Sports betting has its own set of terminology and jargon that can be helpful to know if you’re interested in sports betting. Here are some common sports betting terms:
Point Spread (Spread): The point spread is a margin of victory that the sportsbook assigns to a game. It’s designed to even out the betting on both sides. For example, if a team is favored by 7 points, they must win by more than 7 points for a bet on them to win.
Moneyline: The moneyline is a bet on which team will win the game outright. It involves odds that represent how much you can win or need to wager on a particular team. Positive odds indicate the potential profit on a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much you need to bet to win $100.
Over/Under (Total): This is a bet on the total combined score of a game. You bet whether the actual score will be over or under the sportsbook’s predicted total.
Parlay: A parlay is a single bet that links together two or more individual wagers. For the bet to be a winning one, all the linked bets must win. Parlays offer higher potential payouts but are riskier.
Teaser: A teaser is similar to a parlay, but you can adjust the point spread or total in your favor. However, this reduces the potential payout.
Futures: Futures bets are wagers placed on an event that will happen in the future, such as betting on the winner of a championship before the season starts.
Proposition Bet (Prop Bet): Prop bets are bets on specific outcomes within a game, such as which player will score the first goal or how many three-pointers a player will make.
Odds: Odds represent the probability of a particular outcome and the potential payout. There are American odds (+/-), fractional odds (3/1), and decimal odds (4.00), with different regions using different formats.
Bookmaker (Sportsbook): A bookmaker is an entity that accepts bets on sports events and sets the odds. Online sportsbooks are popular for placing bets.
Handicap: Handicapping is a process that levels the playing field by giving one team an advantage or disadvantage to even out the betting action.
Push: A push occurs when a bet results in a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook. In this case, the bet is refunded.
Cover: To “cover the spread” means a team has won by enough points to beat the point spread set by the sportsbook.
Juice (Vig or Vigorish): The juice is the commission or fee that the sportsbook charges for taking bets. It’s typically included in the odds.
Live Betting (In-Play Betting): Live betting allows you to place bets on a game while it’s in progress, adjusting your wagers as the game unfolds.
Bankroll: Your bankroll is the total amount of money you’ve set aside for sports betting. Managing your bankroll is crucial for responsible betting.
Chalk: “Chalk” refers to the favorite in a game, usually the team with the lower odds.
Dog: “Dog” is short for underdog, the team or outcome less likely to win, typically associated with higher odds.
Sharp and Square: Sharps are experienced, knowledgeable bettors, while squares are less informed or recreational bettors.
Here are some more sports betting terms and phrases:
Handle: The total amount of money wagered on a particular event or in a sportsbook over a specific time frame.
Public Betting: Refers to bets that are placed by the general public or casual bettors. Public betting trends can influence odds and betting strategies.
Steam: Rapid and significant line movement caused by heavy betting action on one side. This often indicates sharp bettors are backing a particular side.
Closing Line: The final odds or point spread offered by the sportsbook just before an event starts. It can be compared to the opening line to see how it has moved.
Dime Line: A sportsbook with a dime line offers a 10-cent difference between the favorite and underdog odds. This is common in baseball betting.
Nickel Line: Similar to the dime line, but with a 5-cent difference between the odds, often used in basketball.
Unit: A unit is a standardized bet size that allows bettors to manage their bankroll consistently. It’s usually a percentage of the bankroll.
Hedging: Placing additional bets to reduce or eliminate the potential losses of an existing bet. This is often done to secure a profit or minimize losses.
Pushing the Line: Trying to move the point spread or total in your favor by betting on it heavily, typically done by professional bettors.
Arbitrage (Arb): A strategy that involves betting on all possible outcomes of an event to guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome.
Circled Game: A game that the sportsbook has limited betting options on, often due to uncertainties such as player injuries.
Buy Points: A feature offered by some sportsbooks that allows bettors to adjust the point spread or total by buying or selling points.
Lock: A term used when bettors are extremely confident in the outcome of a bet.
Chasing: When a bettor tries to recoup previous losses by placing larger or riskier bets.
Vig Free: Refers to odds that don’t include the sportsbook’s commission (juice).
Bad Beat: When a seemingly winning bet turns into a losing one due to an unexpected event or late-game score.
