Almost every game market is one of three bets answering three different questions. Knowing which question you’re actually answering is the difference between a thoughtful wager and a guess.
Moneyline — who wins?
A straight bet on the winner. Margin is irrelevant. Favorites pay little (−250), underdogs pay more (+200). Cleanest when you have a strong read on the outcome but not the margin.
Spread — by how much?
A handicap on the margin. A −6.5 favorite must win by 7+; a +6.5 underdog can lose by 6 and still cover. Levels lopsided matchups and usually prices near even money on both sides.
Total — how high-scoring?
A bet on the combined final score landing over or under a number, regardless of who wins. Driven by pace, matchups, weather, and game script rather than which side is better.
A worked example
Same game, three markets
- Moneyline
- Home −250 / Away +200
- Spread
- Home −6.5 (−110)
- Total
- 47.5 (O −110 / U −110)
Home wins 31–20: moneyline (home) wins, spread (home −6.5) covers by 4.5, total (51) goes over. All three resolve independently.
Which to choose
- Confident in the winner but not the margin? Moneyline — though heavy favorites pay so little the value is often thin.
- Think a team wins comfortably, or a “loser” keeps it close? Spread captures the margin read.
- Have a view on pace, weather, or defense but not the winner? Total lets you bet the game environment.
Statly rates all three on the Games board — each with our probability and projection, plus last-10 head-to-head history — so you can see which market the numbers actually favor before you pick one.