Moneyline Sports Betting Guide

The act of selecting a winner straight up, Moneyline betting is one of the most popular markets in sports betting. This market is popular among all types of bettors, from newbies to pros due to the simplicity of the wager and the thrill of selecting the correct winner. In this guide, we break down everything there is to know about Moneyline betting, including why it is so popular and how to understand Moneyline odds across various sports. All sports bookmakers will offer Moneyline bets, so it’s important to stay sharp and knowledgeable about this wager and how to interpret Moneyline odds (and the market in general).

Moneyline sports betting is popular because it is simple and basic. Simply put, you are selecting the winner of a competition, game, or match. For example, in the NBA, the Raptors may be listed at -120, while the Magic may be listed at +240. If a team has a minus (-) symbol ahead of their line, this means they are the favorite. If there is a plus (+) sign next to the line, then that indicates the underdog. The line is in relation to a $100 wager. If you are betting on the Raptors, you would need to wager $120 to win $100. If you are betting on the Magic, a $100 wager would win $240 (if the Magic win).

While Moneyline bets are simple, there is a ton of strategy involved. If the line is heavily sided to one side, you may not want to bet on that market because of the risk/reward. Also, streaks and recent betting trends should be heavily weighed when placing bets on the Moneyline.

What makes it so popular

Overall, Moneyline wagers are bets that can be placed by newbies to the most experienced bettors. Value can easily be found and the simplicity of it all makes bets on the Moneyline one of the most wagered on markets in sports betting.

Our experts provide the best free picks online, which includes bets on the Moneyline. We’ll suggest betting on the Moneyline due to a variety of reasons. Of course, one of the biggest factors will be the probability of the bet cashing. Whether it’s backing the favorite or underdog, we want to ensure we’re taking the winner! Value is another factor in our free picks. If one team is heavily favored, there may be no point in taking that bet because the risk is not worth the reward. Our Moneyline picks are researched thoroughly to find the latest betting trends across many sports. We take pride in our free picks, so a pick on the Moneyline is supported by hours of research, focusing on the probability of a win (for both the favorite and underdog) as well as potential value to the bettor.

Whether you prefer single-game bets or parlays, Moneyline wagers can fit any type of betting style. Betting on single-game moneyline wagers will allow you to focus on a single market at a time, while also focusing on a single bet type and strategy. This is great for new bettors looking to get a taste of betting in general. As Moneyline betting is easy to understand, selecting this wager is a great introduction into sports betting.

For more seasoned bettors, they may opt to add a Moneyline bet to a parlay. This is when it becomes tricky because you can have multiple wagers (over/under, spread, moneyline) in a single ticket, which increases the odds but with increased risk of the ticket not cashing.

While potential payout is always enticing, those new to sports betting should opt for the simpler play, which is a single-game wager. For those that understand multiple markets and strategies, creating a multi-leg parlay could produce wonderful results. Whether it’s single-game bets or parlays, our free picks help prepare you every step of the way!

Understanding Moneyline odds is an integral factor in sports betting. When reading the line, understanding the favorite and underdog is important. The favorite (team expected to win) will have a minus (-) sign next to their odds. The underdog (team projected to lose) will have a plus (+) symbol next to their odds. If the Warriors are listed at -130 and the Pistons are listed at +150, this means that the Warriors are considered favorites on the Moneyline.

The number next to the symbol (-/+) is based on a $100 wager. If you are betting on the Warriors, in order to win $100, you would need to wager $130. Since Golden State are the favorite, you need to risk (bet) more money to have a more profitable outcome. A $100 wager on the Pistons would win you $150 because they were listed at +150.

You may also see decimal or fractional odds when betting on the Moneyline. Decimal odds represent the return of your original stake (wager). So, if you bet $20 on 4.00, you would collect $80. Fractional odds are the ratio of the amount won to the stake. A wager of 7/1 means you would win $7 for every $1 wagered.

It’s easy to understand how the Moneyline works, but to be successful, you need to strategize. Following betting trends for the teams you are picking is a key factor in your success. Understanding how a certain team performs at home versus on the road can help finalize a wager. As well, injuries are another important piece of the puzzle. If one team is considered the favorite but are missing a key player, could that provide potential for an underdog victory?

