ML (most likely an abbreviation for Many Languages) is possibly the most popular search term when placing a bet on football. It might even be more popular than the usual suspects like ‘Q’ or ‘CI’.
The abbreviation ML can be found in all sorts of contexts when gambling on sports. People are using it as a shorthand for ‘Mixed Lettuce,’ ‘Multi Linguistic,’ ‘Mostly Lettuce,’ or even ‘Moneyline.’
What does ML mean in football betting? Let’s find out!
Moneyline
Paying moneyline bets is almost commonplace when placing bets on sporting events. Basically, you’re committing to placing a wager on whether the total points scored by both teams will be higher or lower than the total points scored by the favorite team. The favorite team is the one you think will win the game. If the total points scored by both teams is a draw (ie, the same number of points), your wager doesn’t matter. You’d have the same amount of money winning or losing regardless of the outcome. In case you’re curious, the total points scored by the two teams in the 2019 Bundesliga were 374, so in the moneyline bet of Bayern vs. Dortmund, you’re committing to wagering that Bayern will cover the point spread by either 3 or more goals or that Dortmund will win by 2 or more goals.
Mostly Lettuce
People love their salads. Why? It’s simple. They’re versatile enough to satisfy anyone’s desires and have a variety of appealing flavors. Plus, they make for a pretty picture when served on a plate in a restaurant.
Restaurants and bars usually serve mostly lettuce when it comes to their house salads. However, when gambling at a sports book, you’ll sometimes see books refer to a ‘mostly lettuce’ play. When you read ‘mostly lettuce,’ it typically means that one of the teams is favored, but you won’t necessarily know by how much. For example, say Toronto is playing Chicago in the NHL and the line is laid out, the Maple Leafs are a 4-point favorite. If Toronto wins by 2 goals or more, your ‘mostly lettuce’ play would win you $100. If Toronto wins by less than 2 goals, your wager would be a loss.
Mixed Lettuce
The phrase ‘mixed lettuce’ is used when either team is considered an underdog and/or the line is slanted in their favor. You’re generally committing to a wager on whether the points scored by the favorite team will be higher or lower than the total points scored by the underdog team. There are varying degrees of slant in a mixed lettuce situation. For example, if the Minnesota Vikings are playing the Los Angeles Rams and the line is set at -3 points, it means that the Vikings are a 3-point underdog. In case you’re curious, the total points scored by the two teams in the 2019 NFL season were 496 so a -3 point line in mixed lettuce would be a winning wager for the underdogs. A -3 point mixed lettuce line in the NFL this year would be worth $100 win or loss on the bet.
Q-Tip
Sometimes people will use slang or abbreviations when placing bets at a sportsbook. The abbreviation ‘Q-Tip’ (short for ‘Question’ or ‘Query’ or ‘Quotation’) is one of the most recognizable slang terms in sports gambling. When you see ‘Q-Tip,’ it essentially means that the team’s name is an unusual or distinctive source of inspiration or humor. For example, in the 2019 NCAA tournament, Kansas’ games were listed as QT1 and Kansas State’s games were listed as QT2. If you’re curious, the total points scored by the two teams in the 2019 NCAA tournament were 1281 so if you were wagering on Kansas, you’d be committing to a $100 win or loss.
Draw
A draw or draw no bet is when you guess that the points scored by the teams will be essentially the same, so it doesn’t really matter which team you bet on. This type of wager is typically used when there’s no clear-cut favorite. For example, in the 2019 NCAA tournament, there were eight games where the spread was within 5 points. In those cases, you’d have the option of placing a straight wager on one of the games or taking a draw on all of them.
Over/Under
An over/under (O/U for short) bet is where you guess that the total number of points scored by both teams will be higher or lower than the total number of points scored by the favorite team. In the case of the 2020 NFL season, there are two sets of over/under bets: one for the regular season and one for the postseason. For the regular season, an over/under bet on the New York Giants +7 versus the Dallas Cowboys would be worth a $100 win or loss. For the postseason, an over/under on the New England Patriots +7 would be worth $150 win or loss. In case you’re curious, the number of points scored by the Giants and Cowboys in the regular season were 787, while the number of points scored by the Patriots in the postseason were 789.
Pick ‘Em
The phrase ‘pick ‘em’ can be used when referring to a player, a team, or the football. If you’re playing against the house, you typically need to wager a set amount of money to qualify for the bonus rounds. Typically, people will place a pick ‘em on whether the scores of a certain game will be higher or lower than expected. For example, if you’re playing against the casino and you see the game is already underway, you might want to make a pick ‘em to see if the game ends in a tie or if your team wins. There are also wild card and quarterfinal matchups that can be used for the bonus rounds. If you’re curious, the number of games this season where a pick ‘em was an option were 15. The total payout in those games was $11,400.
Shots On Goal
Some sportsbooks will track the total number of goals scored in a game. In the case of the 2020 NFL season, there are two types of shots on goal bets: one for the regular season and one for the postseason. For the regular season, a shots on goal bet on the New York Giants +2.5 would be worth a $100 win or loss. For the postseason, a shots on goal bet on the New England Patriots +2 would be worth $150 win or loss. In case you’re curious, the total number of goals scored by the Giants and Patriots in the regular season were 82 and 89 while the total number of goals scored in the postseason were 76.
Insurance
In the event of a tie or the scores being evenly matched, people can sometimes bet on whether there’ll be a playoff overtime or not. For example, in the case of a tie in the 2020 NFL season, the New York Giants +2.5 were an option. If you’d placed a bet on that game, you’d have the opportunity to choose whether to take a payout of $100 or double your bet. If you’re curious, the total number of overtimes in the regular season in the NFL were 11 while the total number of overtime playoff contests were 4.
Props
In the world of poker, props are items that can be used to affect the odds in your favor. In sports betting, props can be a little bit more elaborate. Sometimes people will say that their team is ‘propped up’ by a given player’s performance. When this happens, it generally means that this player is having a great season. If you’re curious, there are currently no prop bets available in the NHL, NBA, or Major League Baseball.