One of the things that attract people to sports betting is the ability to place bets on their favorite games. However, this can be a difficult task for those that have never done so. If you’re looking to get involved with online sports betting but don’t know how game betting lines work, then read on. We’ll discuss everything you need to know about placing bets on your favorite sports games.
What Are Game Betting Lines?
The name gives it away. Essentially, game betting lines are the odds of a particular team or player winning or losing a specific game. They are usually published by a bookmaker along with the odds of each team or player to win the game. For example, if there is a game between the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, and the line for the Bears is 3-to-1 (or 3.0) then the bettor knows there is a good chance the Bears will win that game. In most cases, game lines are made up of two main types of odds: the spread and the over/under. Let’s take a closer look at each.
The Spread
As the name suggests, the spread is the difference between the two odds mentioned above. So if the line for the Steelers is -3.0 and the Bears are favored by 3.0, then the spread is 0.0. Similarly, if the spread is zero then each team is a straight -50/50 shot at winning the game.
The spread can vary from game to game, but it is almost always positive or negative. Thus, there is the tendency for the line to either go up or down from the point-spread in the majority of cases. The spread is mainly used by sports bettors who like to lay a wager on whether or not a team will cover the spread in a game. If they believe the spread will be “opened up” (meaning the favored team will not cover the spread) then they will go with the opposite side of the bet (against the spread).
The Over/Under
An over/under is simply the combined total of the two teams’ scores in a game. So if the Steelers score 20 points and the Bears score 17 in a game, then the over/under is 37 points. This is used when a bettor is wondering whether or not a game will be high or low scoring. Typically, there is no line associated with an over/under so if the bettor is betting on this game then they will have to decide whether to take the over or under.
The over/under can also vary from game to game, but there is no clear pattern related to its variation. However, one thing is for sure – the combined total of the scores in a game will almost always be less than or equal to the total of the two teams’ point-differentials in that game. For example, if the Bears have a 10 point lead over the Steelers in a game then the over/under will be less than or equal to 20 points. This means the total score of that game will most likely be less than or equal to 20 points.
How Do I Bet On A Game?
Most likely, you’ll be spending most of your time at a sportsbook when betting on games. The interface will look something like this –
Here, the user can enter a wagered amount and pick a game to bet on. In our example, let’s say the user entered $100 and clicked the CHI-PITTS game. In this case, the sportsbook will take care of the rest by adding the appropriate line from the bookmaker and sending the bet to the bookmaker. In this example, you can see the user’s selected game and the odds associated with it.
Bookmakers And Oddsheets
Now, let’s take a quick look at how bookmakers and oddsheets work together to make up game betting lines. The best sportsbooks will have access to the games and odds of all major sports leagues so they can set up lines on a variety of games. In most cases, you’ll find oddsheets for baseball, football, and basketball, but they may also have odds for other sports like racing or hockey. The reason there are so many leagues is that there is always the possibility of a match-up or series where teams from two different leagues face off against one another. In those situations, the bookmaker will have to update their odds sheets to reflect the results of the games. Let’s say the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates face off in the playoffs and the Pirates win. In that case, the bookmaker for the Cubs will have to adjust their odds sheets for baseball.
Now, it is possible for individual sportsbooks to specialize in one sport, but for the majority of the time, they will work with major sports leagues to provide odds on a variety of games. In most cases, these odds will be made available to the general public so they can have access to the information when betting on games. However, for individual sportsbooks that want to set up special lines for certain games, they will have to contact the odds provider directly to get those odds.
Hopefully, this article gave you a good idea of how game betting lines work. Now, you’re ready to place some winning bets on your favorite teams. Just remember, some sportsbooks may be easier to use than others so be sure to check out the terms and conditions before placing a bet. Also, make sure to do some research before betting on any team or player. There is a lot of information available online so you can learn as much as possible before placing your wagers. Good luck out there.