Sports Betting Glossary
Definitions of betting terms used across LineTerminal — moneyline, ATS, over/under, NRFI, puck line, run line, +EV, CLV, and the regression dimensions that drive trend pages. Each entry links to the relevant LineTerminal data so the term is grounded in a live example.
- +EV Betting (Expected Value)
A bet whose modeled win probability implies a higher payout than the market is offering.
- ATS (Against the Spread)
A bet on whether a team covers the point spread, not just wins.
- Closing Line
The final price on a market when betting locks at game start.
- Closing Line Value (CLV)
The difference between the price you bet and the closing price.
- Cover Rate
The percentage of games in which a team covered the spread.
- Favorite
The team expected to win, signaled by negative moneyline odds and/or a negative spread.
- First 5 Innings (F5)
A bet on the score after only the first five MLB innings, isolating starting pitchers.
- Hit Rate
The percentage of bets in a sample that won.
- Implied Probability
The win probability priced into a moneyline, expressed as a percentage.
- Juice (Vig)
The sportsbook's commission baked into every bet, expressed as the implied edge.
- Line Move
A change in the spread, total, or moneyline between when it opens and when it closes.
- Moneyline
A bet on which team wins outright, with no point spread.
- No-Vig (Fair) Line
The price on a market with the sportsbook's commission stripped out.
- NRFI (No Run First Inning)
A bet that no runs score in the first inning of an MLB game.
- Over/Under (Total)
A bet on whether the combined score finishes above or below a posted total.
- Parlay
A single ticket that combines multiple bets — all must win for the parlay to pay.
- Pick'em
A market with no point spread or with both teams priced near −110.
- Public Betting Percentage
The share of bets (or money) on each side of a market.
- Puck Line
The hockey equivalent of a point spread — almost always set at ±1.5 goals.
- Push
A tie outcome where the bet refunds the stake.
- Regression to the Mean
The tendency of extreme short-term outcomes to drift back toward the long-term average.
- ROI (Return on Investment)
Total profit divided by total stake, expressed as a percentage.
- Run Line
The baseball equivalent of a point spread — almost always set at ±1.5 runs.
- Sample Size
The number of graded games behind a trend or hit rate.
- Sharp Money
Wagers placed by professional or analytically driven bettors.
- Steam
A rapid, sportsbook-wide line move triggered by sharp action or new information.
- Underdog
The team expected to lose, signaled by positive moneyline odds and/or a positive spread.
- Unit
A standardized stake size used to track ROI without exposing actual dollar amounts.
See methodology for grading rules and ROI calculation across the site.