Moneyline vs Spread vs Total

Published on
March 2, 2026
Sean Ramsey
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If you are new to sports betting, the three most common bet types are moneyline, spread, and total.

They answer three different questions.

Moneyline
Who wins the game. No margin required.

Spread
Who wins relative to a handicap, like -3.5 or +7.

Total
Whether the combined points go over or under a number.

Examples


Moneyline
Team A -150 means you are betting Team A to win.

Spread
Team A -3.5 means Team A must win by 4 or more.

Total
Over 221.5 means the combined score must be 222 or more.

How to Choose


Moneyline is simplest but often more expensive for favorites.
Spread can offer better pricing but needs margin.
Totals depend on pace, efficiency, and game state.

How Rithmm Helps


Rithmm uses predictive models to generate a decision layer across moneylines, spreads, and totals. Start with recommended plays, then line shop the best number and execute fast.

Start here
www.rithmm.com/ai-sports-picks

and use the NFL, NBA, or MLB hubs in the app.

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START KNOWING.