If you’re a betting enthusiast who’s been considering getting into the world of baseball betting, you’ll want to make sure you have a good handle on reading and understanding the betting lines. Taking the time to learn the system is well worth the effort when it comes to making the most out of your wagers. Here’s a look at the basics of making sense of baseball betting lines in the USA.
Understanding The Line
Understanding the logic behind how lines are set is the key to successful betting in any sport, let alone baseball. To start, it’s important to know that when a line is set, sportsbooks are attempting to create even action on each side. In other words, they want the same amount of money wagered on each team so that the sportsbook itself doesn’t lose.
For example, let’s say the Kansas City Royals are playing the Chicago Cubs. The sportsbook may set the line at Cubs -115, Royals +100. That means if you place a wager on the Royals, you’ll need to wager $100 to win $100. Whereas, if you bet on the Cubs, you’ll need to wager $115 to win that same $100.
Calculating The Payout
In addition to understanding the line, bettors should also have a grasp of calculating their potential payout. To do this, you’ll need to account for the juice, aka the vig.
Let’s revisit the Royals/Cubs example. If the line is Cubs -115, Royals +100, you know that the Cubs are favored and you’ll need to bet $115 to win $100. When you take the juice into account, your potential payout is -105 (100 + juice = 105). Let’s combine this with another example.
Let’s say the Boston Red Sox are playing the New York Yankees, and the line is Yankees -145, Red Sox +125. You know that the Yankees are favored and you’d need to wager $145 to win $100. Your potential payout is -125 (125 + juice = -145).
Using Moneylines
Another popular betting system bettors should familiarize themselves wit is moneylines. These are especially helpful for favoring one team over another without needing to account for the point spread.
For example, let’s say the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers are facing off. The money line might look something like this: Pirates +130, Brewers -140. This means that you’d need to bet $140 on the Brewers in order to win $100. With the Pirates, you’d need to bet $100 to win $130.
Using Overs/Unders
Overs/unders, aka Totals, are bets based on the combined score of both teams. This bet is made independent of who wins the game. Just decide if the combined score will be over, or under, the posted number.
For instance, if the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s have a total of 7.5, you can bet on either side; over or under. This means that if the combined score of both teams is 8 or more, the over would have won, and if it’s lower than 8, the under would have won.
Tips for Successful Baseball Betting
Here are a few tips for having the most success when it comes to baseball betting:
- Do your research: Take the time to conduct thorough research on teams, players, and weather conditions. Know the stats and know when a team is going to be firing on all cylinders.
- Manage your bankroll: Finding a system that works for your particular bankroll and sticking to it is key for staying within your means. Know when to back off and when to go hard.
- Stay calm: Don’t let your emotions guide your betting decisions. Keep a cool head and use the facts and numbers to make the most sound decisions.
- Keep records: Keeping accurate records of your bets is a great way to track wins and losses. Identifying mistakes and knowing when you’re on a hot streak are key to long-term success.
Conclusion
Baseball betting in the USA is a great way to get in on the action and enjoy the many advantages the sport has to offer. Taking the time to learn and understand the betting lines and how the various systems work is worth the effort. With a good handle on the logic behind the lines and the different types of bets available, baseball betting in the USA can be a lucrative endeavor and you can score an easy win if equipped with knowledge, dedication and discipline.
What do the different betting lines in baseball mean in the USA?
In the United States, the four main betting lines in baseball are the Money Line, the Run Line, the Over/Under, and the Prop Bets.
The Money Line is a wager on the outcome of a game, with one team being the favorite and the other being the underdog. Odds are displayed in American format and determine the return on a successful wager.
The Run Line is a wager on the point spread, with one team assigned a negative number and the other team assigned a positive number. When betting on the Run Line, the goal is for the favored team to win by at least the number of points given on the line, or for the underdog team to lose by no more than the number of points given on the line.
The Over/Under is a wager in which you must predict the combined number of runs scored by both teams during a game. If the actual combined score of both teams is higher than the Over/Under line, the wager is deemed a win for the “Over” side. If the combined score of both teams is lower than the Over/Under line, the wager is deemed a win for the “Under” side.
Prop Bets are wagers placed on an event within a game. The most common Prop Bet is an Over/Under on the number of home runs hit, though other types of Prop Bets exist, such as who will win a specific at-bat or the number of strikeouts thrown.