What Does ‘Alternate Lines’ Mean in Sports Betting?

Alternate lines are point spreads and totals (Over/Unders) that are different from the main, official line.

Sportsbooks offer these to give you more flexibility. You’re basically “buying” or “selling” points to create a bet that you feel more confident about.

How It Works (The Trade-Off)

The key is that the odds (payout) change based on the line you choose.

Let’s use an example. The main, standard line for a game is:

• Dallas Cowboys -7.5 (at -110 odds)
• New York Giants +7.5 (at -110 odds)

When you look at the “Alternate Lines” for this game, you’ll see a bunch of other options:

1. Buying Points (Making the Bet “Safer”):

• Maybe you like the Cowboys but aren’t sure they’ll win by 8. You can “buy” points to make it safer.
• Your alternate bet: Cowboys -3.5
• The Catch: This bet is much easier to win, so your payout is worse. The odds might change to -250 (you have to risk $25 to win $10).

2. Selling Points (Making the Bet “Riskier”):

• Maybe you think the Cowboys are going to win in a blowout. You can “sell” points to get a better payout.
• Your alternate bet: Cowboys -10.5
• The Reward: This bet is harder to win, so your payout is much better. The odds might change to +180 (you risk $10 to win $18).

This works the exact same way for the Total (Over/Under). If the main total is O/U 48.5, you can bet an alternate line of Over 45.5 (safer, worse odds) or Over 51.5 (riskier, better odds).

Wait, Isn’t This a Teaser?

That’s a great question, as they are very similar! Here’s the difference:

• Alternate Line: Is a straight bet (a single bet) on one game. You pick one new line, and the odds are adjusted for it.
• Teaser: Is a parlay where you must combine two or more bets. You move the line by a fixed number of points (like 6 points) for a fixed, pre-set payout.

Think of it this way: Alternate lines give you more control over a single game, while teasers package “safer” bets together.