Point Spread vs. Moneyline

For those of you that can't figure out why some sports operate using a point spread and some use a moneyline, and what the hell a point spread and moneyline are, you've come to the right place!

In games where scoring is volitale, bookmakers use whats called a "point spread". A point spread is basically the same thing as a golf handicap. One team is better than the other so oddsmakers make up for this difference by making a "point spread" which is a hypothesis (estimated guess) at how many points the better team may beat the lesser team by. For example:

St Louis Rams -13.5
New England Patriots +13.5

was most likely the point spread you saw in the Super Bowl when those two teams played. Those numbers mean St Louis would have to win by 14 points in order for you to cover your bet had you bet on the Rams. If you had taken the New England Patriots, you would have to lost the game by 13 points or less in order to "cover your bet". This is how the point spread operates.

Sports using a point spread to determine winning bets include: NFL Football, College Football, NBA Basketball, College Basketball, and CFL Football. Sports using a "moneyline" to determine a winning bet include: MLB Baseball and NHL Hockey. While a point spread and a moneyline differ in appearance and function, they both have one thing in common: They determine whether you win or lose your bet!

A moneylineworks like this:

New York Yankees -200
Tampa Bay Devil Rays +170


This version of a "moneyline" would mean that if you are bettign on the Yankees, you are laying or risking $200 to win $100. If you were to bet on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays you'd be laying or risking $100 to win $170. When we say "win", we are referring to the amount of profit on top of getting back your money that you risked.

Many online sportsbooks offer different point spreads or money lines. Some are cloned to match others and some are unique in what they offer. Email mybonus@hotmail.com to find out where the best odds are on a current sports betting event you are looking to wager on and we'll find it for you! Our friendly customer service staff is on duty 16 hours a day and ready and willing to help you find the best place to make your bets! A 1/2 point may not sound like much when betting on a point spread or $10 may not seem like much when betting a moneyline, but in all reality over a long period if time, that half point or $10 on the moneyline may make a huge difference in determining whether you are a winning or a losing sports bettor!

Email mybonus@hotmail.com with any sports betting questions you have and we'll get back to you in a timely manner! We care about our readers and are always interested in helping our readers in their quest to help smash the point spread!