Baseball Betting Odds and Lines
When looking at baseball betting odds and lines, there are lots of different approaches that a handicapper can take. The cool thing about baseball betting is that there are so many good ways to get involved. From moneylines to run lines to totals and futures, players can bet on almost anything at the best sports books.
If you are going to be a successful baseball bettor, then you need to understand all of these different lines and how to properly use them to your advantage. Smart bettors know that you can find value with just about any type of bet over the course of a year.
Betting on Baseball Sides
For those who just want to bet on which side will win, there are two different ways to do that. You might just bet the moneyline, in which case you will be choosing a team to win and nothing else. This is a simpler way to bet, but you have to understand how the lines work.
If you want to choose a team that is heavily favored, you may have to lay $200 (or even more) for every $100 that you want to win. The flip side of that is that there is significant value in betting on moneyline underdogs, since you can take home a return that's larger than your original bet.
If you want to spice it up a little, you can bet the run line, which is always set at 1.5 runs. You can either bet a team to win by more than 1.5 or you can bet an underdog to keep the score within 1.5 runs. Players have to lay less juice with this method, but can sometimes lose out on bets when the winning team takes the game by only one run.
Betting on Totals
Some of the best baseball betting odds and lines to look at are the totals. Some players will just bet the game total, choosing either the over or under on a number like 8 or 9. It is also possible to bet individual team totals.
If you like a pitcher a lot, but are not sure about the offense supporting him, then you can bet the opponents run total under a certain number. These lines generally range from 6 to 11, with most being in the 8 run to 9 run range.
Betting on Futures and Props
At some books, you will find creative lines that allow you even more option. There are future bets available before the season and at certain points during the year. You can bet on a team to win the Pennant, World Series, or just the division. These will be given at traditional odds, with the favorite being something like 4:1 in most years.
Likewise, you can bet on a wide range of props. Some of the prop bets include the following:
- Team to score first
- Will a run be scored in the first inning?
- Total bases for a given player
- Over/under team win totals