I have to admit, I’m one of those sports fans who if I don’t know what something means, I have no shame in asking. Except when it comes to things that I should technically “already know”.
That is the problem that I continuously run into the problem of when I hear the terms “cover the spread” or “I’ll take the points”. I do what a lot of girls do, shake my head and smile to give off the perception that “yeah she knows what she’s talking about”.
What is a Total or Over/Under Bet? A total or over/under bet is a single wager on whether or not the combined goal, point or run total of a single game will be over or under what the oddsmaker sets it at before the event. When placing a total wager, all the bettor is concerned with is the combined score of each team at the end of the game. Sometimes referred to as ‘totals’ betting, over/under odds are a bet on the total combined score in a game. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. Instead, the bet depends on whether the combined amount is over or under a predetermined number set by the bookmaker.
Many girls feel somewhat afraid to ask questions when it comes to sports.
Usually they are laughed at for not knowing things that seem very simple to the avid sports fan. Avid fans seem to forget that you could spend dozens of years learning about so many rules, stats and the history of each sport and still not know everything.
But that’s also what makes sports so much fun to watch and learn.
I decided instead of asking someone what “covering the spread” means, I would just take the simple route: When it doubt, Google it. And I’m pretty sure, the search engine won’t be laughing at me!
Read on to find out what a point spread, covering the spread, against the spread and over/under mean….
The “spread” is the difference in points scored by opposing teams in an athletic competition. The spread is also known as “the line” or “morning line”. This provides the basis for wagering : points may be “given” or “taken” to equalize a bet, or bets may be made that the difference will be larger or smaller than the estimate.
In simpler terms its when one team is the favorite over the other… so the spread is how many points the favorite has to beat the underdog by.
The spread is the difference in points between the two teams when the game is over. It’s what oddsmakers come up with to determine the winner and margin of victory of a game.
For example: the Lakers are the favorite over the Spurs by 5 points. So the Lakers must beat the Spurs by 5 points to cover the spread. This is how it will be written out in a Sportsbook
Lakers -5
Spurs +5
Spurs +5
If one team is minus, then the other team is plus of the same number, so really you only need to see one of the numbers, to know the other.
Define Over Under In Sports Betting Sites
If the line on the Lakers was -5.5 instead of -5, you would have to bet 6 (and have the Lakers win by that much) in order to collect on a bet. If you bet just the -5 then some betting sites would at least give you your money back or a credit towards future use.
Triple fortune dragon. A bet where you try to determine which team will cover the spread; not necessarily which team will win. 1895 indian head penny. It’s also known as ATS.
Example: Ned bet against the spread that the Patriots (-7) would beat the Eagles. That means the Patriots would have to win by more than 7 points for Ned to win his bet.
Over/Under means the odds-makers picked the most likely total combined score of both teams. For example in an NFL game with the Jaguars vs Dallas the over/under is 37. You can either bet on either “over” or “under”. Over, is if the two scores added up at the end, total to over 37. Under is if when you add them together, they’re less than 37. If the total is 37, it’s a tie, or “push” again.
If your anything like me and math is not your strongest suit, you will have to read that a couple dozen times to fully understand it. It took a while to find a clear answer on these questions but saved a lot of time from pretending to understand and trying not to look confused if someone were to explain this to me in person.
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Sports Betting Over Under Rules
Action - A sports betting wager of any kind, a bet.
Added Game - For sports betting, a game not part of Las Vegas regular rotation posted as an accommodation to customers.
Added Game - For sports betting, a game not part of Las Vegas regular rotation posted as an accommodation to customers.
Angles – Using key factors from previous events to predict the results for future outcomes.
ATS - 'Against the spread,' taking points rather than betting with the spread and laying points in sports betting.
Beard - In sports betting a beard is a friend or acquaintance who is used to place bets as to conceal the true identity of the real bettor.
ATS - 'Against the spread,' taking points rather than betting with the spread and laying points in sports betting.
Beard - In sports betting a beard is a friend or acquaintance who is used to place bets as to conceal the true identity of the real bettor.
Bet – To risk something on the outcome of an event
Book - In sports gambling a Book is an establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of horse racing and sporting events.
Bookie - In sports wagering a person who accepts bets.
