A bet that let’s you sit back, crack open a beer - or uncork a nice Cabernet Sauvignon – and just pick a team to win. There is much to be said for such a bet in a complex world. You can handle this question, even after a long day: Are you going to go for the University of Georgia Bulldogs or the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers?
There are, of course, odds to consider when placing a Moneyline bet. The bookmakers do need a way to indicate the fact that Team X is more likely to win than Team Y - otherwise jumbo wins would be as common as...something that is totally common. If you are new to how odds work in a Moneyline bet, read on.
Let’s say that the Aggies are set to play the Gators. Texans are gearing up to host by saying “Howdy” to all of the Gator fans who can hear them. You are going to watch the game with some work friends and you’ve decided to place a Moneyline bet. So far, so not complicated. Now you read this:
University of Florida Gators +130
Texas A&M University Aggies -120
You may not know what these numbers mean. As the Aussies say, no worries. Let’s take the signs first. The “-” is placed directly after the name of the team that is favored to win; in this case, the Texas A&M University Aggies. The “+” is placed directly after the team who is thought less likely to win - yes, the University of Florida Gators.
Now the numbers. The “130” next to the University of Florida Gators means that a bettor will have to risk $130 dollars to win $100. The $120 next to the Texas A&M University Aggies – the underdogs – means that the bettor only has to risk $100 to win $130.
There is logic to be found in odds. If team has been determined to be the more likely to win, you have to spend more to win $100. If a team has been determined to be the less likely to win, you can pay less to win more.
If you are a newbie, remember that you don’t have to bet $100. The $100 mark is used to illustrate the odds – the odds apply in proportion to whatever amount of cash you want to part with. It is common for new bettors to interpret the statement of odds as indicators of how much to bet.
Oh, and tread carefully with the Moneyline. Our resident experts advise taking the Moneyline plunge only when you are being offered team X as the underdog but a close one – 4 points or less close. Why? Team X could very well win and you are getting odds close to 2:1. Or sweet odds, as we like to call them.
The Moneyline is a black and white kind of bet. A bet that knows what it is about.