What Does ‘Lean’ Mean in Betting?

”Lean’ is when the majority of the public is betting on one side of a game, and the linesmaker (sportsbook) moves the line in favor of the other team in order to try to even out the action. It’s a sign that the sportsbook is expecting the public to keep betting on that side and doesn’t want to take on too much risk.

How ‘Leaning’ Can Affect Betting Odds

This can be a reason why some teams or selections appear as ultra-heavy favorites when some bettors might not consider them to be worthy of such a short price. It’s not necessarily a sign that a specific team or selection is that strong, but potentially that a sportsbook is trying to mitigate the risk and potential payout due to the publicly leaning heavily in one direction.