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Sports Moneyline Calculator: Odds & Payouts Guide (2026)

Practical Web Tools Team
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Sports Moneyline Calculator: Odds & Payouts Guide (2026)

Sports Moneyline Calculator: Convert Odds Instantly

Moneyline bets are the purest form of sports betting—pick the winner. Our calculator converts American odds to payouts instantly, shows implied probability, and helps you identify value in any matchup.

What Is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet wagers on which team/player wins outright—no point spread involved. Odds indicate both payout and implied probability.

Quick Answer: Positive odds (+150) show profit on a $100 bet ($150 profit). Negative odds (-150) show how much to bet for $100 profit (bet $150 to win $100). Convert to implied probability: -150 = 60% implied win rate, +150 = 40% implied win rate.

How to Use Our Free Moneyline Calculator

Use the Sports Moneyline Calculator →

Enter odds to see payouts and implied probability.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Enter Moneyline Odds: American format (+/-150)

  2. Input Bet Amount: Your wager

  3. View Potential Payout: Total return

  4. See Profit: Just the profit portion

  5. Check Implied Probability: What odds suggest

Input Fields Explained

Field Description Example
Odds American moneyline -150
Bet Amount Your wager $100
Potential Payout Total return $166.67
Profit Win amount $66.67
Implied Probability Suggested win rate 60%

Understanding Moneyline Odds

Negative Odds (Favorites)

Negative odds show how much you must bet to win $100:

Odds Bet This To Win Implied Probability
-100 $100 $100 50%
-110 $110 $100 52.4%
-150 $150 $100 60%
-200 $200 $100 66.7%
-300 $300 $100 75%
-500 $500 $100 83.3%

Positive Odds (Underdogs)

Positive odds show profit on a $100 bet:

Odds Bet Profit Implied Probability
+100 $100 $100 50%
+150 $100 $150 40%
+200 $100 $200 33.3%
+300 $100 $300 25%
+500 $100 $500 16.7%
+1000 $100 $1000 9.1%

Moneyline Payout Formulas

For Negative Odds

Profit = (Bet × 100) / |Odds|
Total Payout = Bet + Profit

Example: $50 bet at -150

  • Profit = ($50 × 100) / 150 = $33.33
  • Total payout = $50 + $33.33 = $83.33

For Positive Odds

Profit = (Bet × Odds) / 100
Total Payout = Bet + Profit

Example: $50 bet at +150

  • Profit = ($50 × 150) / 100 = $75
  • Total payout = $50 + $75 = $125

Implied Probability

Calculating Implied Probability

For negative odds:

Implied % = |Odds| / (|Odds| + 100)

For positive odds:

Implied % = 100 / (Odds + 100)

Example Calculations

-150 odds:

150 / (150 + 100) = 150 / 250 = 60%

+150 odds:

100 / (150 + 100) = 100 / 250 = 40%

Why Probabilities Don't Add to 100%

A typical matchup: Team A -150, Team B +130

  • Team A implied: 60%
  • Team B implied: 43.5%
  • Total: 103.5%

The difference (3.5%) is the "vig" or "juice"—the sportsbook's profit margin.

Real-World Moneyline Examples

Example 1: Heavy Favorite

Game: Lakers -300 vs. Hornets +240

$100 on Lakers:

  • Profit if win: $33.33
  • Total return: $133.33
  • Implied probability: 75%

$100 on Hornets:

  • Profit if win: $240
  • Total return: $340
  • Implied probability: 29.4%

Example 2: Close Matchup

Game: Bills -120 vs. Dolphins +100

$100 on Bills:

  • Profit if win: $83.33
  • Implied probability: 54.5%

$100 on Dolphins:

  • Profit if win: $100
  • Implied probability: 50%

Total implied: 104.5% (4.5% vig)

Example 3: Huge Underdog

Game: #1 Alabama -1500 vs. FCS Team +800

$100 on Alabama:

  • Profit if win: $6.67
  • Implied probability: 93.8%

$100 on FCS Team:

  • Profit if win: $800
  • Implied probability: 11.1%

Analysis: $6.67 profit on heavy favorite has poor risk/reward.

