Sports betting isn’t just about picking winners, instead, it's about understanding the numbers behind your bets and using that to your advantage. Sure, a quick win would be picking a winner and calling it a day, but we want to be professional bettors who actually make some serious cash.
If you're new to moneyline betting or still feel like you're throwing darts at a board, don’t worry, you're not alone. But with a few smart adjustments, you’ll be reading moneylines like a pro in no time.
Before we talk sports betting hacks, let's nail down what a moneyline bet even is.
A moneyline is the most basic type of bet. All you’re doing is betting on who will win. No point spreads or totals, but simply a win or lose. But here’s the part most people don’t fully get. The number next to the team is just as important as the team itself.
If you head over to DraftKings or any other major sportsbook, you might see something like this.
Yankees: +123
Red Sox: -149
That means the Red Sox are favored for tonight’s game. You’d need to bet $149 to win $100. On the other side, a $100 bet on the Yankees would win you $123 in profit. The minus sign always goes with the favorite. The plus sign marks the underdog. It’s pretty simple and straightforward.
Now here's where the hacks come in.
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many bettors stick to one sportsbook and don’t check others. Don’t do that. We get the fact that you got a good bonus, they have a clean layout, and you really like what they offer, however, odds can vary just enough between books to make a big difference over time.
Let’s say you're betting on the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and the Oilers. As of right now, the Oilers are favored on the moneyline at -125 at Caesars. Sure, that’s not bad, but over at bet365, the same bet is -120. The outcome is the same whether you bet at one or the other, but you’ll get paid more at bet365. That’s a free $5 on a $100 bet. It’s like getting 5% cash back.
We recommend you use odds comparison sites or download a couple of apps. It's totally worth it.
Most people avoid underdogs because losing sucks and we completely understand that. But here’s the deal — favorites win more often, sure, but you don’t need to hit 50% of your underdog bets to profit. Plus money bet pays out much better.
Let’s take baseball because it’s full of randomness. The best teams still lose over 60 games a year. So when you see a team like the Giants that are +156 against the Dodgers who are favorites at -192, don’t write it off right away. If you can spot patterns — like when a top pitcher is scratched, or the favorite is resting key players — that’s your chance. On top of that, the Giants aren’t really a pushover team, either.
Underdogs can cash at great prices. Just take a look at the NHL which is notorious for tight games and upsets. Betting an underdog at +160 that wins even 4 out of 10 times is still profitable. It’s not about your betting record, it’s about how much money you’ll make.
Of course, betting on a -300 favorite in baseball just feels like easy money. But you’re risking a lot to win a little. And if they lose, you need to win 3 more bets just to break even.
Let’s look at the Brewers who are -156 against the Cardinals. Sounds safe on paper, but if it’s a travel day or they’ve clinched a playoff spot, motivation might be low. There are plenty of factors to consider. You could be overpaying for a team that doesn’t care that much about the result.
Nearly every sport works the same way. If a top team has already locked up a playoff spot, that -250 line might be a trap. Check injury reports. Look at team news. Ask yourself if the favorite is playing with full intensity.
Don’t just bet on the big name, but instead bet on the situation.
Different sports behave differently when it comes to moneylines and this is something to look closely at.
Baseball. Moneylines are often tight because the game is so random. There’s no clock, and any team can win on any day. Betting on +150 to +200 underdogs with a good pitcher or solid bullpen can actually be a winning long-term strategy. You might lose more, but the profits will be a net gain.
Hockey. This is a low-scoring game, which means underdogs have a better shot than you think. A single bounce or a penalty can quickly decide the outcome. That randomness levels the field more than people realize.
Football. Football is a bit more stable, especially in the NFL. The better team usually wins. But because it’s once a week and the public gets more involved, you’ll often see inflated lines on popular teams. If everyone’s jumping on a favorite, the value might actually be on the other side, especially if the teams are a bit more evenly matched.
Each sport has its rhythm and it’s up to you to learn it, and the moneyline stops looking like guesswork.
Oddsmakers don’t just set an opening line and leave it there. They adjust based on betting action and sometimes news updates if sharps or everyone starts hammering the same side, the line shifts.
This is where you can sneak in some sharp value.
Say the Bills open at -140 against the Dolphins. By midweek, they’re -160. That’s not just random. Something triggered the move, but what? This could be injury news, public money, or even sharp bettors influencing the market one way or the other.
Now, if you liked the Bills early, getting them at -140 was a solid value. But once it hits -160, the bet gets more expensive for the same exact bet, so timing matters. The earlier you understand the situation, the better the price you’ll get.
But it works both ways. Sometimes an underdog gets steamed up to +150 or +160. If you know the favorite has weaknesses, that inflated line is an opportunity.
Watch for movement and don’t bet blindly. You need to know what you’re betting on as early as possible.
Here's the truth nobody likes hearing — it’s not about who wins. That sounds counterintuitive, but it’s really about what you’re paying to find out.
A team could win 60% of their games but be so overvalued that betting them still loses you money. It happens all the time.
Let’s say in football, the Eagles win 10 out of 17 games. Not a terrible season, right? But if they were -200 favorites in all of those wins and lost the other 7 at that same price, you'd actually lose money despite having a winning record.
Now imagine betting on a team that went 8-9 but was an underdog in 12 of those games. If they won even a handful at +150 or +160, you could be in profit even if your winning percentage is sub-.500.
That’s the power of moneylines. It’s all about that good value and not volume.
If you’re serious about betting moneylines, start small and track your bets. You need to see where you’re winning and losing don't chase losses, and don’t go heavy on “sure things.” They don’t exist.
Look at the price at the sportsbook and not just the team.
If you can get that habit locked in, you’ll stop making impulse bets and start thinking like a sharp bettor. And you’ll find out that reading moneylines doesn’t take a finance degree — just a little patience and a lot of practice.
Smart sports betting isn't about knowing who won last week or who’s trending on social media. Get that out of your head now. It's about knowing what you're risking and what you're getting in return, with a good handle on moneylines — and some insight into how the sports work behind the scenes — you’ll start to see betting in a whole new light.
You don’t have to guess anymore, however, you just need to read the numbers and make them work for you.