Sports betting has its own set of terminology and jargon that can be helpful to know if you’re interested in sports betting. Here are some common sports betting terms:
Point Spread (Spread): The point spread is a margin of victory that the sportsbook assigns to a game. It’s designed to even out the betting on both sides. For example, if a team is favored by 7 points, they must win by more than 7 points for a bet on them to win.
Moneyline: The moneyline is a bet on which team will win the game outright. It involves odds that represent how much you can win or need to wager on a particular team. Positive odds indicate the potential profit on a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much you need to bet to win $100.
Over/Under (Total): This is a bet on the total combined score of a game. You bet whether the actual score will be over or under the sportsbook’s predicted total.
Parlay: A parlay is a single bet that links together two or more individual wagers. For the bet to be a winning one, all the linked bets must win. Parlays offer higher potential payouts but are riskier.
Teaser: A teaser is similar to a parlay, but you can adjust the point spread or total in your favor. However, this reduces the potential payout.
Futures: Futures bets are wagers placed on an event that will happen in the future, such as betting on the winner of a championship before the season starts.
Proposition Bet (Prop Bet): Prop bets are bets on specific outcomes within a game, such as which player will score the first goal or how many three-pointers a player will make.
Odds: Odds represent the probability of a particular outcome and the potential payout. There are American odds (+/-), fractional odds (3/1), and decimal odds (4.00), with different regions using different formats.
Bookmaker (Sportsbook): A bookmaker is an entity that accepts bets on sports events and sets the odds. Online sportsbooks are popular for placing bets.
Handicap: Handicapping is a process that levels the playing field by giving one team an advantage or disadvantage to even out the betting action.
Push: A push occurs when a bet results in a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook. In this case, the bet is refunded.
Cover: To “cover the spread” means a team has won by enough points to beat the point spread set by the sportsbook.
Juice (Vig or Vigorish): The juice is the commission or fee that the sportsbook charges for taking bets. It’s typically included in the odds.
Live Betting (In-Play Betting): Live betting allows you to place bets on a game while it’s in progress, adjusting your wagers as the game unfolds.
Bankroll: Your bankroll is the total amount of money you’ve set aside for sports betting. Managing your bankroll is crucial for responsible betting.
Chalk: “Chalk” refers to the favorite in a game, usually the team with the lower odds.
Dog: “Dog” is short for underdog, the team or outcome less likely to win, typically associated with higher odds.
Sharp and Square: Sharps are experienced, knowledgeable bettors, while squares are less informed or recreational bettors.
Here are some more sports betting terms and phrases:
Handle: The total amount of money wagered on a particular event or in a sportsbook over a specific time frame.
Public Betting: Refers to bets that are placed by the general public or casual bettors. Public betting trends can influence odds and betting strategies.
Steam: Rapid and significant line movement caused by heavy betting action on one side. This often indicates sharp bettors are backing a particular side.
Closing Line: The final odds or point spread offered by the sportsbook just before an event starts. It can be compared to the opening line to see how it has moved.
Dime Line: A sportsbook with a dime line offers a 10-cent difference between the favorite and underdog odds. This is common in baseball betting.
Nickel Line: Similar to the dime line, but with a 5-cent difference between the odds, often used in basketball.
Unit: A unit is a standardized bet size that allows bettors to manage their bankroll consistently. It’s usually a percentage of the bankroll.
Hedging: Placing additional bets to reduce or eliminate the potential losses of an existing bet. This is often done to secure a profit or minimize losses.
Pushing the Line: Trying to move the point spread or total in your favor by betting on it heavily, typically done by professional bettors.
Arbitrage (Arb): A strategy that involves betting on all possible outcomes of an event to guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome.
Circled Game: A game that the sportsbook has limited betting options on, often due to uncertainties such as player injuries.
Buy Points: A feature offered by some sportsbooks that allows bettors to adjust the point spread or total by buying or selling points.
Lock: A term used when bettors are extremely confident in the outcome of a bet.
Chasing: When a bettor tries to recoup previous losses by placing larger or riskier bets.
Vig Free: Refers to odds that don’t include the sportsbook’s commission (juice).
Bad Beat: When a seemingly winning bet turns into a losing one due to an unexpected event or late-game score.
Payout: The amount of money a bettor receives if their bet is successful, including the initial wager.
Stake: The amount of money you are betting on a single wager.