Finding Value in Moneylines

What Is Value?

Value exists when your estimated probability exceeds implied probability:

Your Estimate Implied Probability Value
55% 50% +5% value
55% 60% -5% (no value)
65% 60% +5% value

Value Calculation

Edge = Your Probability - Implied Probability
Expected Value = Edge × Potential Profit - (1 - Your Probability) × Bet

Example:

  • Your probability: 55%
  • Odds: +110 (implied 47.6%)
  • Edge: 55% - 47.6% = 7.4%
  • This is a value bet

Moneyline vs. Point Spread

When to Bet Moneyline

Situation Moneyline Better
Close game, slight favorite Often
Avoiding half-point risk Sometimes
Heavy underdog (+200+) Sometimes
Heavy favorite (-300+) Rarely

When Spread Is Better

Situation Spread Better
Heavy favorite (less risk) Usually
Want even-money odds Usually
Game decided by 1-3 points Often

Break-Even Calculation

At what point spread is moneyline equivalent?

-150 moneyline (60% implied): Need to win 60% to break even. If spread gives -110 both ways (52.4% break-even), spread may be better for favorites.

Common Moneyline Mistakes

1. Ignoring the Vig

Mistake: Assuming +150/-150 is fair Reality: Both sides paying juice Fix: Calculate true probabilities and vig

2. Chasing Heavy Favorites

Mistake: -500 "can't lose" Reality: One loss wipes five wins Fix: Consider risk/reward ratio

3. Ignoring Implied Probability

Mistake: Betting because "team is good" Reality: Price may already reflect that Fix: Compare your probability to implied

4. Small Sample Thinking

Mistake: "Heavy favorites always win" Reality: -300 loses 25% of the time Fix: Understand probability over many bets

Frequently Asked Questions

What does -110 mean?

Bet $110 to win $100. It's the standard line for point spreads, representing about 4.5% vig.

Why are some moneylines so high?

Heavy favorites (-500+) or underdogs (+500+) reflect extreme probability differences. The odds adjust to balance action.

Is betting favorites profitable?

Not inherently. You need to find odds where implied probability is lower than actual probability—this can happen with any line.

How do I convert to decimal odds?

  • Negative: (100 / |odds|) + 1 → -150 = 1.67
  • Positive: (odds / 100) + 1 → +150 = 2.50

What's a "pick 'em"?

When both teams are -110 or close to even money. Sportsbook sees it as a 50/50 game.

Should I ever bet huge favorites?

Rarely. -500 requires 5 wins to offset 1 loss. The risk/reward is usually unfavorable.

Moneyline Strategies

Underdog Hunting

Look for underdogs with higher win probability than implied:

  • Teams with strong defense (low scoring games have variance)
  • Divisional games (familiarity creates upsets)
  • Back-to-back situations for favorites

Live Betting Moneylines

Moneylines shift dramatically during games:

  • Trailing favorite may offer value
  • Early underdog lead creates favorite value
  • Watch for overreactions to single plays

Parlaying Moneylines

Combining favorites increases payout but multiplies risk:

  • Two -200 favorites: +150 combined
  • Risk: One loss kills entire parlay
  • Generally: Avoid parlaying heavy favorites

Pro Tips for Moneyline Betting

  • Calculate implied probability: Always know what odds suggest

  • Find your edge: Don't bet without identifying value

  • Respect variance: -300 favorites lose 25% of the time

  • Shop for lines: -145 vs. -155 matters over time

  • Track results: Know your ROI by bet type

Conclusion

Moneyline betting is straightforward—pick the winner. Our calculator converts odds to payouts instantly, showing implied probability and helping you identify value. Whether betting favorites or hunting underdogs, understanding the math is essential.

Calculate Your Moneyline Bets Now →

The best moneyline bettors aren't just predicting winners—they're finding prices that undervalue outcomes. Use implied probability, seek value, and let the calculator handle the math.

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