In sports betting, understanding how to identify favorites and underdogs is crucial. Here's a clear explanation of how betting odds work:

Understanding Favorites (-) and Underdogs (+):

• Favorites are marked with a minus (-) symbol
• Underdogs are marked with a plus (+) symbol
• The team with the larger negative number is the bigger favorite

How to Read the Odds:

• Negative (-) odds: Amount you need to bet to win $100 Example: -180 means bet $180 to win $100
• Positive (+) odds: Amount you'll win on a $100 bet Example: +200 means win $200 on a $100 bet

Pick'em Games:

• When both teams have equal odds of winning
• Usually shown as -110 for both teams
• Can refer to games with very close odds (like -115 vs -105)

Sport-Specific Considerations:

• Football: Pick'ems often have 1-point spreads
• Baseball: Uses 1.5 run spreads in pick'ems
• Soccer: Includes draw options, making three possible outcomes

Spreads in Pick'em Games:

• Football: Typically 1-point difference with minimal odds adjustment
• Baseball: Usually 1.5 runs with heavy juice on the favorite
• Soccer: Often 0.5 goals with adjusted odds due to draw possibility

Remember: The favorite isn't always the best bet - odds reflect probability but don't guarantee outcomes.

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