What is a Point Spread? A Complete Guide on Spread Betting

Talk to any sports bettor or log onto any sports betting app, and you’ll quickly see that point spreads are a staple in the gambling world. This approach to betting levels the playing field by giving underdogs a leg up and favorites credit where credit is due.

More specifically, the point spread signifies the anticipated difference in score between two competitors. You’ll see a number like +7 or -14.5 that indicates how many points a sportsbook anticipates a team to win or lose by.

Sound confusing? It’ll be a lot easier to understand once we get into the specifics. Read on to get a deeper understanding of point spread betting as we’ll discuss its mechanics, strategies for comparing lines, and tips for making these types of wagers.

What is a Point Spread?

A point spread wager diverges from a straightforward moneyline bet, which is merely selecting a victor. Instead, point spread betting involves adjusting a teamโ€™s final score to introduce more competition to both lopsided and evenly matched contests.

Imagine a scenario where Auburn and Florida face off in a college football matchup. After they do their fancy calculations, oddsmakers might predict that Auburn will win by seven points.

The respective point spread would list Auburn at -7, indicating their status as the favored team and subtracting seven points from their final score. Whichever team has the highest score after the point spread adjustment wins.

Therefore, bettors who place a wager on Auburn at -7 need the Tigers to outscore Florida by more than a touchdown and an extra point to win the bet. If Auburn’s victory margin is six points or lower (or if the Tigers lose the game outright), those bets would not be successful.

Point spread wagers are particularly prevalent in sports like the NFL, NBA, NCAA football, and college hoops. You’ll also find these lines in markets for hockey, baseball, and soccer. Together with moneyline and over/under bets, point spread betting forms a pillar of the sports gambling community.

The Mechanics of Point Spread Betting

The purpose of a point spread is to level out the competition in a matchup by identifying the favored team and the underdog.

The team less likely to win has a plus sign in the point spread lines, while the expected winner carries a minus sign. The listed number is either added to or subtracted from the final score of the corresponding team to determine the betting outcome.

Point spread betting holds a prominent place in the world of sports gambling because it tends to offer more appealing odds. Particularly in football and basketball betting, the odds are often set around -110, proving to be more lucrative than straight moneyline bets.

Odds for the point spread are crafted by professional oddsmakers and made available through the best sports betting sites. These specialists use power ratings that assess team capabilities, and these ratings may evolve during the sports season due to factors ranging from additional rest days to home-field advantages.

Dynamic by nature, point spreads can shift leading up to the game’s start. Movement occurs between the initial posting of the spread (opening line) and the start of the game (closing line). Changes may occur when there is a significant majority placing bets on one side, prompting sportsbooks to adjust in pursuit of a balanced betting market.

Shifts in the point spread could also arise due to key player injuries or adjustments to line-ups, such as changes to the starting players or player exchanges.

Even once the game starts, the point spread is subject to change repeatedly. This dynamic allows you to make a bet even after the game has kicked off and strategize based on the action unfolding in real time. For instance, the point spread might be smaller before the start of the game. If the underdog falls behind early, you might get to bet on them with a larger point spread in hopes that they’ll end up keeping it close as oddsmakers originally predicted.

Interpreting Point Spread

The purpose of a point spread is to predict the margin of victory or defeat for a given team. It serves as a form of handicapping when the teams’ strengths differ and interjects an additional thrill into the betting experience.

Here’s an example of point spread betting.

Imagine the Eagles and the Chiefs are gearing up for a clash. Both teams have strong competitive edges, but oddsmakers think the Eagles will come out on top and label them as -3.5 favorites. This designation implies that the Chiefs are positioned as +3.5 underdogs.

When the game concludes, point spread bets are either deducted from or added to the final score. To “cover the spread,” the Eagles would need to secure a victory by a margin of four points or more. So, if the final score were the Eagles 27, Chiefs 24, the Eagles would win the game but fall short of covering the spread.

By adding the +3.5 to the Chiefs’ final score, those who wagered on the underdog would win the point spread bet. It would be akin to the Chiefs edging out a win with a score of 27.5 against the Eagles’ 27 points, as the +3.5 point spread adds that many points to the Chiefs’ actual score of 24. Gamblers who placed their faith in the +3.5 underdog spread bet would also celebrate a victory should the Chiefs win the game outright.

