How to Bet Basketball

Published on: September 19, 2021

Updated on: January 6, 2024

Away team is always listed on top. In this example, Chicago is the road team.
Minus (-) next to the number in the money line indicates the favorite; the plus (+) indicates the underdog.
Bet # is most commonly referred to when verbally placing your wager at the sportsbook.

Spread – When betting the point spread (aka line), the favorite must win by a stipulated number of points. This means either laying points on the favorite or getting points on the underdog. In this example, Milwaukee (-6 -110) is the favorite and must win the game by more than 6 points to cover the spread.
Total – This refers to the total number of combined points scored (i.e. over/under). If the game lands exactly on the set number, the wager is considered a push and those bets are refunded.
Money Line – This is a bet on which team will win a game (regardless of score). Chicago is a +220 money line underdog. This means a $100 wager on Chicago money line wins $220 (collect $320 total). Conversely, a $180 wager on the Bucks money line wins $100 (collect $280 total).

Screenshot: Basketball Wager Options on a Mobile App

1st Half – A first half line refers to the score of a game at halftime. This is a wager on the outcome of the first two quarters. In this example, the likely first half line is set to Milwaukee -3 (point spread) and -140 (money line).
Half Time – A half time line refers to the second half outcome of a game. For instance, if Milwaukee leads by four at halftime, oddsmakers are likely to set a 2nd half line of Milwaukee -2. This means Milwaukee must outscore Chicago by more than two points in the 2nd half to cover the half time spread.
Futures – Futures wagers in soccer are for predicting division winners, conference winners, and NBA title winners. Total games won (O/U wins) is another popular futures wager offered at the beginning of the season.
Live – Live wagering is a popular option for making in-game bets using your sportsbook’s mobile application (check availability). Live wagers offer adjusted point spreads, over/under, point totals, and more based on the live score.
Parlay – A parlay combines several teams into one bet. In a parlay, all wagers must win, or else the bet is a loser. As many as 10 teams (or more) may be used in a parlay. Totals (O/U points) may be included in parlays.
Props – A “proposition bet” is like a side-bet. Common prop bets in basketball include points, assists, rebounds, and blocks. Prop bets offered vary greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook.

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