Frequently asked questions
Line movement, steam, closing lines, and how LineSteam records them.
What is LineSteam?
LineSteam is a free line-movement tracker for sports betting. It records FanDuel's point spreads, moneylines, and totals (over/unders) around the clock for NFL, college football (NCAAF), MLB, NBA, and NHL games, then charts how each line moved from open to close. Under every chart, LineSteam shows news about that specific game, such as injuries, weather, and lineup changes, that may explain why the line moved. LineSteam is a record of where lines have been; sportsbooks only ever show you where they are now.
What is line movement in sports betting?
Line movement is the change in a betting line between when a sportsbook first posts it (the opening line) and kickoff (the closing line). For example, if the NFL spread opens at -3.5 and closes at -4.5, the line moved a full point. Lines move because sportsbooks adjust to the bets they take and to new information such as injuries, weather, and lineup news. Tracking movement shows you where the market disagrees with the opener, and which side the money is on.
What does "steam" mean in sports betting?
Steam is bettor slang for sharp, sudden line movement caused by professional ("sharp") money hitting one side of a bet, often across many sportsbooks at once. When bettors say a game is "getting steamed," they mean respected money is moving the line. LineSteam is named for exactly this phenomenon: the site records every move so you can see the steam happen: when the line was pulled, how far it moved, and what news broke around the same time.
What is a closing line, and what is closing line value (CLV)?
The closing line is the final line posted just before a game starts, and it is widely considered the sharpest number available because it reflects all bets and all information. Closing line value (CLV) measures whether you beat that number: if you bet a spread at +4.5 and it closes at +3, you got a better number than the market's final judgment. Consistently beating the close is one of the strongest indicators of long-term winning betting. LineSteam shows open, close, high, and low for every line so you can measure the number you got against the market.
Why do betting lines move?
Lines move for a handful of reasons: heavy betting on one side (books balance risk), sharp action (books respect certain accounts and move quickly), injury and lineup news (a starting quarterback ruled out can move a spread several points), weather (wind and rain push totals down), and steam chasing across the market. Small moves in the juice (-110 to -115) usually reflect gradual money; sudden point moves usually mean news or sharp action. LineSteam pairs each game's chart with news published around the move so you can connect cause and effect.
Which sports does LineSteam cover?
LineSteam tracks five leagues: NFL football, college football (NCAAF), Major League Baseball (MLB), the NBA, and the NHL. Within each league it records all three featured markets: the point spread (run line and puck line in MLB and NHL), the moneyline, and and the total (over/under), for every game FanDuel posts.
Which sportsbook's odds does LineSteam track?
LineSteam records FanDuel Sportsbook's lines, sourced through The Odds API. FanDuel is one of the largest sportsbooks in the United States, so its lines are a strong proxy for the US betting market. LineSteam is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to FanDuel.
How often does LineSteam update?
The recorder polls around the clock, roughly every 10 to 30 minutes depending on how close games are to kickoff, with faster sampling as game time approaches and during live play. Each poll stores only actual changes ("change points"), so charts show every recorded move without noise. Live game pages also show the current inning, quarter, or period, refreshed about every minute.
What are spreads, moneylines, and totals?
The point spread is a handicap: a -4.5 favorite must win by 5 or more to cover. The moneyline is a bet on who wins outright, priced in American odds (-150 means risk $150 to win $100; +130 means risk $100 to win $130). The total, or over/under, is the combined points both teams score; you bet whether the real total goes over or under the posted number. LineSteam charts all three for every game and lets you flip between them with one tap.
How do I read a LineSteam movement chart?
The colored line traces the posted number over time: blue for spreads, violet for totals, teal for moneylines, always from the home team's (or the over's) perspective. The dashed horizontal line marks the opening number and the dashed vertical START line marks kickoff. Each dot on the line is one recorded move by FanDuel; hover or press any point to read the exact posted number at that moment, and hover a dot to see the move itself (for example "Pulled -3.5 → -4.5"). Scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan, and use the − / + buttons on any device.
What do the stats above the chart mean?
For both sides of the active market you get five numbers: Open (the first line LineSteam recorded), Current or Close (the latest line, or the final pre-kickoff line for finished games), High and Low (the extremes the line reached), and Δ (delta, the total movement from open, green when the number rose and red when it fell). Together they summarize the whole journey of the line without reading the chart.
Can I see line movement for past games?
Yes. Every feed has a date picker. Browse to any date and see that day's full slate with each game's closing lines and total movement, exactly as the market closed. Game pages for finished games keep their complete movement chart and the news that ran before kickoff. LineSteam has been recording continuously since August 29, 2026; games before that date have no history to show.
How does the home page rank games?
By default the home feed shows today's games ordered by biggest line movement: the games where the market has moved the most since open, across all five sports at once. To compare fairly across bet types, every move is converted to implied win probability. A moneyline going from -110 to -150 is a much bigger real shift than a heavy favorite drifting from -7000 to -4000, and a multi-point spread move outranks both. You can switch to start-time order, and filter to a single sport with one tap.
Is LineSteam a sportsbook? Can I place bets on LineSteam?
No. LineSteam is a data and analytics site. It records and displays betting line history and related news. It does not accept wagers, hold funds, or facilitate betting in any way. If you choose to bet with a licensed sportsbook, bet responsibly and within your means. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you know, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
Is LineSteam free?
Yes. The charts, movement history, closing lines, and game news are free to use.
What are key numbers in NFL betting?
Key numbers are the most common margins of victory in football: 3 and 7 above all, because so many NFL games are decided by a field goal or a touchdown. A spread moving from -2.5 to -3.5 "crosses 3," which matters far more than a move from -5.5 to -6.5. Watching LineSteam's spread charts around key numbers shows you when the market pays a premium to get to the other side of 3 or 7.
Does line movement predict who will win?
Not by itself. Line movement tells you what the betting market believes and how strongly. The closing line is the market's best final estimate, and it is very hard to beat. Movement is most useful for timing and price: knowing which direction lines tend to move lets you take a number early or wait for a better one, and comparing your number to the close (closing line value) is the honest measure of whether your bets are good. LineSteam gives you the record; it does not make picks or predictions.
LineSteam records FanDuel lines via The Odds API and is not affiliated with FanDuel Sportsbook. Nothing on this site is betting advice. 21+ where applicable. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.