What is SU and ATS in Sports Betting?

In sports betting terminology, SU is an abbreviation for “Straight Up”, which refers to the record of a team without factoring in the spread. Consequently, placing a straight up bet means that you’d be betting on the actual outcome of the game and that the point spread would be irrelevant.

Conversely, ATS or “Against The Spread” refers to the record of a team in relation to the spread. Please note that ATS refers exclusively to spread numbers – the team’s record in the standings is irrelevant. Furthermore, keep in mind that SU and ATS statistics will rarely be similar, so it generally isn’t the best idea to mix them up.

Usage Example

If Team A is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games, it means that it won 9 out of its last 10 games. However, the same team can be 6-4 ATS, which means that it covered the spread in 6 out of its last 10 games.

Trivia

The spread, or line, is a number assigned by the sports book which handicaps one team and favors another in order to make betting on the underdog more desirable. In order to determine which team wins against the spread, the line is either added or subtracted from each team’s score.