Basketball Betting Explained: Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals

So, you want to get into basketball betting but don’t know where to start? Well, don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Even if you are a long-term basketball fan, you might still get confused by all the moneylines and spreads.

Opening up betting and seeing all the strange names might feel more like financial jargon than basketball lingo. But it’s not as complicated as it seems.

You just need to understand a few things like types of bets, how to read the odds, and betting strategies, and once you know all that, you should apply your basketball knowledge to try to predict an upcoming game.

With that said, don’t expect to get rich quickly here. Basketball betting is unpredictable and even if you know a lot of things about the sport, there is a good chance that you’d still make an inaccurate prediction.

But you are on the right track reading this article since the first step of every betting journey is to accumulate more knowledge and learn how the process works.

What Is Basketball Betting?

As you probably already know, basketball betting is about predicting the outcome of games and wagering money on them in hopes that you make a profit. But basketball betting isn’t as simple as picking winners and losers (although that’s part of it). Instead, it is a complex process that you can wager on many different outcomes giving you a unique way to play the odds.

The reason why bettors love basketball betting is because it is quite a versatile sport when it comes to betting.

The first and most important thing to understand before you start betting on basketball games is the types of bets you can make.

The three main types of bets are:

1. Moneylines: You’re betting on who will win the game outright.
2. Spreads: Betting on the margin of victory or defeat.
3. Totals (Over/Under): Predicting the combined score of both teams.

The Moneyline: Betting on Winners

Let’s start with the easiest bet to grasp—the moneyline. You’re simply picking which team will win. That’s it. No complicated math or worrying about how much they win by. Just pick your winner and hope for the best.

How It Works

Each team is assigned odds:

• Favorites: Represented by a negative number, like -150. This means you need to bet $150 to win $100.
• Underdogs: Represented by a positive number, like +200. If you bet $100, you’d win $200.

Say the Boston Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets. If the Celtics are listed at -350, they’re the favorite, and you’d need to bet $350 to win $100. If the Hornets are at +350 and pull off an upset, a $100 bet would win you $350. Easy enough, right? 

Just remember: favorites have safer odds but lower payouts, while underdogs are riskier with higher potential rewards​.

The Spread: Leveling the Playing Field

Point spreads add a twist to basketball betting. Here, you’re betting on the margin of victory (or defeat). It’s not just about who wins but by how much—or if the underdog keeps it close.

Example

Imagine the Lakers are playing the Clippers. The spread might look like this:

• Lakers -6.5: The Lakers need to win by at least 7 points for you to win your bet.
• Clippers +6.5: The Clippers need to win outright or lose by 6 points or fewer.

Point spreads make even lopsided matchups exciting. Suddenly, a game where the Lakers are heavy favorites becomes a battle to see if they can “cover the spread.”

Totals (Over/Under): Root for the Score, Not the Team

If picking winners and predicting margins feels too stressful, betting on totals might be your style. Here, you’re wagering on the combined score of both teams. Oddsmakers set a number, and you decide whether the final score will be over or under that number.

A Fun Twist

Suppose the total for a game is set at 215.5 points:

• If you bet the Over, you’re cheering for an offensive shootout.
• If you bet the Under, you’re hoping for solid defense or missed shots galore.

Totals are great because you can enjoy the game without worrying about who wins. Just sit back and root for buckets—or the lack of them​.

Tips and Strategies for Basketball Betting

Winning at basketball betting isn’t just about luck. A little strategy can go a long way:

• Do Your Research: Study team performance, injuries, and recent trends.
• Know the Venue: Home-court advantage matters. Did you know NBA teams win 55–60% of their home games on average? Keep that in mind​.
• Be Cautious with Spreads: Close games can make spreads risky. A team may win but not cover.
• Follow Public Betting Trends: If everyone’s betting one side, oddsmakers might adjust the odds.

Common Questions Answered

What’s the easiest bet for beginners?

Start with moneylines. They’re straightforward and help you get comfortable with betting odds.

Do spreads only apply to basketball?

Nope! Spreads are common in football and other sports too, but they’re particularly exciting in basketball due to the high-scoring nature of the game.

How much should I bet?

Only wager what you can afford to lose. Set a budget and stick to it. Betting is supposed to be fun—not stressful.