When you're laying down cash on games, you need to know everything you can. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get at Covers.com. This kind of information is the first thing you need to know when heading to the booth.
What does the over/under ('total', 'O/U') mean?
What does ATS mean?
What does BB mean?
Why do sportsbooks change their lines?
Which odds does Covers.com use for lines and articles?
How can I find old lines from games that have already happened?
What's the newest information on the 'Internet Gambling Bill'? Will I still be able to make my daily plays?
What does SU stand for in stats?
What exactly is the 'moneyline'?
What does 'juice' mean?
How do you read the Live Odds page?
I understand that, for example in the Lakers-Nets game, the Lakers are -240 and the Nets are +180. I know this means the Lakers are the favorite but exactly what is the line?
What is the runline in baseball, such as -1.5 or +1.5?
What is a 'teaser'?
What is your take on placing teaser bets? How many teams should I pick and how many points should I tease?
Can you explain how hedging a bet works? What are the pros and cons?
What is a 'parlay'?
What is a 'round robin'?
How can you find out which NBA refs are doing what games before they start?
What does the over/under ('total') mean?
Sportsbooks set a 'total', which is the predicted number of points the teams will score combined. You can bet on whether you think the actual outcome of the game will fall 'under' the predicted 'total', or 'over' it. If the 'total' for the Lakers vs. Suns matchup closed at 188 and the Suns won 107-93, the combined 200 points would give 'over' bettors a win.
What does ATS mean?
ATS stands for 'against the spread'.
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What does BB mean?
BB stands for back-to-back – when teams are playing games on consecutive days.
Why do sportsbooks change their lines?
A line moves because the book is trying to balance out the money being laid on either side. If the public favors one team too much, the line moves to attract support to the other team.
If you see a line move significantly, the public may be responding to a situation you are not aware of, like a suspension. Or it might simply be one team is overly popular.
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Which odds does Covers.com use for our lines and articles?
We cite the lines that are appearing most in about a dozen sportsbooks.
How can I find old lines from games that have already happened?
To take a look at the specifics of games gone by, click on the squad you're looking for in 'Teams', then scroll through to see old lines and scores.
What's the newest information on the 'Internet Gambling Bill'? Will I still be able to make my daily plays?
Yes, as of now, you will still be able to make your daily sports wagers. Most sportsbooks have already banned credit card transactions from American c