Middle
What does "middle" mean in sports betting?
A middle is when you bet both sides of the same game at different numbers, so a result that lands between them wins both bets.
Middles usually come from line movement. You bet one side early, the line moves, and the other side is now available at a number that leaves a gap between your two bets.
Most of the time the result doesn't land in the gap. One bet wins, one loses, and you pay the vig on the loser, so you're down a little. When it does land in the gap, both bets win. A middle only makes sense if the chance of hitting the gap is worth the small cost of missing it.
Example
You bet Team A -3.5 at -110, risking $110 to win $100. The line moves to -4.5, and you bet Team B +4.5 at -110, also risking $110. If Team A wins by exactly 4, both bets win and you're up $200. Any other result, one wins $100 and one loses $110, so you're down $10.
Related terms
Point spread
The point spread is a handicap that evens out a matchup: the favorite has to win by more than the spread, and the underdog covers by losing by less than it or winning outright.
Total (over/under)
A total, or over/under, is a bet on whether the combined score of both teams lands above or below a number the sportsbook sets.
Push
A push is a tie against the betting line. Your stake is refunded, with no win or loss.
Line movement
Line movement is when a sportsbook changes a spread, total, prop or price after it opens, usually because of news or the money coming in.
Go deeper
Pull up to the board.
Every play on the board comes with its price, its confidence and the reasoning, written for the books you actually use. It's free to join.
Join DARIMARKET free