Sports bets are a fun way to watch a game or two while earning a few bucks. But, before you take your first bet, you need to understand the basic types of wagers and how they work.

The most popular sports bets are those based on point spreads. These bets are generally offered at odds of 11 to 10 and pay off if a team wins by more than the points spread.

You can also bet on the total number of points scored in the game or the number of goals. One of the most popular types of hockey bets is the Grand Salami, which pays if the team scores more than the number of goals in a day.

If you like the thrill of wagering on a team, but don’t want to invest a lot of money, you can bet on an underdog. Choosing an underdog can increase your interest in the game.

Many pro bettors spend countless hours researching each team and studying the game. They study the statistics and head-to-head matchups. They also watch film and read the beat writers from each team.

Another type of sports bet is an accumulator. An accumulator consists of multiple parlays. For example, a three-team round robin consists of three two-team parlays. A bet containing four different teams can be called a middling bet.

When it comes to betting on the National Football League (NFL), Sundays are usually the most popular days. However, games are also played on other days of the week.