Guides

Short explanations of how betting prices work. More are added through the season.

-110, +150, -250: what they mean and what they pay.

Odds as chances, the sportsbook's margin, and fair prices.

Reading -6.5 and +6.5, pushes, and why spreads sit at -110.

Betting the combined score, what moves a total, and pushes.

How payouts are calculated and why the margin adds up with every leg.

Expected value is the average result of a bet if you could place it many times. It is the core idea behind judging a price.

A bankroll is the money you can set aside for betting and afford to lose. Managing it is about staying in the game, not about guaranteeing profit.

A line moves when the sportsbook changes the number or the price. The move tells you where the market went, not who is right.

Closing line value compares the price you took with the price at the close. It is a way to judge your decisions without waiting for results.

A player prop is a bet on one player's stat in one game, such as points, rebounds, passing yards or receptions.

A same-game parlay (SGP) combines several bets from one game into a single ticket. Every leg must win.