The Ultimate Guide to Moneyline Betting: How to Bet and Win in Sports

Moneyline betting is one of the simplest and most popular ways to wager on sports. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced bettor, understanding how moneyline odds work can enhance your sports betting experience. This guide will walk you through the basics of moneyline betting, including how to read odds, place bets, and maximize your chances of winning in various sports like NFL, college football, NBA, MLB, and more.

What is Moneyline Betting?

Moneyline betting is a straightforward betting method where you pick the winner of a game, match, or event. There’s no point spread or total points involved — you simply bet on which team or athlete will win. This betting style is perfect for new sports bettors looking for a simpler way to get into the action, as well as seasoned sports enthusiasts.

In a moneyline bet, the favorite will have negative odds, while the underdog will have positive odds. The odds reflect the implied probability of each outcome.

How to Read Moneyline Odds

Moneyline odds are typically displayed in American odds format, which shows either a positive or negative number. This represents the amount you need to wager to win €100 or the profit you could make from a €100 bet.

Negative Moneyline Odds (-): These odds represent the favorite. A negative number (e.g., -150) indicates the amount you need to bet to win €100. For example, betting €150 on a -150 favorite would earn you €100 in profit if the team wins.

Positive Moneyline Odds (+): These odds represent the underdog. A positive number (e.g., +150) indicates how much profit you’ll make on a €100 bet. For example, a €100 bet on a +150 underdog would earn you €150 in profit if they win.

Moneyline Odds Examples

Let’s look at an example of NFL moneyline odds to better understand how it works:

Buffalo Bills (-135): If you bet €135 on the Bills to win, you'd earn €100 in profit if they win.

Los Angeles Rams (+115): If you bet €100 on the Rams, you'd earn €115 in profit if they win.

How to Bet on the Moneyline

Betting the moneyline is simple: Choose the team or athlete you think will win. Once you’ve selected your bet, place it at a sportsbook offering moneyline odds for the event.

Here’s a breakdown of moneyline odds and their implied probabilities. For example, the Buffalo Bills are the favorites, while the Los Angeles Rams are underdogs. Betting on the Bills at -135 means risking €135 to win €100, while betting on the Rams at +115 means risking €100 to win €115.

How to Win a Moneyline Bet

Winning a moneyline bet is straightforward: You just need to pick the team or player that wins the game or match. The odds determine how much you can win, based on how likely the sportsbook believes that outcome is.

A moneyline favorite (negative odds) is considered more likely to win, but the payout is smaller because of the lower risk.

A moneyline underdog (positive odds) has a lower chance of winning, but the payout is higher due to the increased risk.

For example:

If you place a €100 bet on a -150 favorite, you could win €66.67 in profit if they win.

If you place a €100 bet on a +200 underdog, you could win €200 in profit if they win.

Moneyline Betting in Different Sports

Moneyline betting is popular across several sports, including NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, MLB, NHL, and Tennis.

Moneyline Betting in the NFL and College Football

NFL moneyline betting is especially popular due to the high stakes of each game. In the case of a college football moneyline bet, favorites like the Alabama Crimson Tide can have extremely high odds, sometimes reaching -10,000, meaning you'd need to bet €10,000 to win €100.

Moneyline Betting in Baseball

MLB moneyline betting is perhaps the most well-known due to the high number of one-run games. In this format, the New York Yankees might be listed as -400, meaning you'd need to risk €400 to win €100, while an underdog like the Detroit Tigers could be listed at +330, meaning a €100 bet could return €330 in profit if they win.

Moneyline Betting in Basketball

In NBA moneyline betting, the odds fluctuate based on the relative strength of the teams. For example:

Golden State Warriors (-125): Betting on the Warriors means risking €125 to win €100.

Toronto Raptors (+105): Betting on the Raptors means risking €100 to win €105.

Moneyline Betting in Tennis and Boxing

In one-on-one sports like Tennis and Boxing, moneyline odds are frequently used to wager on the winner. Since each athlete or team faces only one competitor, the betting options are much simpler.

Moneyline Parlays

A moneyline parlay allows you to combine multiple moneyline bets into one. The more moneyline selections you add to your parlay, the higher the potential payout. However, all bets in the parlay must win for you to receive a payout. If one bet loses, the entire parlay is lost.

You can use Covers' parlay calculator to determine your potential payout and how much you could win with different combinations of moneyline bets.

Why Do Moneyline Odds Change?

Several factors can cause 1 to fluctuate:

Betting Activity: A large number of bets on one side can cause the sportsbook to adjust the odds to balance the action and limit exposure to one outcome.

Injuries or Lineup Changes: If key players are injured or unable to play, the odds will adjust to reflect the potential impact on the team’s chances of winning.

Weather Conditions: Bad weather can affect outdoor sports, prompting sportsbooks to adjust the moneyline.

Public Perception: Media coverage and public sentiment may also cause odds to shift, especially if a team or player is performing exceptionally well.

Sportsbooks and the Vig

The vig (short for vigorish) is the commission that sportsbooks charge on moneyline bets. The vig is generally built into the odds, so when you see a line like -110, you’re actually paying a commission of 10%. This ensures the sportsbook makes a profit regardless of the outcome.

For example, if you bet on the New England Patriots (-150), you would need to risk €150 to win €100. If €10,000 is wagered on the Patriots, the sportsbook may charge a vig of 10%, meaning they collect €1,000 in commission.

Moneyline Betting Strategy

While moneyline betting is simple, it’s essential to approach it strategically:

Research: Understand the teams, players, and conditions to make informed bets.

Shop Around: Different sportsbooks offer different moneyline odds, so compare and look for the best value.

Avoid Risky Long Shots: Betting on heavy underdogs may offer high payouts, but it’s important to balance risk and reward carefully.

Conclusion: Master Moneyline Betting

Moneyline betting is one of the most straightforward and popular ways to wager on sports. By understanding the odds and how they reflect the implied probability of an outcome, you can make more informed decisions when placing bets. Whether you're betting on NFL, MLB, NBA, Tennis, or any other sport, mastering moneyline odds will help you gain an edge in sports betting. Be sure to use tools like the moneyline calculator to better understand potential payouts and maximize your winnings.