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Straight bets on the point spread and total line are the two most common ways to bet on any NFL or NBA game. Most bets cover all four quarters of play along with overtime if necessary.
The spread is a handicapping tool using points to separate the favorite from the underdog in a matchup. The total line pertains to the OVER or UNDER on the combined total score.
Bet on Quarter/Half Betting Markets at Online Sportsbooks
As a way to create more betting options for NFL and NBA games, most online sportsbooks will post quarter lines and half lines. These are simply smaller increments of time for a point spread and total line.
You can bet on each quarter and/or half of the game in terms of a smaller spread that separates the favorite from the underdog and a lower total line for the combined score in that particular timeframe.
Below is an example of betting lines for the first quarter, first half and entire NFL game:
| TEAMS | FIRST QUARTER | FIRST HALF | GAME | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Spread | Total | Spread | Total | |
| Chicago Bears | +1 | Over 10.5 | +4 | Over 24 | +7 | Over 48 |
| Greem Bay Packers | -1 | Under 10.5 | -4 | Under 24 | -7 | Under 48 |
Chicago is the road team since it is listed first. The Bears are also the underdogs designated by the plus (+) sign in front of the point spread. They are seven-point road underdogs for the entire game with the total set at 48 points.
The spread for a first quarter bet is one point with the total set at 10½ points. The spread for the first half is set at four points and the first half total is 24 points.
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When betting the quarter/half line for any NFL or NBA game, only the points scored during that designated timeframe are used to grade the bet.
For example, if you are betting a fourth quarter line for Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers game and it ends as a tie at the end of regulation, only the points scored in the previous 12 minutes of play count towards that bet. Overtime play will count towards any bets placed on the game as a whole.
First half and second half lines work the same way. All bets are graded using the score during that particular timeframe.
Both quarter lines and half lines are a great way to double-down on bets made for the entire game. They can also be used as a hedge against previous bets. Using the NFL game above as an example, if you bet the Packers to win minus seven points, you can also bet the first half at minus four points as a way to double down.
If you bet the Bears to cover the seven points as underdogs, you could bet the first half line on Green Bay as a hedge in case things do not go your way through the first two quarters of the game.
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Both quarter and half lines can be used to diversify your overall betting strategy for NFL and NBA games. They can add even more excitement to all the action on the field from the opening kickoff of the game.
As part of live in-game betting options, most online books will let you place additional bets on the spread and total after the game has gotten underway. Both betting lines are continually adjusted based on what has already taken place on the field.
