Research guides
Game line research guides by sport and market
Game lines are the main markets on a matchup: the point spread or its sport-specific cousin, the total, and the moneyline. Each guide explains how the market settles, what moves the number in that sport, and how to compare a line and a price instead of reading either one alone.
By DeepChamp research team · Updated · Methods and limitations
NFL game lines
With only one game a week, each NFL sample is small, so game script, injuries and matchup structure matter more than any single stat line from a past game.
NFL: Spread
An NFL point spread is a handicap that subtracts points from the favorite or adds them to the underdog so both sides are priced near even.
Read the guideNFL: Total
An NFL total is an over/under on the combined points both teams score in a game, overtime included.
Read the guideNFL: Moneyline
An NFL moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game outright, with no point spread.
Read the guide
NBA game lines
Basketball markets are driven by minutes, usage and pace, and lineup news can change a number within hours, so the strongest habit is checking who is actually available before comparing prices.
NBA: Point spread
An NBA point spread is a margin the favorite must exceed, or the underdog must stay within, for a bet on that side to win.
Read the guideNBA: Game total
An NBA game total is one number for the combined points of both teams, and the bet is whether the final score finishes over or under it.
Read the guideNBA: Moneyline
An NBA moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game outright, with no point spread, and the price shows how likely the market thinks each side is.
Read the guide
MLB game lines
Baseball is a daily market driven by the starting pitcher, the lineup card and conditions such as weather and park, and the posted lineup is often the most important piece of information of the day.
MLB: Run line
The MLB run line is baseball's point spread, almost always set at 1.5 runs.
Read the guideMLB: Total
An MLB game total is an over/under on the combined runs scored by both teams.
Read the guideMLB: Moneyline
An MLB moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game, with extra innings included and no tie possible.
Read the guide
NHL game lines
Hockey scoring is low and high-variance, so research focuses on shot volume, ice time and goaltending rather than on the final score alone.
NHL: Puck line
The NHL puck line is hockey's point spread, usually 1.5 goals.
Read the guideNHL: Total
An NHL game total is an over/under on the combined goals scored by both teams, posted at a number such as 5.5 or 6.5.
Read the guideNHL: Moneyline
An NHL moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game, with overtime and the shootout generally included in the regular season.
Read the guide
College football game lines
College football has large talent gaps, varied schemes and heavy roster turnover, so researching a number means looking at tempo, depth and scheme rather than relying on a short sample of results.
College football: Spread
A college football point spread subtracts points from the favorite or adds them to the underdog, and the numbers can be far larger than in the pros.
Read the guideCollege football: Total
A college football total is an over/under on the combined points both teams score, overtime included.
Read the guideCollege football: Moneyline
A college football moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game outright, and prices can be extreme when the talent gap is wide.
Read the guide
College basketball game lines
College basketball has more than 350 teams and thinner information on most of them, so research depends on tempo, schedule strength and availability reports that can be harder to verify.
College basketball: Spread
A college basketball point spread is a margin handicap: the favorite must win by more than the number, and the underdog covers by winning or losing by less.
Read the guideCollege basketball: Total
A college basketball total is an over/under on the combined points of both teams in one game.
Read the guideCollege basketball: Moneyline
A college basketball moneyline is a wager on which team wins the game outright, with no point spread.
Read the guide
WNBA game lines
With shorter rotations, thinner public injury reporting and smaller betting limits, WNBA research depends on confirming rotation and availability news from the team before trusting a historical average.
WNBA: Point spread
A WNBA point spread sets the margin the favorite must beat for a bet on that side to win.
Read the guideWNBA: Game total
A WNBA game total is one number for the combined points of both teams, and the bet is whether the final score finishes over or under it.
Read the guideWNBA: Moneyline
A WNBA moneyline is a bet on which team wins the game, with no spread, and the price on each side implies a probability.
Read the guide
Soccer game lines
Soccer markets depend on lineup announcements shortly before kickoff, competition context such as cup rotation, and low-scoring outcomes where a single event can decide a result.
Soccer: Three-way moneyline
A soccer three-way moneyline is a bet on which of three outcomes occurs after regulation time and stoppage time: home win, draw or away win.
Read the guideSoccer: Total goals
A soccer total goals bet is an over/under on the combined goals scored by both teams in regulation and stoppage time.
Read the guideSoccer: Both teams to score
A both teams to score bet, often shortened to BTTS, asks whether each side scores at least one goal in the match.
Read the guideSoccer: Asian handicap
A soccer Asian handicap is a two-way market that gives one team a goal head start or deficit, so the draw is no longer a separate outcome.
Read the guide
UFC game lines
Fight markets are single-event outcomes where styles, weight cuts and short-notice changes matter, so research focuses on how the matchup is likely to unfold and how a fight can end.
UFC: Moneyline
A UFC moneyline is a wager on which fighter wins the fight, with no point spread and no round count.
Read the guideUFC: Method of victory
A UFC method-of-victory market asks who wins and how the fight ends, usually by knockout or technical knockout, submission or decision.
Read the guideUFC: Total rounds
A UFC total-rounds market is an over/under on how many rounds a fight lasts, usually at a half-round line such as 1.5 or 2.5.
Read the guideUFC: Fight goes the distance
The UFC fight-goes-the-distance market is a yes/no question on whether a bout reaches the judges' scorecards after all scheduled rounds rather than ending by stoppage, submission or disqualification.
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Tennis game lines
Tennis is an individual sport, so surface, fitness, scheduling and head-to-head styles dominate, and a late withdrawal or retirement rule can decide how a bet settles.
Tennis: Match winner moneyline
A tennis moneyline is a bet on which player wins the match, with no draw possible.
Read the guideTennis: Total games
A tennis total games bet is an over/under on the combined number of games both players win in the match.
Read the guideTennis: Game handicap
A tennis game handicap gives one player a head start or deficit in games won, so a line of -4.5 means that player must win by five or more games across the whole match.
Read the guide
This is educational research content. Examples use hypothetical numbers and are not live odds, picks, or claims about performance.
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