A money line bet in football, or any other sport for that matter, is a type of wager where you simply pick the team you think will win the game. Unlike point spread bets, which involve giving or taking points to equalize the perceived difference in ability between two teams, money line bets are straightforward: you are betting on the outright winner of the game.
Here’s how it works:
– **Favorite**: The team expected to win is called the favorite. When you bet on the favorite, you will receive lower odds, which means you’ll win less money relative to your bet. For example, if you bet $100 on a team that is a -150 favorite, you would need to lay $150 to win $100.
– **Underdog**: The team expected to lose is called the underdog. Betting on the underdog offers higher odds, meaning you stand to win more money if your bet is successful. For example, if you bet $100 on a team that is a +150 underdog, you would win $150 if your bet cashes.
The odds associated with each team are represented by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign. A minus sign indicates the favorite, and a plus sign indicates the underdog. The numbers next to these signs show how much money you need to bet to win $100 or how much you will win on a $100 bet.
Money line bets are popular because they are easy to understand and require no concern for the margin of victory or defeat. However, because they are simpler, they often offer lower payouts for successful bets on favorites.
