The plus sign in sports betting means you're looking at an underdog or a favorable payout — and it's one of the most important symbols to understand before you bet.
Unlike the minus sign (which means you're risking more than you'll win), the plus sign tells you that a $100 bet returns more than $100 in profit.
Plus Sign on a Moneyline
When you see +200 next to a team's name, it means:
- That team is the underdog
- A $100 bet wins $200 in profit
The bigger the plus number, the bigger the underdog and the larger the potential payout.
Practical example: Lakers +185 vs. Celtics -220
- Bet $100 on the Lakers → win $185 profit (total returned: $285)
- Bet $220 on the Celtics → win $100 profit (total returned: $320)
Underdog betting is appealing because you need to be right less often to make money. Even if you only win 40% of your +200 bets, you can be profitable.
Plus Sign on a Point Spread
When the plus sign appears before the spread number — like Giants +4.5 — it means:
- The Giants are the underdog by 4.5 points
- They can lose by up to 4 points and still win the bet
This is different from the price (+200 = payout). On a standard spread, both sides are usually priced around -110 regardless of the +/- on the spread number.
Plus Sign on Futures and Props
Plus signs appear frequently in futures markets and player props, where they indicate the payout on less likely outcomes:
- +2500 to win the championship — bet $100, win $2,500 if correct
- LeBron James to score 35+ points: +300 — bet $100, win $300
These are all underdog/long shot positions where the payout compensates for lower probability.
Why Bettors Seek Plus-Money Underdogs
Value hunting in sports betting often means finding underdog situations where the sportsbook has overestimated the favorite's advantage. When you correctly identify a +150 underdog who should be +100 based on actual probability, you're getting paid better than the risk justifies.
Use Oddible to track your plus-money underdog record and see where you're finding genuine value versus chasing longshots.