Profit and value are something you need to weigh as well. Favorites can offer great value to build your bankroll but you need to risk more to see a sizeable return. Profit goes hand-in-hand with value. If you are looking for a certain percentage of profit on your wager, you need to weigh the risk and reward with betting on the underdog or favorite.

Tracking odds is another sport in the betting world. If you may be able to find value in taking the underdog that is nearly identical in skill level/win probability of their opponent. Seeing an NBA or NFL team at +105 is common. Could that be a gateway to a potential upset, giving you return on an underdog wager?

Overall, when betting on the Moneyline you want to ensure that you have followed recent trends for both teams, weighed the risk on the favorite vs. underdog and studied potential return. Once you have done that, you’ll know if a certain Moneyline bet is right for you.

Favorite vs Underdogs

Moneyline bets will see the favorite (-) battling the underdog (+). Simply put, the favorite is expected to win the game straight up, while the underdog is projected to lose. No other outcome matters in this scenario. Whether you back the underdog or favorite, what matters is that they win. If the team you selected wins the game, then you win the bet!

What makes Moneyline betting so popular is its simplicity. When placing a Moneyline bet, you are selecting the winner straight up. There are two possible outcomes: win or lose. Once you have selected either the underdog (+) or favorite (-), then you wait for the result of the match, game, or competition. If the team you selected on your wager wins the match, then you win your bet. Conversely, if the team you selected loses the game, then you lose your bet!

Moneyline 3 ways

Another popular Moneyline wager includes a 3-Way bet. This wager includes either Team A or B to win, or for the game to end in a draw. This wager is a popular bet among soccer fans because draws are common in the sport. The same thought process applies to 3-Way bets as well. You are wagering on either Team A, Team B, or for the final score to be a draw. If you are correct, you win the bet!

These popular sports see a number of Moneyline bets placed for a variety of reasons:

• NFL – As the biggest betting market in North America, sports betting fans love Moneyline plays. NFL picks and Moneyline plays are perfect for parlays as well!
• NHL – Due to the NHL’s parity, Moneyline bets are super popular among hockey fans. Favorites win around 65% of the time, meaning there is value in finding correct underdog plays!
• NBA – Much like the NFL, professional basketball bettors love the Moneyline due to the value in selecting the favorites. Underdogs win less than 31% of the time, so you can feel comfortable taking the favorite straight up or adding them to your NBA parlays.
• MLB – Starting pitching is huge in baseball, which is why the Moneyline is enticing. Underdogs win nearly 40% of games, so there is profit to be made by betting on the underdogs for MLB plays.
• MLS – Much like the NHL and MLB, we see a ton of underdogs steal games on the Moneyline. Parlay bets are usually filled with Moneyline wagers, due to the low-scoring nature of professional soccer.
• World Cup – The most-watched sporting event on the planet, soccer fans love the World Cup Moneyline. Anything can happen in the tournament and there is always an opportunity to find value with the underdog, especially deep into the later rounds.
• Soccer – Leagues like the EPL, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and Champions League are crawling with Moneyline wagers. The favorites tend to come out on top at the top of the table, but the middle of the pack sees upsets, which means profits for underdog bettors.

Alongside Moneyline betting, bookmakers are equipped with many popular betting markets. Such markets include the point spread and over/under (totals).

Point spreads bets focus on the final score of a game. The favorite (-) will have points taken away from them, while the underdog (+) will have points given to them. This is a popular bet in the NFL, especially. For example, in a Chiefs vs. Raiders scenario, if the Chiefs are listed at -7.5, this means they need to win by 8 (or more points). If the underdog Raiders (+7.5) win the game straight up or lose by less than 8 points, then they would cover on the spread. Point spread bets are popular because it levels the playing field between two teams.

Over/under wagers are bets based on a stat, which is usually total goals/points. When betting on the over/under, you are betting on whether you believe there will be more (over) or fewer (under) the total. In the NBA, if the over/under points total is listed at 212.5, you are betting on if you think there will be 213 (or more points scored for the over) or 212 (or fewer for the under) points in the game. This is popular because wagers can come down to the final possession of the game!