Book - In sports gambling a Book is an establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of horse racing and sporting events.
Bookie - In sports wagering a person who accepts bets.
Bookmaker – see ‘bookie’
Buck - Sports betting term for a $100 wager.
Buy (Points) - In sports betting, a player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Canadian Line - In sports betting the Canadian line is a combination point spread and money line in hockey.
Chalk - The favorite.
Chalk Player - In sports gambling this person is someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely betting on the underdogs.
Circled game - In sports wagering this is a game in which the betting action is reduced; usually occurs in added games, games with injuries, bad weather, propositions, or halves of games. These games cannot be included in parlays or teasers
Cover - In sports betting this term means a pointspread win.
Buy (Points) - In sports betting, a player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Canadian Line - In sports betting the Canadian line is a combination point spread and money line in hockey.
Chalk - The favorite.
Chalk Player - In sports gambling this person is someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely betting on the underdogs.
Circled game - In sports wagering this is a game in which the betting action is reduced; usually occurs in added games, games with injuries, bad weather, propositions, or halves of games. These games cannot be included in parlays or teasers
Cover - In sports betting this term means a pointspread win.
Data Mining- Searching through a large volume of statistics to find profitable situations to bet on in the future.
Dime - $1000.00 sports betting wager.
Dime Line - In sports betting a Dime line is a line where the juice is 10%.
Dog - In sports betting, the team perceived to be most likely to lose.
Dog Player - In sports gambling this term refers to one who mostly plays the underdog.
Dollar - $100, in sports wagering.
Double action - An 'if bet' in sports betting that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels.
Double Bet - In sports betting a double bet is a wager for twice the size of one's usual wager; also known as 'double pop' or 'doubling up.'
Edge - A persons Advantage when it comes to sports betting.
Even Money - Sports betting term 'Even money' is a bet whose odds are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid.
Exotic - In sports gambling the term Exotic is any wager other than a straight bet or parlay - also called a prop or proposition.
Exposure - The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game.
Favorite - In sports betting this it the team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.
Fifty cents - $50.00 of sports betting action.
Figure - For sports betting, Figure is the amount owed to or by a bookmaker.
First half bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the first half of the game.
Future - In sports gambling odds are posted in advance on the winners of various major events including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, and the NBA Championship this is called a Future bet.
Dime - $1000.00 sports betting wager.
Dime Line - In sports betting a Dime line is a line where the juice is 10%.
Dog - In sports betting, the team perceived to be most likely to lose.
Dog Player - In sports gambling this term refers to one who mostly plays the underdog.
Dollar - $100, in sports wagering.
Double action - An 'if bet' in sports betting that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels.
Double Bet - In sports betting a double bet is a wager for twice the size of one's usual wager; also known as 'double pop' or 'doubling up.'
Edge - A persons Advantage when it comes to sports betting.
Even Money - Sports betting term 'Even money' is a bet whose odds are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid.
Exotic - In sports gambling the term Exotic is any wager other than a straight bet or parlay - also called a prop or proposition.
Exposure - The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game.
Favorite - In sports betting this it the team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.
Fifty cents - $50.00 of sports betting action.
Figure - For sports betting, Figure is the amount owed to or by a bookmaker.
First half bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the first half of the game.
Future - In sports gambling odds are posted in advance on the winners of various major events including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, and the NBA Championship this is called a Future bet.
Gamble- To risk money on the outcome of an event.
Getting Down - Sports wagering meaning making a bet.
Grand Salami - A sports betting term meaning the grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over/Under.
Half a dollar - $50.00 in sports betting action.
Half time bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the second half of the game.
Handicapper - When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates and wagers on sporting events and/or races.
Handicapping - In sports gambling this is the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events.
Handle - A sports wagering term that means the total amount of bets taken.
Hedging - A sports betting term that means placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Hook - In sports betting a Hook is a half point added to football and basketball betting lines.
Hot game - Sports betting term for a game that is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
Juice - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet, also known as 'vigorish.'
Laying the points - Betting the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the price - In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff - sports betting term for money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability.
Limit - In sports betting limit is the maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/or the points.
Line - In sports betting, the current odds or point spread on a particular event.
Linemaker - In the sports betting industry this is the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.