Payout: The amount of money a bettor receives if their bet is successful, including the initial wager.
Stake: The amount of money you are betting on a single wager.
Tout: A person or service that claims to have expert sports betting advice for a fee.
Scalping: A strategy involving making quick, small profits on small changes in odds, often seen in live betting.
Dollar Bet: A common term for a $100 bet.
Fading the Public: Betting against the consensus or popular opinion, often a strategy used by sharp bettors.
These are just some of the many terms used in sports betting. It’s important to understand these terms and how they work if you plan to engage in sports betting. Additionally, responsible gambling and understanding the odds are essential aspects of sports betting.
ASA PLAY ON #475/476 UNDER 43.5 Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday 8:20pm ET
Our model is projecting 40.25 points being scored in this game and we couldn’t agree more with our computers for this NFL free pick. The Steelers offense is near the bottom of every key category including 31st in totally YPG, 29th in yards per play, 31st in rushing YPG, 27th in rushing yards per attempt and 26th in scoring at 16.5PPG. Obviously, their scoring numbers are even exaggerated considering they had 2 defensive scores last week. Take away those 2 defensive TD’s and this offense is averaging 9.5PPG. Las Vegas played a similar team to Pittsburgh in the opener against Denver and they combined for 33 total points. Last week against a highly motivated Bills team they lost 10-38 with Buffalo getting a garbage TD with 5 minutes left or that game stays Under this number. Las Vegas struggled offensively in that game with 13 first downs, 55-rushing yards and 185-passsing yards. In fact, the Raiders offense is just as bad as Pittsburgh’s. they rank 30th in total YPG, 30th in rushing, 31st in yards per rush, 21st in passing yards and are last in the league in scoring at 13.5PPG. Both defenses are better than their numbers to date as both allow over 5.5 yards per play and Over 27PPG but today each team will be facing low level offenses so expect much better showings by each. We like this game Under 43.5 as today’s NFL free pick. Â
NBA Predictions – WESTERN CONFERENCE OVER/UNDER WIN TOTALS OVER 49.5 DALLAS MAVERICKS – Dallas won 50 games a year ago and finished the season 10th in Offensive Efficiency, 13th in DEFF. The Mavs should be better this season with a full season of PJ Washington on the roster after coming over from Charlotte at the… Read more: NBA Predictions Future Bets | Western Conference | 2025
ASA NBA Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder: Champions of the 2024-25 NBA Season +700 The Oklahoma City Thunder, coming off an impressive season, have set the stage for what many are predicting to be their championship year in 2024-25. Here’s why the Thunder are not just contenders but our bet to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy:… Read more: NBA Prediction | OKC Thunder NBA Champions 2025
MNF Saints vs. Chiefs Prediction | Player Prop bets | October 7th 2024 Game Overview: The Kansas City Chiefs, coming off an impressive start with a 4-0 record, are hosting the New Orleans Saints, who stand at 2-2, in a Monday Night Football showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This game marks a significant… Read more: New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Preview | MNF | 10-7-24
Cowboys vs Steelers Preview – Player Props Game Preview: Team Analysis: Key Betting Insights: Trends and Predictions: Betting Picks – Player props: Look at Justin Fields for over 186.5 passing yards if you believe he’ll have to throw more due to the Cowboys’ defensive adjustments. Fields has thrown fover over this number in his last… Read more: Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers Prediction | Oct 6th 2024
NFL Betting Preview: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – September 26, 2024 Cowboys vs Giants Preview Game Overview: The Dallas Cowboys, with a record of 1-2, are set to clash with the New York Giants, also standing at 1-2, in what promises to be a pivotal NFC East matchup on Thursday Night Football at… Read more: Cowboys vs Giants preview | 9-26-24
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QB CARR OVER 232.5 PASSING YARDS
Saints QB Carr looked good in his Saint’s debut going 23/33 for 305YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT. Last season the Panthers defense was around league average in YPPL allowed at 5.5. They were 23rd in opponents’ completion percentage allowed and 14th in Yards Per completion allowed at 10.1. Carr can struggle at times when pressured but the Panthers were 25th in the NFL in QB pressure rate a year ago. Carr has thrown for over 231.5 passing yards in 35 of his last 50 games, 17 of his last 25 and 11 of his last 16. Odds are he’ll get Over 232.5 tonight.
