Whether you’re betting to win real money or for fun, it is important to understand the math behind betting. This will allow you to make smarter decisions about your bets and give yourself an edge over other bettors.

In a spread bet, the team you bet on must win by more points than the sportsbook’s point spread. This number, which can be adjusted by the sportsbook, is designed to prevent pushes. For example, the Patriots are 2.5-point favorites against the Rams, meaning a bet on New England would need to win by three or more points for you to cash your bet.

Another popular type of bet is a totals bet. In this bet, you’re predicting the over/under of a specific statistical outcome in a game, like how many yards a player will run or how many strikeouts a pitcher will have. This type of bet can be placed on almost any sport.

One of the most common mistakes made by bettors is chasing bad bets. This is the act of trying to recoup losses by placing more bets, often with poor judgement. It is important to avoid this mistake and stick with your betting plan, even if it means losing some bets.

Another thing to remember when betting on sports is not to over-expose yourself to one team or player. This can cause you to become too emotional and lead to making bad bets. You should also be careful not to bet on every game in a league because this can be very risky. Instead, examine each game carefully and place a bet on only those you feel confident in.