Tout: A person or service that claims to have expert sports betting advice for a fee.
Scalping: A strategy involving making quick, small profits on small changes in odds, often seen in live betting.
Dollar Bet: A common term for a $100 bet.
Fading the Public: Betting against the consensus or popular opinion, often a strategy used by sharp bettors.
These are just some of the many terms used in sports betting. It’s important to understand these terms and how they work if you plan to engage in sports betting. Additionally, responsible gambling and understanding the odds are essential aspects of sports betting.
ASA PLAY ON #475/476 UNDER 43.5 Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday 8:20pm ET
Our model is projecting 40.25 points being scored in this game and we couldn’t agree more with our computers for this NFL free pick. The Steelers offense is near the bottom of every key category including 31st in totally YPG, 29th in yards per play, 31st in rushing YPG, 27th in rushing yards per attempt and 26th in scoring at 16.5PPG. Obviously, their scoring numbers are even exaggerated considering they had 2 defensive scores last week. Take away those 2 defensive TD’s and this offense is averaging 9.5PPG. Las Vegas played a similar team to Pittsburgh in the opener against Denver and they combined for 33 total points. Last week against a highly motivated Bills team they lost 10-38 with Buffalo getting a garbage TD with 5 minutes left or that game stays Under this number. Las Vegas struggled offensively in that game with 13 first downs, 55-rushing yards and 185-passsing yards. In fact, the Raiders offense is just as bad as Pittsburgh’s. they rank 30th in total YPG, 30th in rushing, 31st in yards per rush, 21st in passing yards and are last in the league in scoring at 13.5PPG. Both defenses are better than their numbers to date as both allow over 5.5 yards per play and Over 27PPG but today each team will be facing low level offenses so expect much better showings by each. We like this game Under 43.5 as today’s NFL free pick.
NBA Longshot – We have you covered – Denver Nuggets (+850) As we mentioned in our Efficiency Champions article, the Nuggets didn’t have the defensive efficiency stats to qualify this year as a potential NBA Champion (efficiency wise) but their overall efficiency differential is 7th best. The Nuggets suffered through several key injuries to their… Read more: NBA Longshot – Denver Nuggets +850
Our Money is on a team everyone is sleeping on…Detroit Pistons +425 to win the Eastern Conference The Celtics are the odds on favorites to win the East and we won’t argue that as they’ve been really, really good this season and even a 70% Jayson Taytum is better than most players in the NBA.… Read more: NBA Eastern Conference Champs – Pistons +425
NBA Champions based on Efficiency stats! By – ASA So, you’re thinking about a future wager on the NBA Championship and you’re not sure who to take? We can help you with some proven statistics that may accurately predict who this year’s Champion may be and rule out the most obvious media darling pretenders. The… Read more: NBA Champions Predictions – Proven Efficiency Stats
NBA betting forecast – By ASAwins.com With the NBA season drawing to a close we hear many sports outlets talking about postseason awards and who specifically is going to be MVP. Let me be upfront with this, I am not a Nikola Jokic super-fan, I’m a basketball guy. In my opinion, the NBA in the… Read more: NBA results without Jokic, SGA and Wemby on a roster
Why Nikola Jokić at +6000 for NBA MVP Is the Sharpest Bet on the Board As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, the MVP race has a clear favorite in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and serious buzz around Victor Wembanyama. But Nikola Jokić sits at +6000 on most sportsbooks—third in the odds but treated like an afterthought… Read more: NBA MVP odds | Longshot Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QB CARR OVER 232.5 PASSING YARDS
Saints QB Carr looked good in his Saint’s debut going 23/33 for 305YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT. Last season the Panthers defense was around league average in YPPL allowed at 5.5. They were 23rd in opponents’ completion percentage allowed and 14th in Yards Per completion allowed at 10.1. Carr can struggle at times when pressured but the Panthers were 25th in the NFL in QB pressure rate a year ago. Carr has thrown for over 231.5 passing yards in 35 of his last 50 games, 17 of his last 25 and 11 of his last 16. Odds are he’ll get Over 232.5 tonight.