CAROLINA PANTHERS QB BRYCE YOUNG OVER 0.5 INT’s
Panthers QB Young got off to a shaky debut in the opener against the Falcons with just 146 passing yards on 38 attempts with 2 INT’s. He’s playing behind a banged up offensive line and doesn’t have receivers that can separate. Tonight, he faces a Saint’s defense that was 8th in sack percentage D and 6th in sacks per game a year ago. This Saint’s ball-hawking secondary picked off Titans Ryan Tannehill three times in the opener. We expect the ‘young’ rookie QB to make a few errant throws tonight with at least one interception.
NBA Predictions – WESTERN CONFERENCE OVER/UNDER WIN TOTALS OVER 49.5 DALLAS MAVERICKS – Dallas won 50 games a year ago and finished the season 10th in Offensive Efficiency, 13th in DEFF. The Mavs should be better this season with a full season of PJ Washington on the roster after coming over from Charlotte at the… Read more: NBA Predictions Future Bets | Western Conference | 2025
ASA NBA Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder: Champions of the 2024-25 NBA Season +700 The Oklahoma City Thunder, coming off an impressive season, have set the stage for what many are predicting to be their championship year in 2024-25. Here’s why the Thunder are not just contenders but our bet to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy:… Read more: NBA Prediction | OKC Thunder NBA Champions 2025
MNF Saints vs. Chiefs Prediction | Player Prop bets | October 7th 2024 Game Overview: The Kansas City Chiefs, coming off an impressive start with a 4-0 record, are hosting the New Orleans Saints, who stand at 2-2, in a Monday Night Football showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This game marks a significant… Read more: New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Preview | MNF | 10-7-24
Cowboys vs Steelers Preview – Player Props Game Preview: Team Analysis: Key Betting Insights: Trends and Predictions: Betting Picks – Player props: Look at Justin Fields for over 186.5 passing yards if you believe he’ll have to throw more due to the Cowboys’ defensive adjustments. Fields has thrown fover over this number in his last… Read more: Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers Prediction | Oct 6th 2024
NFL Betting Preview: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – September 26, 2024 Cowboys vs Giants Preview Game Overview: The Dallas Cowboys, with a record of 1-2, are set to clash with the New York Giants, also standing at 1-2, in what promises to be a pivotal NFC East matchup on Thursday Night Football at… Read more: Cowboys vs Giants preview | 9-26-24
MNF Prop Bets on the Buffalo Bills vs. NY Jets game – Sept 11th 2023
UNDER 70.5 RECEIVING YARDS – BUFFALO BILLS WR STEFON DIGGS – Last season Diggs averaged 89.1-Yards Receiving per game with a 154 total targets on the season. In two games against the Jets, he was held to an average of 4 receptions per game and 65-Yards receiving. Diggs faded down the stretch last season, averaging under 67.5 receiving yards in four of the Bills last six games. Last season the Jets defense ranked 3rd in passing yards allowed at 189.4YPG. Buffalo averaged 261.4-Passing Yards Per Game a year ago which was 5th best in the NFL. In the two games against this Jets defense last year, Allen and Bills threw for just 352-total yards.
OVER 35.5 RUSHING YARDS – BUFFALO BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN – Allen was 2nd on the Bills team last year in rushing at 762 total rushing yards. That’s an average of 47.6-Rushing Yards Per Game. He has rushed for over 760-Yards in each of the last two seasons. Against a Jets defense that is extremely tough to pass on, it should lead to more rushing opportunities for Allen when his receivers are covered downfield. In the two games against this Jets D a year ago he rushed for 47 and 86 yards respectively.
