World Cup Odds, Lines and Spreads

World Cup odds move regularly due to injuries, betting action and other factors, but monitoring the World Cup odds board is key to making the best bets possible. Here are several World Cup betting terms to know:

Alternate lines

Every World Cup match has alternate lines, as sportsbooks post different spreads and totals with adjusted odds. For example, if the total of a match is set at 2.5 goals, sportsbooks may offer that match at 1.5 or 3.5 goals with the related juice also moving for those lines. For spreads, an underdog of 1.5 goals may be listed with an alternate line as a 2.5-goal underdog for less potential profit or even as a 1.5-goal favorite with a much higher potential payout.

American odds

American odds are the most common odds used in American World Cup betting, with the money line indicating the amount of money needed to win $100 (favorite) or the amount that a $100 wager would pay (underdog). This is one of the three main types of betting odds.

Closing line

The final odds posted when the match begins is the closing line. The live odds will then start to shift after the match begins and will generally continue until the match is over.

Consensus

The consensus line is a combination of odds from the top sportsbooks. If a game has a consensus total of 2.5, it means that a majority of oddsmakers have the over/under for the match set at 2.5 goals.

Decimal odds

Decimal odds, also called European odds, are another format used to present betting odds. They represent the amount of money someone would win for every $1 wagered.

Favorite

The favorite is the team expected to win the match outright. Favorites have a negative sign in front of their spread and money line odds, or have the lower positive money line among the two opponents.

Fractional odds

British (fractional) odds are the final type of odds used in sports betting. They are the ratio of the profit won to the stake, as a 6-1 underdog would pay $6 for every $1 wagered.

Futures

These can be some of the most interesting odds to monitor, as they relate to markets such as World Cup winner or group winner. Most sportsbooks update their futures odds regularly, giving fans a chance to see how their team stacks up in the eyes of the oddsmakers.

Home-field advantage

Home-field advantage typically does not exist in World Cup betting aside from the host country or countries, which can draw the largest crowds of supporters due to proximity.

Hook

If the betting odds have a half-goal attached to them, that is called the hook. The hook makes it impossible for the betting result to end in a tie, as World Cup games do not have half-goals.

Juice

Also known as vigorish or vig, the juice is the amount factored into the odds by oddsmakers. Using American odds, a line of -110 contains $10 of juice for every $100 wagered.

Line movement

World Cup odds feature line movement due to various reasons, including injuries or wagers made by professional bettors.

Money line

The money line is the odds related to the winner of the match with no spread involved. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds in an American odds format.

Oddsmaker

Someone who sets betting odds and lines is an oddsmaker. Some oddsmakers create their own betting odds (originators), while other oddsmakers copy odds that are already in the market.

Over/Under

This is one of the primary sets of odds used for World Cup betting, with the number representing the expected goals scored in the game.

Pick ‘em

If neither team is favored, the game is called a pick ‘em, signified by both teams having the same money line. The betting odds have not determined a favorite or an underdog, so they are usually good matches to watch.

Props

World Cup prop betting refers to wagers placed on different aspects of a World Cup match aside from the traditional spread, money line and total markets. Player props are one World Cup prop betting market available, which allows bettors to take positions on statistical categories like a player to score a goal. Team props can involve the number of corners, shots on goal or other stats associated with a match.

Spread

The spread levels the playing field between two betting sides, as it is the number of goals the favorite is expected to win by. The favorite is designated by a negative spread (-1.5), while the underdog has a positive spread (+1.5).

Three-way betting

World Cup matches in qualification and group stages are like any other and can end in a draw, so bettors have the ability to bet the draw among money line options. In the knockout stage, three-way betting applies the money line to the 90-minute regulation part of the match, while “To Advance” markets are otherwise available for picking the winner of the match that will advance to the next round.

Tie no bet

“Tie No Bet” is a market that removes the potential of a draw and instead returns the original stake of each bet to the bettor, just like when a game in another sport lands exactly on the spread or total, if there is a tie after 90 minutes. With the draw option removed, potential payouts will typically be lower in “Tie No Bet” markets

Underdog

Unless a game is a pick ‘em, every World Cup matchup has an underdog, which is the team that is expected to lose. They are denoted by a positive number in the betting odds, or if both teams are positive, the largest positive number.

What are the types of World Cup betting odds?

The three primary types of betting odds are American (money line), fractional (British) and decimal (European). They are alternate ways of presenting the same odds, offering the same payout in each scenario. The percentage probability of an event occurring can be converted and presented in any of the odds offered.

How do I know which team is favored?

Favorites are typically priced with a negative sign in front of their spread or money line, while underdogs have a positive sign in front of theirs. If both teams have positive money lines, the team with the smaller positive number is favored. If a team is -1.5 on the spread, they are the favorite and would need to win by at least two goals to cover the spread. Their opponent would be +1.5, needing to lose by one goal (or win outright) to cover as an underdog.

Who sets World Cup odds?

Odds are originally set by oddsmakers, who are also called sports traders or bookmakers. They usually adjust their odds once bettors start wagering money. The odds can also be moved due to injuries or other factors.

Why can I not find soccer odds for a game?

Sportsbooks take games off the board when a star player suffers an injury or otherwise becomes unavailable, or another factor occurs. Oddsmakers usually re-post the updated line within a few hours, depending on the severity of the news. The odds are frozen so the sportsbook avoids taking large wagers on odds that are likely to change.

What is the total?

This is another way to reference the over/under, which is the number of goals expected to be scored in a match. If a match has an over/under of 2.5 goals, it will go over the total if three or more goals are scored and under the total with two or fewer goals. Over/under odds are also used for prop odds, such as total corners in the match.