CAROLINA PANTHERS QB BRYCE YOUNG OVER 0.5 INT’s
Panthers QB Young got off to a shaky debut in the opener against the Falcons with just 146 passing yards on 38 attempts with 2 INT’s. He’s playing behind a banged up offensive line and doesn’t have receivers that can separate. Tonight, he faces a Saint’s defense that was 8th in sack percentage D and 6th in sacks per game a year ago. This Saint’s ball-hawking secondary picked off Titans Ryan Tannehill three times in the opener. We expect the ‘young’ rookie QB to make a few errant throws tonight with at least one interception.
NBA Longshot – We have you covered – Denver Nuggets (+850) As we mentioned in our Efficiency Champions article, the Nuggets didn’t have the defensive efficiency stats to qualify this year as a potential NBA Champion (efficiency wise) but their overall efficiency differential is 7th best. The Nuggets suffered through several key injuries to their… Read more: NBA Longshot – Denver Nuggets +850
Our Money is on a team everyone is sleeping on…Detroit Pistons +425 to win the Eastern Conference The Celtics are the odds on favorites to win the East and we won’t argue that as they’ve been really, really good this season and even a 70% Jayson Taytum is better than most players in the NBA.… Read more: NBA Eastern Conference Champs – Pistons +425
NBA Champions based on Efficiency stats! By – ASA So, you’re thinking about a future wager on the NBA Championship and you’re not sure who to take? We can help you with some proven statistics that may accurately predict who this year’s Champion may be and rule out the most obvious media darling pretenders. The… Read more: NBA Champions Predictions – Proven Efficiency Stats
NBA betting forecast – By ASAwins.com With the NBA season drawing to a close we hear many sports outlets talking about postseason awards and who specifically is going to be MVP. Let me be upfront with this, I am not a Nikola Jokic super-fan, I’m a basketball guy. In my opinion, the NBA in the… Read more: NBA results without Jokic, SGA and Wemby on a roster
Why Nikola Jokić at +6000 for NBA MVP Is the Sharpest Bet on the Board As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, the MVP race has a clear favorite in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and serious buzz around Victor Wembanyama. But Nikola Jokić sits at +6000 on most sportsbooks—third in the odds but treated like an afterthought… Read more: NBA MVP odds | Longshot Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets
MNF Prop Bets on the Buffalo Bills vs. NY Jets game – Sept 11th 2023
UNDER 70.5 RECEIVING YARDS – BUFFALO BILLS WR STEFON DIGGS – Last season Diggs averaged 89.1-Yards Receiving per game with a 154 total targets on the season. In two games against the Jets, he was held to an average of 4 receptions per game and 65-Yards receiving. Diggs faded down the stretch last season, averaging under 67.5 receiving yards in four of the Bills last six games. Last season the Jets defense ranked 3rd in passing yards allowed at 189.4YPG. Buffalo averaged 261.4-Passing Yards Per Game a year ago which was 5th best in the NFL. In the two games against this Jets defense last year, Allen and Bills threw for just 352-total yards.
OVER 35.5 RUSHING YARDS – BUFFALO BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN – Allen was 2nd on the Bills team last year in rushing at 762 total rushing yards. That’s an average of 47.6-Rushing Yards Per Game. He has rushed for over 760-Yards in each of the last two seasons. Against a Jets defense that is extremely tough to pass on, it should lead to more rushing opportunities for Allen when his receivers are covered downfield. In the two games against this Jets D a year ago he rushed for 47 and 86 yards respectively.