ASA free bet on Cincinnati +7.5 at Iowa State – 8pm ET The Bearcats are the play here as the Cyclones have been exposed in their last two games. After starting the season 7-0, Iowa State has come back to Earth with a pair of losses to Texas Tech and Kansas. The Cyclones have a… Read more: Cincinnati vs Iowa State Prediction | Nov 16 2024 | Free bet
Philadelphia Eagles AJ Brown OVER 78.5 Receiving yards – Brown has been over this number in 4 of his last five games and is averaging 92.17 in his last ten games. Last year in 2 meetings with the Redskins team he had 8 targets, 8 receptions for 130 yards and 9 receptions on 13 targets for… Read more: Commanders vs Eagles Predictions | 11-14-24 | Prop Bets
ASA NBA free bet on UNDER 226 Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, 8:40PM ET We like a low scoring game between these two Texas teams with a projected final of 215 total points being scored. Houston has made a commitment to the defensive end of the court under coach Udoka, currently ranking 8th in defensive… Read more: NBA Rockets vs Mavericks Prediction | 10-31-24
ASA NBA Free Bet on UNDER 222.5 NY Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30PM ET Last year these two teams opened the season off with an Under and 212 total points on opening night. That really doesn’t have anything to do with tonight’s wager, but here’s what does. These two teams were both top 11 in… Read more: NBA Free Bet Today | Knicks vs Celtics Prediction | Oct 22 2024
ASA FREE PLAY ON Over 43 Points – Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans, Sunday at 1 PM ET Indy’s defense is a wreck right now. They’ve allowed 61 points over their last 2 weeks and rank dead last in total defense allowing 420 YPG. They’ve had 2 games where they held their opponents under 24… Read more: Colts vs Titans Prediction | Oct 13 2024
ASA FREE NFL PREDICTION on the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday Sept 10th 2023
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TEAM TOTAL – UNDER 20.5 POINTS
The Colts offense is in trouble! They are starting rookie QB Richardson out of Florida who only started 13 games with the Gators. It would be much easier for Richardson if he had RB Taylor in the backfield to take pressure off the passing game. Taylor led the league in rushing yards in 2021 but demanded a trade before the season and is now on the PUP list and out for four games. Indianapolis averaged just 17PPG last season which ranked 30th in the league. On average, it took them 18.3 yards gained to score 1-point which was also 30th. The Colts lacked explosiveness too with an offense that averaged only 4.8-Yards Per Play which was again 30th. The Jags made huge strides defensively last season allowing just 21.4PPG compared to 26.9PPG they gave up the season before. Jacksonville allowed 13.1-Yards per Point in 2021 (30th) and improved to 16.4-Yards Per Point allowed in 2022. It is going to be a long season for the Colts and we don’t see them scoring more than 20-points in this opener.
ASA free bet on Cincinnati +7.5 at Iowa State – 8pm ET The Bearcats are the play here as the Cyclones have been exposed in their last two games. After starting the season 7-0, Iowa State has come back to Earth with a pair of losses to Texas Tech and Kansas. The Cyclones have a… Read more: Cincinnati vs Iowa State Prediction | Nov 16 2024 | Free bet
Philadelphia Eagles AJ Brown OVER 78.5 Receiving yards – Brown has been over this number in 4 of his last five games and is averaging 92.17 in his last ten games. Last year in 2 meetings with the Redskins team he had 8 targets, 8 receptions for 130 yards and 9 receptions on 13 targets for… Read more: Commanders vs Eagles Predictions | 11-14-24 | Prop Bets
ASA NBA free bet on UNDER 226 Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, 8:40PM ET We like a low scoring game between these two Texas teams with a projected final of 215 total points being scored. Houston has made a commitment to the defensive end of the court under coach Udoka, currently ranking 8th in defensive… Read more: NBA Rockets vs Mavericks Prediction | 10-31-24
ASA NBA Free Bet on UNDER 222.5 NY Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30PM ET Last year these two teams opened the season off with an Under and 212 total points on opening night. That really doesn’t have anything to do with tonight’s wager, but here’s what does. These two teams were both top 11 in… Read more: NBA Free Bet Today | Knicks vs Celtics Prediction | Oct 22 2024
ASA FREE PLAY ON Over 43 Points – Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans, Sunday at 1 PM ET Indy’s defense is a wreck right now. They’ve allowed 61 points over their last 2 weeks and rank dead last in total defense allowing 420 YPG. They’ve had 2 games where they held their opponents under 24… Read more: Colts vs Titans Prediction | Oct 13 2024
Sources: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is in concussion protocol after leaving the Mississippi State game last week with an injury and not returning to the sideline for the second half. He did dress and practice on Tuesday, and his status for the Georgia is undetermined.