Straight Bet: The Most Popular Sports Wager

All bettors are familiar with the straight bet as it is the most common type of sports gambling wager. A straight bet is a wager placed on a side or total for a single game or sporting event. Straight bets can be based on the point spread, money line or total bets.

Point Spread

Essentially, a straight bet means favoring one team over another team using points. The point spread is the number of points by which the favorite team is expected to win. The favorite team is represented by a minus sign while the underdog (the team not expected to win) is represented by a plus sign. This is comparable to the underdog being given a head start.

Since the majority of all straight bets are set by point spreads, the general rule is to wager $11 for each $10 that one would like to win. It is important to keep in mind the the end game result is computed by taking the final score and deducting points from the score of the favorite team or by adding the final game score to the score of the underdog.

Money Line

Money line straight bets do not involve point spreads. The money line establishes the odds by which one team will beat another team. There is a minus sign assigned to the favorite team and a plus sign assigned to the underdog. In order to win a money line bet, one only has to predict which team will win the game.

Total Bets

Total bets, or over/under bets, are straight bets based on the total points scored by both teams in a game. In this particular type of bet it does not matter which team wins the game. Once can place a bet on whether or not the actual number of total points is over or under the combined total.

Whether a bettor choses the point spread, money line or total as his straight bet of choice, it is imperative to understand each form of the bet before wagering. An informed wager can mean the difference between an exciting game and a profitable one!

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