What does the minus mean?

**hawley** · 01-19-12, 11:40 PM

that was the ML as in risk $125 to win $100

All sites offer it. Its just a h2h odd expressed as a number to win $100

If it is an underdog it will be listed as +110 or something and it means your return if you risk 100 i.e risk $100 to win $110.

**yoman456** · 01-19-12, 11:43 PM

so that would be risking 100 to win 110 , meaning 210 if u add the amount you bet to it?

So if Dad is posting ATL -125 what did he bet on?? Just ATL for the win? or ATL +2

**Mac4Lyfe** · 01-19-12, 11:43 PM

Google is your friend... A (-125) means that you have to be $125 in order to win $100. You can bet any amount but that's the fraction. Bet $12.50 to win $10.00, $25 to win $20, etc., etc. If the line is positive (+125) you would bet $100 to win $125.

What exactly is the 'moneyline'?

Betting lines are based on money value. Imagine using a unit wager of $100 for our example.
If Boston is listed as -165 over Tampa Bay and you wanted to bet on Boston - you would then risk $165 to win $100 - since you are betting the favorite.
If you wanted to bet on Tampa you would risk $100 to win $155 - since they are the dog. The $10 difference is called the juice.
What does 'juice' mean?

Juice, also known as the 'vigorish' or simply 'vig', is the commission that sportsbooks collect for taking your bet. In a perfect world the action on both sides of each game would be evenly split, and the books would use the monies collected from the losing bets to pay the winning ones. The difference (juice or vig) goes to the house. The norm is around 10-percent for most side and total bets, and it most cases you pay when you lose. For example on an average football bet you would lose $110 if your team fails to cover the spread, yet win only $100 if your team does cover the spread. In moneyline sports there is normally a 10-cent price difference between the favorite and underdog in order to account for the vigorish. That is why you see the favorite at -150 (for example) and the underdog listed at only +140.
covers.com/sportsbetting/betting-faq.aspx#top
How do you read the Live Odds page?

On our Live Odds page you'll see the matchups listed across the top and our list of sportsbooks down the lefthand side. It works like a grid. Look under the matchup and across from the books and you'll find the home team's odds in the left column and the 'total' in the right column under each matchup. Each grid has five matchups, ordered according to start time. Then you have to scroll down to get the next five matchups.
I understand that, for example in the Lakers-Nets game, the Lakers are -240 and the Nets are +180. I know this means the Lakers are the favorite but exactly what is the line?

All odds are based on $100, which is the standard unit. So if the Lakers are -240, it means you would have to bet $240 to win $100. This isn't very good value and you would have to wager a lot to win a little.
With the Nets at +180, you would have to bet $100 to win $180. This wager is much better value, but the chances of the Nets winning are much less. Your No. 1 priority is, of course, to pick a winner. But always try to find the best value.

**hawley** · 01-19-12, 11:45 PM

dad had Atlanta ML or Atlanta h2h.

IF he posted ATL -2 -110 he was on Atlanta -2 at -110 odds so risking 110 to win 100

An underdog bet will be risking 100 to win 110 for a total return of 210 at +110 odds

**Mac4Lyfe** · 01-19-12, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by yoman456

so that would be risking 100 to win 110 , meaning 210 if u add the amount you bet to it?

So if Dad is posting ATL -125 what did he bet on?? Just ? or ATL +2

He took ATL moneyline, ATL for the win which is SU (straight up) or often called ML (money line)... No points. Atlanta must win to cash.

**MexicanStallion** · 01-19-12, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by yoman456

so that would be risking 100 to win 110 , meaning 210 if u add the amount you bet to it?

So if Dad is posting ATL -125 what did he bet on?? Just ATL for the win? or ATL +2

I did see Dad's post, but that would mean he took Atlanta ML. He wants them to win straight up with no points involved.

**yoman456** · 01-19-12, 11:48 PM

ok so he only bet on ATL

Alright thanks guys! I've been checking the forums every now and then in the past year, but that always interested me!