How to Read a Daily Sports Slate
A busy day can list dozens of games across many sports. This page covers how to read the prices, and every pick we post for every sport lives on the one picks page at /picks.
Free for now. All sports, one page.
Spreads, totals and moneylines
A spread gives one side a head start in points or runs, and the bet is about the margin. A total is a number for the combined score, and you pick over or under. A moneyline is only about who wins.
A minus sign means you risk that amount to win 100. A plus sign means you win that amount on a 100 stake.
Parlays, short and long
A parlay joins several bets into one ticket, and every leg has to hit. A two-leg ticket needs two things to go right. A ten-leg ticket needs ten, and the payout grows because the chance of hitting all of them shrinks fast.
That is why short parlays and long ones behave so differently. One missed leg ends the whole ticket, however many you got right.
Tracking, bankroll and shopping lines
Keep your own record of each bet: the date, the market, the price and the stake. A written history shows you what you actually did, not what you remember.
Set aside a bankroll that you can afford to lose and decide on a stake size before the games start. Compare prices across the sportsbooks you can use, since the same side can carry a different number or price at each one.
- Write down every bet with its price and stake.
- Decide a daily limit before you start.
- Compare numbers at more than one book.
- Step away after a loss instead of chasing it.
Responsible play
Bets can lose. Nobody should bet money they cannot afford to lose. Bettors must be 21 or older where legal, and 1-800-GAMBLER is the help line.
Questions
Where are all of your picks?
Every pick for every sport is posted on one page at /picks. Each pick is final once posted, and the page is free to view for now.
Why do long parlays pay so much?
Each added leg must also hit, so the chance of cashing the whole ticket drops. The payout rises to reflect that, but most long tickets lose.
What does shopping lines mean?
It means checking the same bet at several sportsbooks and using the best number or price. A half point or a few cents of price can matter over time.
More guides
For information and entertainment only. Bets can lose. 21+ only, and only where it is legal. If gambling is a problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. See our responsible gaming page.