Spreads are available in every sport but most common in higher-scoring sports like basketball and football. That's why the Colts are an 8-point favorite on the road against the lowly Texans, while the Eagles are a smaller favorite on the road against the Lions. Point spreads are adjusted for team ability and many other factors. Anyone betting on Detroit needs the Lions to lose by 1-4 points or win the game. That means anyone betting on Philadelphia needs the Eagles to win by 5 or more points. The Eagles are a -4.5 favorite over the Lions in Week 1. The first is the point spread, which is a bet on the margin of victory. There are two main ways to bet on a favorite or an underdog. If the game is a true 50/50 toss-up, books will open it as a 'pick' or ' pick'em.' » Return to the table of contents « The underdog is expected to lose and gets a plus sign.

The favorite is the team that is more likely to win the game and will get a minus sign next to its odds. When oddsmakers release a betting line on a game, the first thing they do is decide which team should be the favorite and which should be the underdog. Use the links below to jump to each section. How to Bet on Sports for Beginners: 12 Tips Here's an introduction into how to bet on sports with 12 things that every beginner needs to know. With sports betting now legal in many states, millions of sports fans will be looking to enter the betting market for the first time.īut where do you begin if you're unfamiliar with the terminology?

The anti-gambling stigma that existed for decades faded quickly in American popular culture, opening the door for a massive, multibillion-dollar legal sports betting industry to emerge.

Over the past four years, sports betting has emerged from the shadows and into the mainstream.

Sports betting beginners guide