You’ve learned how to read American Odds, but what are you actually betting on? When you open a sportsbook, you’ll see three main options for every game: Spread, Moneyline, and Total.

Understanding these three bet types is the key to unlocking 90% of sports betting. Here’s a simple breakdown of what each one means.

1. The Moneyline: Who Will Win?

This is the simplest bet in all of sports. You are betting on **which team will win the game outright.**

• Example: Chiefs (-150) vs. Raiders (+130)
• If you bet the Chiefs Moneyline, you just need them to win the game. It doesn’t matter if they win by 1 point or 50 points. If they win, you win.
• The odds (like -150) just tell you the price, as we covered in our “How to Read Odds” guide.

2. The Point Spread: By How Much Will They Win?

The Point Spread is designed to make the game “even” by giving the underdog a head start. You are no longer betting on who will win, but on the **margin of victory.**

• Example: Chiefs -6.5 (-110) vs. Raiders +6.5 (-110)
• If you bet Chiefs -6.5: They must win the game by 7 points or more to “cover the spread.”
• If you bet Raiders +6.5: They can either win the game outright, OR they can lose by 6 points or less.

This is the most popular way to bet on high-scoring sports like Football and Basketball.

3. The Total (Over/Under): How Many Points Will Be Scored?

This bet has nothing to do with who wins or loses. You are betting on the **total combined score of both teams.**

The sportsbook sets a number, and you bet on whether the final combined score will be **Over** or **Under** that number.

• Example: Total O/U 52.5 (-110)
• If you bet the Over: You need the teams to score a combined 53 points or more (e.g., 28-25).
• If you bet the Under: You need the teams to score a combined 52 points or less (e.g., 24-21).

At A2Z Picks, we analyze all three of these markets (and many more) to find the “Bankroll Builders” and “Lotto Parlays” we send to our members every day.