Sports betting can be confusing, especially for the novice. It is important to understand the basics of betting in order to make wise decisions. There are two basic types of bets: straight bets and prop bets. The odds for each type are set based on the likelihood that the outcome will happen. High probability events are considered low risk, while low probability events are considered higher risk. In general, you should aim for a betting system that provides a higher payoff with lower risk.
One of the most popular types of sports bets is the point total, which is a combination of both teams’ final combined score. A point total of 45.5, for example, means that the two teams will score four5.5 points, while a point total of 42 means that both teams will score 40 points.
A sports betting website will list each team with its corresponding odds. The odds will indicate whether the team is a favorite or an underdog. Generally, bettors can bet on the underdog or the favorite by clicking on the cell next to the team name. For instance, USC was 14 points underdog against Alabama. To bet on USC, you would click on the cell next to the name of the team and choose the number of points they will score.
Another way to make sports bets is through the use of props. A prop is a type of proposition bet, which can be any kind of wager. It is different from the standard point spread, moneyline, and totals. These bets usually have a corresponding price, such as Scherzer’s strikeout total against the Reds. In the NHL, betting on the total goal total is very popular.