NBL is a competition where you log sports picks before games start, get graded automatically when they end, and earn a score and rank on a global leaderboard. There's no real money involved. You're not betting against NBL or against other users — you're competing to prove who has the best pick record over time.

Starting score: 1,000 points. Everyone starts equal.

The formula rewards picking harder lines. A 55% win rate at +150 average odds outperforms a 60% win rate at -160 average odds. Skill matters more than volume.

Power-ups never stack. If two are active on the same pick, you choose one.

Ranks are calculated among verified players only — 50+ graded picks is the floor. Someone with 51 lucky picks won't outrank someone with 300 picks and a genuine record.

You can create or join a private league with friends. League standings show the same global scores filtered to your group. Commissioners can run league challenges — a time-bounded competition with specific rules. For example: NFL picks only, weeks 1–14, winner takes the prize. Picks that qualify for the challenge also count toward your global score — you only pick once.

Most picks show odds like -110. That's the vig — the sportsbook's cut. It means you'd need to risk $110 to win $100 in profit on a real sportsbook. NBL doesn't charge vig, but the odds you log affect your score because they reflect the real difficulty of the pick.

Even odds: +100 means risk $100 to win $100 profit. No favorite, no underdog — a coin flip.

Example: Chiefs -6.5 -110

The spread levels the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. The favorite (Chiefs) gives points. The underdog takes points. Chiefs -6.5 means: for your pick to win, the Chiefs must win by 7 or more points. A Chiefs win by exactly 6 is a loss on this pick. The other side — Bills +6.5 — means: for your pick to win, the Bills must either win outright, or lose by 6 or fewer points. The -110 next to the spread is the vig on both sides. You're paying a little extra on each bet for the sportsbook's margin.

A moneyline pick is simple: pick who wins the game. No spread.

Example: Chiefs -220, Bills +185

Chiefs -220: the Chiefs are heavy favorites. A win earns fewer points in NBL because it was the expected outcome. Bills +185: the Bills are underdogs. A win earns more points because it was the less likely outcome. Moneyline picks are straightforward but the payout reflects the probability. Picking big favorites all day and winning 70% of them can still lose to someone who picks smart underdogs at 50%. This is why NBL uses odds-based scoring — it rewards genuine edge, not just picking chalk.

The sportsbook sets a number for the combined score of both teams. You pick whether the actual total goes Over or Under that number.

Example: Chiefs vs Bills — Total 47.5 -110 each side

• Over 47.5: you need the combined score to be 48 or more.
• Under 47.5: you need the combined score to be 47 or fewer.

Same as over/under, but for ONE team's score instead of both combined.

Example: Chiefs Team Total Over 24.5 -115

You're picking whether the Chiefs score 25 or more points — regardless of what the Bills score. Team totals are popular because they isolate a specific offense or defense matchup. If you think the Chiefs offense will dominate but the game will be low-scoring overall (both defenses are strong), a Chiefs team total over is the right call — not an overall over.

Props are picks on individual player statistics rather than the game outcome.

You're predicting whether a player exceeds or falls short of a statistical line set by the sportsbook. Props are graded from ESPN's official game data — same as every other pick on NBL. Props have higher variance than game picks. A single big play can flip a result in either direction. But they also offer value that game lines don't — if you know a matchup well, a player prop can be a sharper pick than the spread.

All the above bet types also exist as 1st half versions — the spread, moneyline, and total apply only to the score at halftime.

Example: Chiefs 1H -3.5 -115

The Chiefs must lead by 4 or more at halftime for this to win. The final score is irrelevant — only the halftime score counts. 1H picks grade within an hour of halftime. You'll know the result well before the game ends.

Every sportsbook builds in a margin — this is called the vig or juice. It's why most spread bets are -110 on both sides instead of +100. The sportsbook collects a small cut regardless of who wins.

The vig is also a clue about probability. You can calculate implied probability from any odds:

These add up to more than 100% (54.5 + 46.5 = 101%) — the extra 1% is the sportsbook's edge. In NBL, you don't pay vig — but the odds you log determine your score. This means the implied probability is baked into every result. Win a 30% shot and you score big. Win a 70% shot and you score less.

The line you see when a game is posted isn't always the line at kickoff. Sportsbooks adjust lines as money comes in, injury news breaks, or sharp bettors move the market.

This is called line movement. In NBL, the odds you log when you make the pick are what count — not the closing line. If you got Chiefs -6.5 on Monday and the line moved to -8.5 by game time, your pick is still -6.5. This is actually valuable information. If your picks consistently move in the right direction after you log them, it suggests you're identifying value early. That's what sharp bettors do.

A push happens when the result lands exactly on the line.

• Chiefs -7 and the Chiefs win by exactly 7 → push.
• Over 44 and the combined score is exactly 44 → push.

In real sportsbooks, pushes refund your bet. In NBL, pushes return 0 points — your score doesn't change. Neither a win nor a loss. Pushes are rare with half-point lines (.5) because no sport scores in fractions. Whole number lines (like -7 or 44) can push.