Glossary

  • Spread - short for point spread
  • ATS - at the spread wager
  • Juice - fee a sportsbook charges on a wager
  • Odds - payout amount
  • Cover - betting result on a point spread wager
  • Backdoor Cover - points piled on at the very end of a game that had already been decided, thus changing the winning side of an ATS bet
  • Lay the points - bet the favourite
  • Take the points - bet the underdog
  • Favourite - negative spread
  • Underdog - positive spread
  • Vig - same as 'Juice'
  • Moneyline - wager on the winner, no spread involved
  • Parlay - multiple teams are bet, For the wager to win or pay out, all must cover/win
  • Buy points - some sportsbooks will allow customers to alter the set line and then adjust odds
  • Teaser - betting multiple teams and adjusting the point spread in all the games in the bettor's favor. All games have to be picked correctly to win the wager
  • Handicap - assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning
  • Over/Under - a wager on total points scored in a game
  • Push - when the point spread hits the exact number in which you bet. It's essentially a tie, and your wager is returned
  • Propswager on performances of individual players that is not directly connected to the outcome of the game