how to read sports betting lines

Hi @Delipa25,

Understanding sports betting lines can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward. 

Here are the key things you need to know:

• The Spread: This is the number of points by which one team is expected to win or lose. If the spread is -3 for Team A against Team B, that means Team A is the favorite and is expected to win by 3 points. If you bet on Team A, they need to win by more than 3 points for you to win your bet. If you bet on Team B, they need to lose by less than 3 points or win the game outright for you to win your bet.
• The Moneyline: This is a bet on who will win the game, irrespective of the point spread. The favorite will have negative odds like -150, meaning you would need to bet $150 to win $100. The underdog will have positive odds like +130, meaning you would win $130 if you bet $100 and your team wins.
• Over/Under (Total): This is a bet on the total number of points scored in the game by both teams combined. The sportsbook will set a line (say, 48.5), and you can bet on whether the final score will be over or under that number.
• Opening and Closing Lines: The opening line is the first betting line set by the oddsmakers, while the closing line is the final line before the game starts. These lines can move in response to how people are betting.
• Juice or Vig: This is the commission that sportsbooks take on bets. It's typically included in the odds. For example, if the odds on a spread bet are -110, that means you have to bet $110 to win $100. The extra $10 is the juice.
• Parlays and Teasers: These are more complex types of bets that involve making multiple selections as part of a single wager. For a parlay, all of your picks must win for you to win the bet. For a teaser, you get to adjust the point spread in your favor, but at reduced odds.

Since you’re wondering where to look first, it really depends on what type of bet you're interested in making. 

If you're confident in a team's ability to win outright, you might look at the moneyline first. If you think you have a good read on how competitive the game will be, the spread might be more appealing. 

And if you have a sense for how high or low scoring the game will be, you might want to check out the over/under.
Remember, betting on sports involves a lot of unpredictability and risk, so always bet responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. 

And most importantly, have fun!