How to Bet Moneylines
Learn what moneyline bets are, how they work, and strategies for finding value on favorites and underdogs.
What Is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet is the simplest wager in sports betting — you're picking which team or player will win the game outright. There's no point spread involved. The odds indicate how much you need to bet or how much you can win.
Reading Moneyline Odds
Negative odds (e.g., -150) show the favorite — you'd need to bet $150 to win $100. Positive odds (e.g., +130) show the underdog — a $100 bet would win $130. The larger the negative number, the bigger the favorite.
Moneyline Strategy
Look for value underdogs rather than always betting heavy favorites. A team at +200 only needs to win 33% of the time to be profitable. Favorites at -300 need to win 75% of the time, which is a high bar.
When to Bet Moneylines
Moneylines work best in low-scoring sports like baseball, hockey, and soccer where a single score can decide the game. In high-scoring sports like basketball, point spreads often offer better value.