1. Identify the game and market
Start with the league, teams, and scheduled start. On MST, the schedule helps you find the matchup, and the game analysis page brings together the available game information. Full predictions require a paid membership.
Choose the market you want to understand. Moneyline, spread, and total selections answer different questions, even when they refer to the same game.
2. Work through a spread
Suppose Team A is listed at −3.5 with odds of −110, and Team B is listed at +3.5 with odds of −110. A hypothetical $11 straight wager would return $21 if it wins, including $10 profit.
| Final score | Team A −3.5 | Team B +3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Team A 24, Team B 20 | Wins by four, covers | Loses by four, does not cover |
| Team A 23, Team B 20 | Wins by three, does not cover | Loses by three, covers |
| Team A 17, Team B 20 | Loses, does not cover | Wins, covers |
At −3 instead of −3.5, a three-point Team A win would normally push a standard straight spread wager. That half-point changes which results qualify as wins.
3. Work through a total
Suppose the total is 44.5. A final score of 24–21 produces 45 combined points, so the over wins. A final score of 24–20 produces 44, so the under wins.
The total and its price are separate parts of the offer. Over 44.5 at −110 and over 45.5 at −110 settle differently when the teams score exactly 45 points.
4. Compare matching offers
Use the Market Odds page to inspect the available bookmaker quotes. Match the same game, team or outcome, market, and line before comparing prices. A different line can change settlement, and a different price changes the potential return.
For the same moneyline outcome, a hypothetical $10 stake at +120 produces $12 profit if it wins, while +130 produces $13. Both lose the $10 stake if the selection loses.
Quotes can change between viewing a page and submitting a wager. Check the current offer with the sportsbook before confirming anything.
5. Put the information together
Compare the available model estimate with market prices, review the matchup information, and open the original sources linked from the News page for additional context. Missing information and uncertainty are reasons to take more time.
MST provides research. Any wager is placed separately with a sportsbook, and a prediction can be wrong. The examples in this guide explain the calculations using hypothetical games and amounts.
If you choose to wager, decide what you can afford to lose beforehand and keep a record of the exact selection and result. You can also use the site to follow games and learn without placing a wager.