ASA Free NHL bet: Dallas Stars -125 vs. Minnesota Wild 8pm ET Dallas returns home in a tied 2-2 series with every reason to seize momentum tonight. Coming off a sloppy overtime defeat, the Stars have proven time and again they respond well to setbacks and play their strongest hockey with extra preparation time.The Stars… Read more: NHL Free Bet | Wild vs Stars | April 28 2026
ASA Free NBA player prop OVER 18.5 POINTS for CJ McCollum Hawks vs Knicks McCollum continues to see a high usage rate for the Hawks and is one of the few vets on this team with big game experience. He is coming off a 26-point scoring night in Game 1 of this series on 11… Read more: NBA Player Prop bet | Over 18.5 Points | CJ McCollum – Hawks
NBA free player prop bet Game 1 Blazers vs Spurs, April 19th ASA NBA player prop bet – Spurs De’Aaron Fox OVER 23.5 Points+Assists Of the Spurs “big 3” in San Antonio of Wembanyama, Castle and Fox, only De’Aaron Fox has playoff experience, and we like the vet to have a big game here. In… Read more: NBA free player prop bet | De’Aaron Fox | Spurs
ASA NHL Free Bet – NJ Devils -110 at NY Rangers, 7pm ET Tonight’s Free NHL Betting Pick: New Jersey Devils ML over New York Rangers The New Jersey Devils remain a live playoff long shot and a team worth backing until they’re mathematically eliminated, especially against a struggling Rangers squad. New Jersey enters this… Read more: NHL Free Bet | Devils vs Rangers | March 31 2026
ASA NBA free bet on Indiana Pacers +8.5 vs. LA Clippers, 7:10pm ET Our model likes the value with the Indiana Pacers here at home tonight against the visiting LA Clippers. These two teams met in early March in Los Angeles which had the Clippers an -11.5-point favorite on their home court. The natural swing… Read more: NBA free bet | Pacers vs. Clippers | March 27 2026
ASA FREE NFL PREDICTION on the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday Sept 10th 2023
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TEAM TOTAL – UNDER 20.5 POINTS
The Colts offense is in trouble! They are starting rookie QB Richardson out of Florida who only started 13 games with the Gators. It would be much easier for Richardson if he had RB Taylor in the backfield to take pressure off the passing game. Taylor led the league in rushing yards in 2021 but demanded a trade before the season and is now on the PUP list and out for four games. Indianapolis averaged just 17PPG last season which ranked 30th in the league. On average, it took them 18.3 yards gained to score 1-point which was also 30th. The Colts lacked explosiveness too with an offense that averaged only 4.8-Yards Per Play which was again 30th. The Jags made huge strides defensively last season allowing just 21.4PPG compared to 26.9PPG they gave up the season before. Jacksonville allowed 13.1-Yards per Point in 2021 (30th) and improved to 16.4-Yards Per Point allowed in 2022. It is going to be a long season for the Colts and we don’t see them scoring more than 20-points in this opener.
ASA Free NHL bet: Dallas Stars -125 vs. Minnesota Wild 8pm ET Dallas returns home in a tied 2-2 series with every reason to seize momentum tonight. Coming off a sloppy overtime defeat, the Stars have proven time and again they respond well to setbacks and play their strongest hockey with extra preparation time.The Stars… Read more: NHL Free Bet | Wild vs Stars | April 28 2026
ASA Free NBA player prop OVER 18.5 POINTS for CJ McCollum Hawks vs Knicks McCollum continues to see a high usage rate for the Hawks and is one of the few vets on this team with big game experience. He is coming off a 26-point scoring night in Game 1 of this series on 11… Read more: NBA Player Prop bet | Over 18.5 Points | CJ McCollum – Hawks
NBA free player prop bet Game 1 Blazers vs Spurs, April 19th ASA NBA player prop bet – Spurs De’Aaron Fox OVER 23.5 Points+Assists Of the Spurs “big 3” in San Antonio of Wembanyama, Castle and Fox, only De’Aaron Fox has playoff experience, and we like the vet to have a big game here. In… Read more: NBA free player prop bet | De’Aaron Fox | Spurs
ASA NHL Free Bet – NJ Devils -110 at NY Rangers, 7pm ET Tonight’s Free NHL Betting Pick: New Jersey Devils ML over New York Rangers The New Jersey Devils remain a live playoff long shot and a team worth backing until they’re mathematically eliminated, especially against a struggling Rangers squad. New Jersey enters this… Read more: NHL Free Bet | Devils vs Rangers | March 31 2026
ASA NBA free bet on Indiana Pacers +8.5 vs. LA Clippers, 7:10pm ET Our model likes the value with the Indiana Pacers here at home tonight against the visiting LA Clippers. These two teams met in early March in Los Angeles which had the Clippers an -11.5-point favorite on their home court. The natural swing… Read more: NBA free bet | Pacers vs. Clippers | March 27 2026
Jordan Pope (ankle) has been deemed a "true game-time decision," but it looks like he's going to give it a go for Texas and try to at least gut it out.
Gotta love the @CBSSports "expert" analysts talking about the brackets with Clark Kellogg saying that High Point has experience and good size. Experience yes. Size what? They rank 329th in average height and don't have a single guy over 6'8 in their rotation #NCAAtourney
Spot the difference between the #NHL and #NBA? The toothless guy who lays it on the line for pride in his country or the guy that flops and fakes injuries all the time? #jackhughes @stoolpresidente @usahockey