Listed Pitchers - In sports gambling a listed pitcher is a baseball bet which will be placed only if both of the pitchers scheduled to start a game actually start. If they don't, the bet is cancelled.
Longshot - In sports wagering this is a team or horse perceived to be unlikely to win.
Middle - To win both sides of the same contest in sports betting event. Wagering on the underdog at one point spread and the favorite at a different point spread and winning both sides.
Money line - odds expressed in terms of money. With money odds, whenever there is a minus (-) you lay that amount to win a hundred dollars, where there is a plus (+) you get that amount for every hundred dollars wagered.
Move the line - A player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Nickel - $500.00, in on a sports gambling wager.
Nickel line - A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%.
No action - A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost nor won.
Getting Down - Sports wagering meaning making a bet.
Grand Salami - A sports betting term meaning the grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over/Under.
Half a dollar - $50.00 in sports betting action.
Half time bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the second half of the game.
Handicapper - When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates and wagers on sporting events and/or races.
Handicapping - In sports gambling this is the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events.
Handle - A sports wagering term that means the total amount of bets taken.
Hedging - A sports betting term that means placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Hook - In sports betting a Hook is a half point added to football and basketball betting lines.
Hot game - Sports betting term for a game that is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
Juice - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet, also known as 'vigorish.'
Laying the points - Betting the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the price - In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff - sports betting term for money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability.
Limit - In sports betting limit is the maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/or the points.
Line - In sports betting, the current odds or point spread on a particular event.
Linemaker - In the sports betting industry this is the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.
Listed Pitchers - In sports gambling a listed pitcher is a baseball bet which will be placed only if both of the pitchers scheduled to start a game actually start. If they don't, the bet is cancelled.
Longshot - In sports wagering this is a team or horse perceived to be unlikely to win.
Middle - To win both sides of the same contest in sports betting event. Wagering on the underdog at one point spread and the favorite at a different point spread and winning both sides.
Money line - odds expressed in terms of money. With money odds, whenever there is a minus (-) you lay that amount to win a hundred dollars, where there is a plus (+) you get that amount for every hundred dollars wagered.
Move the line - A player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Nickel - $500.00, in on a sports gambling wager.
Nickel line - A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%.
No action - A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost nor won.
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Odds- The likelihood of the outcome occurring, stated in numbers form.
Off the board - In sports betting this is a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action.
One dollar - $100.00 in sports betting action.
Off the board - In sports betting this is a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action.
One dollar - $100.00 in sports betting action.
Opening Line- The earliest line posted for a particular sporting event.
Outlaw Line - Term for the earliest line in sports betting. This is an overnight line that only a handful of players are allowed to bet into.
Over - In sports gambling the 'over' is a sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the combined point total of two teams will be above a specified total.
Parlay - In sports wagering, a bet with two or more teams in which all teams must win or cover for the bettor to win and receive higher payouts.
Pick 'em - When neither team is favored. Also called a 'pick' in sports betting terms.
Point spread - In sports betting this is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book.
Outlaw Line - Term for the earliest line in sports betting. This is an overnight line that only a handful of players are allowed to bet into.
Over - In sports gambling the 'over' is a sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the combined point total of two teams will be above a specified total.
Parlay - In sports wagering, a bet with two or more teams in which all teams must win or cover for the bettor to win and receive higher payouts.
Pick 'em - When neither team is favored. Also called a 'pick' in sports betting terms.
Point spread - In sports betting this is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book.
Power Ratings- The strength of a team in comparison to another team.
Press - In sports betting this means to wager a larger amount than usual.
Price - Sports betting term for the odds or point spread.
Prop (Proposition) Bet - In sports gambling this is a special wager offered by the sports book on unique and various topics. These wagers can be on sporting events, politics, and even trial outcomes. The wagers use the money line format of pay off odds and might included who scores the first touchdown in the super bowl, who will win the next presidential election, or whether or not O. J. will be found guilty.
Puckline - A puckline for sports wagering is giving odds of a goal spread instead of using a Canadian Line in hockey, where both a goal spread and money line are played.
Puppy - The underdog in an event.
Push - When the contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes.
Round Robin - In sports betting this a series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run down - In sports gambling this is all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc.
Run line - In baseball a spread used instead of the money line.
Runner - One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting.
