Sportsbook odds on ESPN Bet are the numbers that show both the likelihood of an outcome and how much a winning bet would return. The most common format in the United States is American odds. Positive odds, such as plus 150, show how much profit you would make on a 100 dollar wager. Negative odds, such as minus 150, show how much you would need to bet to win 100 dollars in profit. So minus 150 means a 150 dollar bet would return 100 dollars in profit, plus 150 means a 100 dollar bet would return 150 dollars in profit if it wins.
Bet types determine how the wager is settled. A moneyline bet is simply picking the winner of a game or match. A point spread bet gives one side a handicap, so the favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can lose by fewer points or win outright. A total, often called over or under, is a bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be above or below a set number.
ESPN Bet may also offer other common wager types, such as parlays, teasers, same game parlays, and prop bets. A parlay combines multiple selections into one bet, and all selections must win for the bet to cash. A prop bet focuses on a specific event within the game, such as a player recording a certain number of points, yards, or rebounds. Same game parlays combine multiple bets from one game, but the selections usually need to be eligible under the operator rules.
One important thing to remember is that odds can change before a bet is placed. They often move based on betting activity, injuries, weather, and other news. It is always smart to review the bet slip carefully before submitting a wager, because once a bet is accepted, the terms are usually locked in.
If a specific market or rule is unclear, the current web page may show help text or house rules that explain how ESPN Bet is settling that wager.