Betting Line Value Cheat Sheet

Totals (Over / Under)

Over → you want the LOWER number. Over 218.5 is better than Over 221.5, because fewer total points need to be scored for your bet to win.

Under → you want the HIGHER number. Under 221.5 is better than Under 218.5, because more points can be scored before your bet loses.

Spreads

Favorite → you want the number LESS negative. -5.5 is better than -6.5, and -3 is better than -5 — your team has fewer points to cover.

Underdog → you want the number MORE positive. +6.5 is better than +5.5, and +8 is better than +6 — you are getting more cushion.

Moneylines

Favorite ML → you want the number LESS negative. -120 is better than -150 — you risk less to win the same amount.

Underdog ML → you want the number MORE positive. +180 is better than +150 — you win more for the same risk.

The simple rule

You want to bet BEFORE the line gets worse for your side. A favorite getting more negative is worse; an underdog getting less positive is worse; an Over total going higher is worse for Over bettors; an Under total going lower is worse for Under bettors.

When you consistently get a number better than where the market closes, that is "beating the closing line" (closing line value, or CLV) — the single most reliable evidence that you are betting with an edge. Every Bettor Alerts signal is built to get you to that better number first.

Put it into practice

See these concepts live: compare odds and line movement on NBA, NFL, and MLB odds, or get real-time alerts with the Bettor Alerts app. More in our betting guides.