -3 and they win by exactly 3 points, the bet is a push and your stake is returned. This is why sportsbooks often use half-point lines (like -3.5) to eliminate the possibility of a push.

What is the difference between the spread and the moneyline?

The moneyline is a bet on which team wins outright—the margin doesn't matter. The spread is a bet on the margin of victory. In games between evenly matched teams, the moneyline odds will be close to even on both sides. In mismatched games, the moneyline on the favorite can be very expensive (like -350), which is why many bettors prefer the spread, where both sides are typically priced near -110.

Can I combine different bet types in one parlay?

Yes. Most sportsbooks allow you to combine moneyline, spread, totals, and even prop bets into a single parlay (called a same-game parlay or SGP). These are offered by DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and virtually all major US operators. Just keep in mind that correlated legs may affect pricing, and the vig on SGPs tends to be higher than on standard parlays.