Straight up (SU)
Who actually won the game. No spread, no math.
Example: Chiefs beat the Bills 27-24. The Chiefs won straight up, by 3.
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Learn the lingo
Glossary
New to lines and spreads? Start with Pick 'Em, where you just choose who wins, and learn the rest one term at a time.
One game, two ways to grade it
- The line
- Chiefs -3.5 vs Bills +3.5
- Final score
- Chiefs 27, Bills 24
- Straight up
- Chiefs win (by 3)
- Against the spread
- Bills cover (lost by less than 3.5)
In Pick 'Em, a Chiefs pick is a W. Against the spread, the same pick is an L, because the Chiefs needed to win by 4.
The basics
Pick 'Em
Our beginner mode: just pick the team you think will win. Graded straight up.
Example: You pick the Chiefs. They win 27-24, so your pick grades as a W.
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Favorite
The team expected to win. Its spread has a minus sign.
Example: Chiefs -3.5 means the Chiefs are the favorite.
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Underdog
The team expected to lose. Its spread has a plus sign.
Example: Bills +3.5 means the Bills are the underdog.
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Moneyline
Pricing on who wins straight up. Minus is the favorite, plus is the underdog.
Example: Chiefs -180 / Bills +155. The bigger the minus number, the bigger the favorite.
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The spread
Point spread
A head start given to the underdog so both sides are an even pick.
Example: Chiefs -3.5 vs Bills +3.5. The Chiefs need to win by 4 or more for the favorite side to win.
Against the spread (ATS)
The result after the spread is applied. A team can win the game and still lose ATS.
Example: Chiefs -3.5 win 27-24. They won straight up by 3, but needed 4, so the Chiefs lose ATS and the Bills win ATS.
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Cover
Beating the spread. Favorites cover by winning by more; underdogs cover by losing by less, or winning.
Example: Bills +3.5 lose 27-24. They lost by only 3, so the Bills covered.
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Push
A tie against the line. Neither side wins.
Example: Chiefs -3 win 27-24, exactly 3. That is a push.
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The hook
The half point (½) on a line. It exists so the game cannot end in a push.
Example: At -3 a 3-point win is a push. At -3½ the hook decides it: that same win loses ATS.
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Key numbers
Margins games land on most often. In football that is 3 and 7, because of field goals and touchdowns.
Example: A line moving from -2½ to -3 matters far more than -5 to -5½.
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Totals
Total (Over/Under)
A projected number of combined points. You pick whether the final total goes over or under it.
Example: Total 47.5. A 27-24 final adds up to 51, so the Over wins.
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Line movement
Opening line
The first line posted for a game, usually a day or more before it starts.
Example: Chiefs open -2.5 on Tuesday. Everything after that is movement.
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Line movement
Changes to the spread or total after it opens, driven by injuries, weather and where the money goes.
Example: Chiefs -2.5 to -3.5 after the Bills quarterback is listed questionable.
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Steam move
A sudden, sharp move across the market in a short window. Usually a sign of informed action.
Example: Total drops 47.5 to 45.5 in ten minutes after a wind forecast. Watchdog flags that as STEAM.
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Hot or Not
Our 10-game recap: how a team did straight up and against the spread, split home and road.
Example: 7-3 ATS in the last 10 and 4-1 on the road: that team is Hot.
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Ready to try it?
Start in Pick 'Em mode and switch to the spread when you're ready.
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