# NFL Line

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-line/669392>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [September 21, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-line/669392 "2013-09-21T19:17:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-line/669392/1 "2013-09-21T19:17:31Z")

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In the newspaper the NFL line is given with captions “O,” “T,” and “O/U.” For example, Bears are favorite against Steelers. Both the "O’ and “T” are (is?) 2, which, I guess is how many points the Bears are favored. The O/U is “(40 1/2).” What is that?

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**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-line/669392/2 "2013-09-21T19:23:16Z")

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The O/U is the over/under. It’s a bet on how many total points are scored.

So, if the O/U is 40.5 and the score is 21-14, you should bet the under (21+14 = 35).

I’m not sure what the O and T stand for but possibly opening line and current line.

The line is indeed what is also known as the spread - the amount by which a team is favored to win (or lose).