What betting markets are displayed on odds boards?

Odds boards typically display three markets, allowing bettors to view wagers on the spread, total, and winner.

SPREAD: A bet on the spread is a wager on a team’s margin of victory or defeat. A bet on the favorite (indicated by the minus sign “-”) means that team must win by more than the number shown. Wagering on the underdog (the plus sign “+”) requires that team to win outright or lose by less than the number shown. If the teams combine for the exact total number, then the wager is a push (or tie), meaning you get your money back.

TOTAL: A total, or over/under, is a wager on the total points scored in a game by both teams combined. A bet on the “over” means that the teams must combine to score more than the number shown, while a bet on the “under” means the total score must be less than the number shown. If the teams combine for the exact total number, then the wager is a push (or tie), meaning you get your money back.

WINNER: Sometimes called a Moneyline, this bet picks which team will win a game outright - at an adjusted cost. The team with the minus sign is considered the favorite, while a bet on the underdog (indicated by a plus sign) will deliver a higher potential payout because it carries more risk.