Betting ⚾: How To Bet On MLB Moneylines, Run Lines & Run Totals

Peanuts, cold beer, and moneyline odds. 

That's right, baseball bettors! With the 2023 Major League Baseball season set to begin on March 30 and (potentially) offering full 162-schedules for all 30 teams, there are plenty of betting opportunities for baseball bettors, no matter their skill level. 

And while betting on Major League Baseball may require some math skills, placing bets on money lines, run lines and run totals on individual games is not very complicated and/or difficult to understand. 

Here now is a 'How To Bet On Major League Baseball' using moneyline, run line and run total bet samples. 

(Note: With legalized sports betting available in a number of states and a potential for 4,860 regular season games, MLB bettors have plenty of betting opportunities in front of them when the season starts on March 30.

Please bet responsibly and choose wisely when picking a sportsbook to bet with.)

MLB Moneyline Bet 

MLB betting resolves, for the most part, on the odds for a given team to win, also known as the moneyline. A moneyline bet also centers on a $100 wager. For example, let's suppose the Mets -- Justin Verlander on the mound -- are (-200) favorites on the moneyline over the underdog Marlins. If you bet on the Mets, that means you would have to risk $200 for every $100 you're looking to win. If you bet on the Marlins (+200), the moneyline underdog in this spot, you would have to risk $100 for every $200 you want to win. Moneylines vary depending on the teams, starting pitchers, lineups, etc. So, keeping tabs on injuries, lineup changes and starting pitchers is strongly suggested, if you are serious about winning your moneyline bets. 

MLB Run Line Bet

MLB also adds a point spread, also known as a run line. Using the sample above, again, let's say the Mets are (-1.5, -150) run line favorites over the Marlins. If you bet New York to win on the run line, the Mets would not only have to win the game straight up, but defeat the Marlins by at least two runs. A bet on the Marlins, let's suppose at (+1.5, +145), would mean Miami would have to win the game straight up, or lose by no more than one run for you to win your run line bet. While it may seem more difficult to win this type of bet, it offers all MLB bettors a more economical price - than the money line, which can require you pay a hefty price on occasion. Especially, when betting on big favorites (Mets at -200, etc.)

MLB Total Bet

Similar to other sports, MLB bettors have the option of betting on a 'Total', which is the 'total runs scored' in a game. For example, let's say the 'Total' for the Mets-Marlins game is 8.5. If you bet the 'Total' to go over, the Mets and Marlins would have to score nine runs (combined) for you to win your bet. If you think the 'Total' will stay under 8.5 runs, both teams would have to score eight runs or less (combined) for you to win your MLB 'Total' Bet. (Please check your favorite sportsbook for updated odds, etc.)

Down the line: A moneyline bet is just one of many options available for bettors looking to bet on Major League Baseball. 

Mad about March: How To Bet College Basketball (🏀 Using Pitt vs. Mississippi St. Play-In Game As A Sample 🏀)

(Note: If you know zero about men's college basketball, wanting to bet on the NCAA Tournament, while very tempting for all type of bettors this time of year, is like betting Zach Edey that you can dunk over him. 😁 😁 😁.)

Otherwise, all the betting action on the hardwood is about to reach a different level as the start of the NCAA Tournament offers plenty of games to bet on -- starting Tuesday night with two play-in games (SE Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-CC, Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State). 

Here is a quick rundown (using Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State as a sample down below) of three simple bets you can make on any college basketball game, including the still-popular point spread bet. (With legal sports betting now available in a number of states, you can create an account with sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, among others. Select the sportsbook you feel most comfortable with, and bet responsibly.) 

College Basketball Point Spread Bet

The point spread bet offers bettors a chance to bet on a college basketball team to 'cover the spread' at around even money on most occasions. If Mississippi State, let's say, is favored by 3 points over Pittsburgh, that would mean the Bulldogs would have to beat the Panthers by at least 4 points for those betting on MSU to cash their bets. The underdog Panthers, meanwhile, would just have to stay within 2 points of Mississippi State for its bettors to cash their bets. 

(The favorite is listed with a ➖ sign before the point spread, while the underdog has a + sign next to it's name. A vig (juice price) is determined by your sportsbook of choice.)

College Basketball Moneyline Bet

A moneyline bet requires a team to win a game straight up. For example, the underdog Panthers are currently priced at/or around (+118) at a variety of sportsbooks. If you bet the Panthers to beat the Bulldogs, you would have to risk $100 to win a total of $218 ($118 profit per every $100). A moneyline bet on Mississippi State (-140) would require you risk $140 to win $100 ($100 profit per every $140 bet on the Bulldogs). 

Slam dunk: A $100 moneyline bet tonight on the Pittsburgh Panthers (+118) would would return any college basketball bettor a total of $218 (with a profit of $118).  

College Basketball Point Total (O/U) Bet 

The point total, simply known as the Over/Under, is a relatively easy bet to make when it comes to college basketball, in this case, as sportsbooks set a line of points projected to be scored in a given game.

For example, if the Over/Under point total for Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State is 133 those betting the 'Over' would need both teams to score a combined total of 134 points to cash their respective bets. Bettors looking for a defensive struggle would need both teams to combine for 132 points or less to cash their bets at the window. (Note: Like the point spread, the odds for Over/Under bets are routinely set at (-110), whether you bet a game to go Over or Under the total.

(Check your favorite sportsbook for updated college basketball odds, point spreads, moneylines, etc.)