Scouts - person(s) who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager. AKA. Sports Player.
Sharp - When it comes to sports betting a sharp is a sophisticated or professional gambler.
Sides - In sports betting, the names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single action - An 'if bet' in sports gambling that is processed only if the precedent bet wins.
Press - In sports betting this means to wager a larger amount than usual.
Price - Sports betting term for the odds or point spread.
Prop (Proposition) Bet - In sports gambling this is a special wager offered by the sports book on unique and various topics. These wagers can be on sporting events, politics, and even trial outcomes. The wagers use the money line format of pay off odds and might included who scores the first touchdown in the super bowl, who will win the next presidential election, or whether or not O. J. will be found guilty.
Puckline - A puckline for sports wagering is giving odds of a goal spread instead of using a Canadian Line in hockey, where both a goal spread and money line are played.
Puppy - The underdog in an event.
Push - When the contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes.
Round Robin - In sports betting this a series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run down - In sports gambling this is all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc.
Run line - In baseball a spread used instead of the money line.
Runner - One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting.
Scouts - person(s) who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager. AKA. Sports Player.
Sharp - When it comes to sports betting a sharp is a sophisticated or professional gambler.
Sides - In sports betting, the names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single action - An 'if bet' in sports gambling that is processed only if the precedent bet wins.
Sportsbook- a person or company that accepts bets.
Spread - A spread in sports wagering is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book. See 'point spread.'
Square - A novice when it comes to sports betting.
Steam - In sports betting steam is when a line starts to move rapidly. Most 'steam games' do not necessarily reflect objective circumstances, but are games that a mass of bettors is drawn to for some reason.
Store - A bookie or sports betting establishment.
Straight bet - In sports betting this is a wager on just one team or horse.
Spread - A spread in sports wagering is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book. See 'point spread.'
Square - A novice when it comes to sports betting.
Steam - In sports betting steam is when a line starts to move rapidly. Most 'steam games' do not necessarily reflect objective circumstances, but are games that a mass of bettors is drawn to for some reason.
Store - A bookie or sports betting establishment.
Straight bet - In sports betting this is a wager on just one team or horse.
Define Over Under In Sports Betting Odds
Straight-up- Winning the game without any regards to the pointspread.
Systems- Using trends for the past that you are consistent with to predict future outcomes.
Taking the points - When it comes to sports gambling this means betting the underdog and its advantage in the point spread.
Taking the price - In sports wagering this means betting the underdog and accepting money odds.
Teaser - A teaser is a special type of parlay in sports betting in which you adjust the point spread or total of each individual play. The price of moving the point spread (teasing) is lower pay off odds winning wagers.
Ticket - A sports betting wager.
Tie - In sports betting a tie is a wager in which no money is lost nor won because the teams' scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.
Total - The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game, including the overtime.
Totals Bet - In sports gambling this is a proposition bet in which the bettor speculates that the total score by both teams in a game will be more or less than the line posted by the sports book.
Tout - Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering.
Taking the price - In sports wagering this means betting the underdog and accepting money odds.
Teaser - A teaser is a special type of parlay in sports betting in which you adjust the point spread or total of each individual play. The price of moving the point spread (teasing) is lower pay off odds winning wagers.
Ticket - A sports betting wager.
Tie - In sports betting a tie is a wager in which no money is lost nor won because the teams' scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.
Total - The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game, including the overtime.
Totals Bet - In sports gambling this is a proposition bet in which the bettor speculates that the total score by both teams in a game will be more or less than the line posted by the sports book.
Tout - Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering.
Trends- Using the past to predict the future focusing in on only one team.
Under - When it comes to sports betting a under is a wager in which the bettor guesses that the total points scored by two teams will be under a certain figure.
Underdog - The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the 'dog' in sports betting terminology.
Value - In sports betting value means getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vigorish - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting.
Under - When it comes to sports betting a under is a wager in which the bettor guesses that the total points scored by two teams will be under a certain figure.
Underdog - The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the 'dog' in sports betting terminology.
Value - In sports betting value means getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vigorish - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting.
Wager- To risk money on the outcome of an event.
Wise guy - A wise guy is the sports gambling term for a well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.
Wise guy - A wise guy is the sports gambling term for a well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.