Baseball betting does not work in quite the same way as other sports betting. In MLB or Major League Baseball there is no actual point spread. If you want to bet on baseball then you need to use something called moneyline odds. In baseball there is only a winning team and a losing team, there is no draw possible. so because there is no point spread and only a winner or loser is possible this means that you can only bet on a team winning or even on a team losing. Generally speaking if you bet on a team to win then you risk $170 to gain $100. This is the pay-out odds for a favourite team. If you bet on the underdog team to win then you put up $100 to win $160. This is essentially how the moneyline betting method works.
Baseball Runline uses the moneyline betting system but adds a twist with a point spread feature. Here is an example of how this would work: team A -1.5 +100, team B +1.5 -120.
What this essentially means is that team A are the favourite to win but also give 1.5 runs. This means that they must win by two or more runs for you to win if you bet on them winning. Team A are at even money meaning if you bet $100 you win $100. Team B are the underdogs but also get 1.5 runs. Team B must win or if they lose it must be by less than two runs. If you want to bet on team B you need to put up $120 to win $100.
One of the easiest bet types to understand is the over or under bet. The way that over or under bets work is by adding the total amount of runs scored by both teams together. If the total is over a certain number and you bet on over then you win. If the total number is under and you bet on under then you win on that. Most of the time baseball games will average between six to eight runs per game. Generally bookmakers will stick to seven. So if the total is over seven and you bet over seven you win and visa versa.
Baseball betting is done on a money line, that also means you can lay or take money odds. In contrast to point spread bets, the payoff on a winner selection varies with the odds. Baseball odds are given as a three-digit money line. Every money line is based on $100. Irrespective of the starting pitcher, all major league bets are action.
The minus (-) symbol next to the starting pitcher on the digital betting display and betting sheets denotes the favourite. The plus (+) symbol represents the underdog.
BASEBALL BETTING EXAMPLE :
| GAME TIME | BET # | TEAMS | PROBABLE PITCHERS | MONEY LINE | RUN LINE | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:05 PM | 903 | CHICAGO | DARVISH | -115 | -1½ +140 | 9½ | -110 |
| 904 | PHILADELPHIA | NOLA | +105 | +1½ -160 | -110 | ||
BASEBALL BETTING LINES
Philadelphia is the home team in this example. Chicago is a -115 favourite, which means that for every $100 wagered on Chicago, the player must lay $115. He would bet $11.50 to win $10 and receive $21.50 if Chicago won. A bet on Philadelphia would pay out $105 for each and every $100 wagered, or $10.50 for every $10 wagered. A $10 bet would net you $20.50.
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