The meaning of SU
In betting, SU stands for “Straight Up”. It refers to a team’s performance based only on whether they win or lose the game outright, without considering the point spread.
For example:
- If a basketball team has a record of 10-3 SU, it means they have won ten games and lost three, purely on a win/loss basis.
- The spread, totals, or margin of victory don’t matter for SU records — only the final result does.
This is different from ATS (Against the Spread), which measures how often a team covers the line set by the bookmaker.
Why SU matters for bettors
While SU records are simple, they can provide valuable context. A team might look strong “straight up” with a winning record, but if they consistently fail to cover the spread, it reveals something about how bookmakers and the betting market view them. Conversely, a team with a mediocre SU record could still be profitable ATS if the market undervalues them.
SU stats are also a foundation for moneyline betting. When you back a team on the moneyline, you’re betting on their SU outcome — win or lose.
Practical example
Imagine an NFL team that is 8-2 SU but only 4-6 ATS. Straight up, they’re clearly a strong team, but bettors might have lost money backing them against the spread because bookmakers shaded the line too high.
This simple example shows why understanding SU is important: it gives a baseline measure of performance but shouldn’t be the only factor in evaluating a bet.
Smarter analysis with BetRocket
Looking at SU records is just the starting point. To make profitable decisions, you need to combine them with market data, implied probabilities, and real-time odds movement. That’s exactly what BetRocket provides:
- AI Insights analyze bookmaker odds and generate data-backed predictions.
- EV+ Scanner highlights bets with positive expected value, showing where the numbers actually favor you.
- Surebets detect arbitrage opportunities across sportsbooks.
- EV+ Lab lets you test strategies and see how SU, ATS, and other stats interact with long-term profitability.
With BetRocket, bettors don’t just see raw SU records - they understand how to use them in a professional betting strategy.
Conclusion
So, what does SU mean in sports betting? It simply refers to “straight up” win/loss records, ignoring the spread. It’s a useful stat for context and moneyline betting but should always be paired with deeper analysis.
By combining SU with advanced tools like AI Insights, EV+, Surebets, and the EV+ Lab, you move beyond basic records and into smarter, data-driven betting.