-
Step 1
Choose a game to bet on. To make it more fun, be sure it's one you're available to watch. Do a little of your own research on the teams; read the newspaper's sports section or watch ESPN.
-
Step 2
Bet on the "point spread" (also called the "betting line"). Using an imaginary Michigan vs. Notre Dame game as an example, say the odds makers have listed the point spread as Michigan 3 ½ Notre Dame (Michigan is favored to win by 3 ½ points). If you bet on Michigan, they must win by four points for you to win; if you bet on Notre Dame they must lose by three points or fewer or win the game outright.
-
Step 3
Place your bet on the "over/under." With this wager, you're not betting on who will win the game but on whether the total points scored by both teams will be over or under the total set by the sportsbook. If the over/under for the imaginary Michigan/Notre Dame game is 39 points, and you bet the "over," the final scores for both teams, added together, must be over 39 for you to win. If you bet the "under," the scores must be less than 39.
-
Step 4
Make a straight bet on the favorite or the underdog. This bet is called the "money line," and the payout is determined by the odds. If the line is listed as Notre Dame +160 Michigan -160, then Notre Dame is considered the underdog. A $100 bet on Notre Dame will pay $160 if Notre Dame wins. A $160 bet on Michigan will pay $100 if Michigan wins.
