How to read betting lines
Betting lines look confusing at first, but there are only three main types.
Point spread
SEA -2.5 means Seattle is favored by 2.5 points. For the spread to "cover," Seattle must win by 3 or more. The other team (+2.5) covers if it wins or loses by 2 or fewer.
Total (over/under)
Total 43.5 is the combined points (or goals, in hockey) both teams score. "Over" means more than 43.5; "Under" means fewer.
Moneyline
A moneyline is just who wins. A minus number like -150 is the favorite: you would risk $150 to win $100. A plus number like +130 is the underdog: a $100 bet would win $130.
Odds like -110
Most spreads and totals are priced around -110, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. That extra is the house's cut.
Open, now, and movement
GregCity shows the open line (first posted) and the now line (this morning). The difference is the movement. We also show the share of bets (tickets) and money (dollars) on each side. When most bets are on one side but the line moves the other way, that is Reverse Line Movement.