NBAComputerPicksNBA betting glossary
Every term you'll run into on this site — and at the sportsbook — explained without the jargon.
The core bets
Point spread (ATS). The main NBA bet — a handicap that levels the game. If Boston is -6.5, they must win by 7+ for a spread bet on them to cover. "ATS" means "against the spread."
Moneyline (ML). A straight bet on who wins, no spread. Priced with odds — favorites pay less than you risk, underdogs pay more. Useful on big underdogs and pick'em games.
Total (Over/Under). A bet on the combined points scored by both teams, over or under a posted number (often 210–240).
Quarter / half bets. Spreads and totals settled on just the first quarter or first half — a way to bet a fast start without the bench-heavy fourth quarter.
Parlay. Multiple bets combined into one; all legs must win. Bigger payout, much lower probability, and worse expected value.
Player props. A wager on an individual's stat line — points, rebounds, assists, threes made, or a combined "PRA" (points + rebounds + assists).
Pricing & the book's edge
Juice / vig. The sportsbook's built-in commission. Standard NBA sides are priced at -110, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. That extra 10% is the vig.
Implied probability. The win rate a price implies. -110 implies about 52.4% — your break-even point. Convert any price with our odds calculator.
Hold. The book's theoretical profit margin on a market once both sides' vig is combined.
Outcomes
Cover. When a team beats the spread — e.g. a -6.5 favorite winning by 7+.
Push. A tie against the number (e.g. you bet a team -6 and they win by exactly 6). Your stake is returned — no win, no loss. Half-point lines (-6.5) exist to remove pushes.
Backdoor cover. A late, low-stakes score — often a garbage-time three or free throws — that flips who covers the spread.
Line movement
Opening line. The first number a book posts for a game, usually the morning of (or night before).
Closing line. The final number right before tipoff — considered the market's sharpest estimate.
Closing line value (CLV). Whether you beat the closing number. Consistently getting CLV is the strongest sign you're betting +EV, even during a cold streak.
Steam. A sudden, sharp line move driven by heavy money on one side — often following injury or rest news.
Buy points. Paying extra juice to move a spread or total in your favor — e.g. moving a key number like 3 or 7 in the NBA's most common margins.
Strategy terms
Expected value (EV). The long-run average profit or loss of a bet. Positive EV is the entire goal. See our full explainer.
Unit. Your standard bet size, ideally 1–2% of your bankroll. Results are tracked in units so they're comparable regardless of stake.
Middle. Betting both sides of a game at different numbers so a result landing in between wins both.
Line shopping. Comparing prices across sportsbooks to always take the best available number.