Cold Line Vocabulary

True Line

Name: The Cold Line
Price range: $$

What True Line means in sports betting — explained in plain English.

Definition

A theoretical spread that perfectly represents each team's chances. The Cold Line is our estimate of the true line.

If we knew exactly how good each team was, this would be the perfect spread. Nobody knows it for sure, but we try to get close!

Browse the full A–Z betting glossary or read the complete betting guide. The Cold Line also publishes a free year-round sports calendar and live odds board — no signup required.

Syncing the cold line...

The Cold Line

Cold Line Vocabulary

What True Line means in sports betting — explained in plain English.

A theoretical spread that perfectly represents each team's chances. The Cold Line is our estimate of the true line.

If we knew exactly how good each team was, this would be the perfect spread. Nobody knows it for sure, but we try to get close!

Browse the full A–Z betting glossary or read the complete betting guide. The Cold Line also publishes a free year-round sports calendar and live odds board — no signup required.