N00b Question: Money Line?

[Cornell Fiji]

I don't completely understand how the money line works. I searched past threads but didnt see it so figured I'd just ask:

For example (taken from previous thread)
ODDS TO WIN NFC:
Philadelphia Eagles -145
Atlanta Falcons +225
St Louis Rams +795
Minnesota Vikings +1015

Does that mean that on a $100 bet the Falcons will pay 225 (125 profit?), The Rams will pay $795 (695 profit)... The Eagles will pay??? I don't get the (-) what does that mean?


Thanks for your help,
Steve

[ihaterivers]

Actually a $100 bet on Atlanta will pay back $325 for a profit of $225. A $100 bet on the Rams would pay back $895 for a profit of $795. The - means you would have to bet $145 to win $100 on the Eagles.

[tech]

The other poster gave a good response. You can also convert money lines to percentages. Each team would have to win more than the percentage below to make the bet profitable:

Philly: 145/(100+145) = 59%
Atlanta: 100/(100+225) = 31%
St. Louis: 100/(100+795) = 11%
Minnesota: 100/(100+1015) = 9%

It adds up to more than 100% because of the house take.

[Blackjack]

Sports arbitrages would be amazing if the vig were much lowers.. Even in like the most profitable situations.. You make very little in an arbitrage.

Just a random though.

Blackjack

[kyro]

+1015 on the Vikings? I'm not a betting man by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't see how putting a little down on the Vikings would be a bad idea. Philly is still without TO, and the Vikings just demolished the streaking Packers. I'm not saying I think the Vikings are going to make it, but 10% of the time? I think so.

[kyro]

This one doesn't actually relate to the ML.

On BoDog, the line for the Rams is +7 (-115). Let's say I put $115 on the Rams. So, if Falcons win by 8 or more, I lose $115. If Rams win or lose by 6 or less, I win $215 for a profit of $100. What happens if Falcons win by 7 though? Would I get $100 back? Would I get $115 back. How about the Falcons line. They are -7 (-105). Same question about if they win by 7. How do you calculate pushes?

[tech]

If it is a push you get back whatever you wagered, regardless of the odds you laid. So in your example if you wagered $115 on the Rams, you get $115 for a net of $0 if it is a push.

[kyro]

Oh OK, I wasn't sure if you lost money due to vig. Thanks for the explanation.