Sports betting is a way to put your money behind an outcome. There are different types of bets available and it is important to know how they work to get the most out of your bets. Some of the most popular types of bets are spreads, totals, and moneylines.

Spreads are bets on a team’s margin of victory. A bet on a point spread means a certain number of points must be over or under the spread for the bettor to win. The Washington Commanders have a point-spread of four points against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. To win the bet, the Commanders must win by five or more points.

Moneylines are bets on a team’s win or loss. In football, the team with the best odds is known as a favorite. For example, the New England Patriots are 2.5-point favorites to win the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams. If a bettor believes the Patriots will win by at least six points, he will “lay” 5.5 points.

Totals are bets on the overall score of two teams. They include total points scored, total runs, and total rushing yards. This type of bet can be very exciting during baseball games.

Point spreads are bets that involve a favored team winning or losing within a specified amount of points. If a bettor thinks the Dallas Cowboys will lose by three or less points, he will “take” a spread of 5.5 points.