In sports betting, “mean” can refer to a few different concepts depending on the context. Here are the most common uses:

1. **Average or Mean Score**: This could refer to the average number of points, goals, or runs scored by a team or player over a period of time. Bookmakers and bettors may use this to inform their predictions for upcoming games.

2. **Mean Prediction**: This is often used in over/under bets (also known as totals bets), where the “mean” is the average score expected by oddsmakers for the total points scored by both teams in a game. Bettors then choose whether they think the total score will be over or under this mean.

3. **Expected Value (EV)**: In the context of betting strategy, “mean” can also relate to the expected value of a bet. Expected value is a statistical concept that calculates the mean outcome of a series of bets. Positive EV means you expect to win money over time, while negative EV means you expect to lose.

4. **Mean as a Verb**: Sometimes you might hear the term “mean” used as a verb in sports betting, such as “He means business,” which implies that a bettor or a player is very serious and competitive about their approach to betting or playing the game.

It’s important to note that in sports betting, the term “mean” is not as commonly used as other terms like “odds,” “spread,” or “over/under.” However, when it is used, it typically relates to averages or expected outcomes.