Applied to one game, "Is moneyline a straight bet?" splits into three questions. Three bet types carry most of the action on team sports: the point spread, the moneyline and the over under total. Each asks a different question about the same game. What the spread asks is by how much, the moneyline asks who wins, and the total asks how many points both sides score together. Reading all three makes most of a betting menu plain.
A point spread is a handicap that levels two uneven sides. What a point spread means in practice: the favourite gives points and the underdog gets them, so a favourite at minus seven must win by eight or more for its backers to collect. How point spread betting works for the underdog is the reverse: it covers by losing by six or fewer, or by winning outright. Both sides usually carry similar prices near 1.91, so the margin sits in the gap under evens.
Over under betting, also called a total, ignores the winner and asks about the combined score. The book sets a line, and a bet on the over wins if both sides together score more, the under if they score less. How over under bets work around whole numbers matters: a line of 45 can land exactly, and an over under bet can push, returning the stake. A half point line such as 45.5 removes the push. Totals usually include overtime too.
A moneyline is a straight bet on who wins, with no points involved. What a moneyline means is simply the price on each side to win the game. How the moneyline is determined follows the rule of any price: an estimate of each side's chance, plus the margin. Moneyline bets work best where the result is close to even; a heavy favourite pays so little that one upset erases many wins. A moneyline 3 way market adds the draw as a third outcome.
A line such as 45.5 cannot be hit exactly, so the push disappears and every bet either wins or loses.
The favourite gives points and the underdog gets them, so a favourite at minus seven must win by eight or more to cover.
A minus sign marks the favourite and the points it gives, a plus marks the underdog and the points it receives.
Whether both sides together score more or less than the line the book sets, regardless of which team wins.