Run line and puck line explained

Baseball and hockey are low-scoring, so a point spread like the NFL's would almost never be useful. Instead, MLB uses a run line and the NHL uses a puck line. Both are fixed spreads of 1.5, and the real action is in the price.

What the run line and puck line are

The run line (baseball) and puck line (hockey) are point spreads fixed at ±1.5. The favorite is −1.5 and the underdog is +1.5. To cover as a favorite, a team must win by two or more. The underdog covers by winning outright or losing by exactly one. Because the half-point removes ties, a run line or puck line can never push.

The price is the real number

The line is almost always 1.5, so books balance the bet with the price. On FreeOdds you may see this pair:

An illustrative MLB game. Both run lines and both sides of the total are shown, each with its price.

Read "−1.5 +141" as: lay 1.5 runs and win 141 for every 100 risked. Read "+1.5 −171" as: take 1.5 runs and risk 171 to win 100. The favorite pays more because winning by two or more is harder than winning at all. The underdog costs more because the extra run and a half makes it likely to cover. When the two prices drift far from each other, the market is leaning one way.

Run line or puck line versus moneyline

• Moneyline: you only need the team to win. The price on a favorite can be steep, such as −165, to win 100.
• Run or puck line: the favorite must win by two or more, so the price improves, often to plus money. The risk is a one-run win, which is common in both sports, and the favorite loses the bet even though it won the game.
• Underdog +1.5: cashes in every one-run loss, and in every win, but costs more.

Hockey adds a twist: a team that wins in overtime or a shootout wins by exactly one goal on the scoreboard, so a puck-line favorite does not cover on those wins. Empty-net goals late in games also matter, because they can turn a one-goal win into a two-goal win.

Totals work the same way

MLB and NHL totals are small numbers such as 7 or 5.5, again with a price on each side ("o7 −121" and "u7 +101"). A whole-number total can push if the combined score lands on it exactly. FreeOdds shows each side of the total on its own row for these two sports so you can see both prices.

Reading a finished game

On the MLB and NHL results pages, FreeOdds shows the final score, the closing money line on the favorite's row, and the over or under against the closing total. Run line and puck line results are not tracked there. Browse the MLB and NHL pages, or the results for each (MLB results, NHL results). For more on how prices work, see how to read a betting board.

Frequently asked questions

What is a run line?

The run line is baseball's point spread, normally fixed at 1.5 runs. The favorite is -1.5 and the underdog is +1.5.

What is the puck line?

The puck line is hockey's version: a 1.5 goal spread. A favorite must win by two or more goals to cover.

Can a run line or puck line push?

No. A half-point spread means there is always a winner for that bet.

Why does -1.5 often come with plus-money odds?

Winning by two or more is less likely than winning at all, so the favorite's price is better than its moneyline. The underdog's +1.5 costs more for the opposite reason.

Is the run line the same as the moneyline?

No. The moneyline only requires a win. The run line requires the favorite to win by two or more, or lets the underdog lose by one.