What does the plus and minus mean in sports betting?
Many ask what does the plus and minus mean in sports betting. To be able to make any consistent money betting on sports, it is essential to understand everything that goes into making a betting line.
Many sharp handicappers initially struggle with the odd looking betting lines.
With all of the brackets, numbers, and signs, a betting line can be overwhelming to a beginner.
One of the most important aspects to firmly comprehend before placing a sports wager is the plus and minus.
This article covers all of the crucial information on the plus and minus in sports betting.
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Breaking down the plus and minus in sports betting
The Minus (-)
When you see the minus sign in sports betting, your first thought should be “favorite”.
This sign will always be found next to the event that is likely to happen.
Considering the event is likely to happen, the minus sign is associated with bets that will not pay back the amount that was wagered.
This means that if $100 was bet on a (-110) line, the bettor will not profit as much or more than his $100 wager.
The Plus (+)
The plus sign in sportsbetting represents the underdogs of the contest.
The sign will always be found next to the outcome that is not likely to occur.
Since the result is not likely, the payout on bets with the plus beside them are guaranteed to pay out the amount wagered, if not more.
Betting on underdogs is always tricky, but the rewards are there, as a winning bet will always yield the investment amount at least.
Plus and minus in moneyline betting
The most popular type of sports betting is the moneyline bet.
This is the act of placing a wager on a team or player to win the contest in question.
For moneyline bets, the minus (-) will be found next to the the favorite along with their odds to win. While the plus (+) will accompany the underdog and their odds.
This style of bookmaking is appropriately named the “American Odds” style.
With american odds, the number beside the minus (-) represents the amount of money that has to be wagered in order to win $100. While the number beside the plus (+) stands for the amount that will be profited from a $100 bet.
A team that is a (-400) moneyline favorite would need to bet $400 to net profit $100, equaling out to a $500 payout.
Ok I get it, whats next.
If a team was a (+800) underdog, a winning moneyline bet of $100 would result in a net profit of $800, equalling out to a $900 net profit.
This american style is preferred in US North. But if you are in Europe, your sportsbook is likely to offer fractional odds, such as 20/1 or 11/3 odds, etc.
Asian betting markets typically offer decimal odds.
Live betting odds changes
While the plus and minus sign represent the underdog and favorite, this can all change once the game begins.
Live betting is the act of betting on a game or contest while it is in play. This strategy allows bettors to take advantage of situations in real time. You can take advantage of odds on Fanduel.
While live betting, it’s key to understand the plus and minus, for these odds can drastically change during the game.
Line Reversal Example
A team came into the game as (-200) moneyline favorites is down 0-14 at halftime.
The live odds would reflect their chances to win, putting the live moneyline odds at (+380) for the same team that came in heavily favored.
This is because as the game progressed, they found themselves in a 14 point hole, an obstacle that drastically changed the odds.
Live betting opens up countless profitable situations for bettors, but only if the plus and minus signs are fully understood.
Plus and minus in spread betting
The plus and minus side are not exclusively seen in moneyline bets.
There are also plus and minus signs applied when betting the spread and remember overtime counts! Click here to read our article about overtime and the point spread
Just like the moneyline, the minus represents the favorites, while the plus represents the underdogs.
The only difference is that the point spread is found next to the plus and minus signs instead of the winning odds.