Positive Point Spread

A positive point spread signals the underdog team. An underdog team assigned a positive point spread could still be a winning wager even if they don’t win the game. For example, if you have Kansas City as an underdog with a +3.5 point spread, and they lose by less than four points or win the game outright, your bet would pay off because Kansas City covered the spread.

Negative Point Spread

Conversely, a negative point spread is applied to a team that is more likely to win. With a -3.5 point spread, the Eagles would need to win the game by more than four points to “cover” or beat the spread.

Point Spread Betting Outcomes

There are three potential results when betting on the point spread: winning the bet, losing the bet, or a push, which means the bet is neither a win nor a loss. For a bet to result in a push, the game’s final score must land exactly on the spread number, leading the wager to be refunded.

Understanding the variety of outcomes for point spread betting is vital because half points and fluctuating spreads can significantly affect the outcome of wagers. Even individual plays during the game gain more relevance due to point spreads.

For example, consider a situation where the Ravens are -6.5 favorites against the Browns. If the game is tied at 20-20 and the Ravens secure a touchdown in the last moments but miss the extra point attempt, the Ravens would win the game with a final score of 26-20. But, if you bet on the Ravens, you’d lose as the Browns would get +6.5 points to have a higher final score.

Win/Loss

For a spread bet to win, the chosen team must cover the point spread. So, betting on an underdog at +7.5 would result in a win if that team either loses by up to seven points or pulls off an outright victory. If the underdog loses by eight points or more, the bet is a loss.

Push

When the outcome of a game results in a tie after we adjust scores according to the point spread, a push follows. For instance, if Team A has a spread of -10 and triumphs over Team B with a score of 31-21, those who placed bets experience a push since the adjusted final score would be tied at 21-21. Bets on both sides are neither losses nor gains, meaning the sportsbook will refund bettors’ original stakes.

The Hook

In point spread betting, it’s common to encounter a spread that includes a half point, often referred to as the hook. The introduction of the hook is crucial as it can be the deciding factor between a lost bet and a successful one. For instance, if the spread is at +10.5 and the team loses by exactly 10 points, the hook allows the bet to cover the spread due to that extra half-point.

Changes to the Point Spread

Point spreads aren’t set in stone; various factors cause them to adjust as the game approaches. One factor that can cause shifts is how the betting community is wagering. For example, if there’s a three-point favorite in a game and the majority of the bets are placed on that team, sportsbooks might adjust the spread to four points or more to encourage action on the underdog.

Alterations in team rosters due to player injuries, suspensions, trades, or releases can also influence the point spread. The impact on the spread hinges on the significance of the affected player’s role. A prime example is the starting quarterback in an NFL game sustaining an injury, which usually triggers a sizable movement in the spread. With today’s mobile online betting apps, bettors can conveniently monitor these shifts in real time.

Line Shopping

If you decide to get in on the fun of point spread betting, you should also engage in line shopping. This practice involves comparing the odds from various sportsbooks to find the most favorable lines, thereby optimizing potential returns on your bets.

While sports betting sites may align closely in terms of point spread figures, the odds can differ from one sportsbook to another. It’s not uncommon to find variations in the numbers among sportsbooks; even a difference is as marginal as one or two points can substantially affect betting outcomes.

Take, for instance, a scenario where the Hornets are positioned as +10.5 underdogs in a matchup against the Celtics. If you plan to bet on either team, it would be worthwhile to explore a range of sports betting platforms to pinpoint the best odds.

You may encounter a situation on BetMGM where the Hornets stand at +10.5 with -120 odds, whereas DraftKings offers the same bet at a slightly better -115. Placing a successful $10 bet on the Hornets to cover the spread with DraftKings yields a win of $8.70 instead of the $8.33 you’d win at BetMGM.

Adopting a strategic approach to point spread betting entails shopping for the best odds before laying down your bet. Additionally, the possibility exists to find more favorable spread numbers on alternative sportsbooks. For example, FanDuel may list the Hornets at an even more enticing +3.5 for a higher payout if Charlotte can keep the game tight.

Which Sports Can You Bet Against The Point Spread In?

Spread betting finds its stronghold in sports with higher tendencies for wide scoring margins, such as football and basketball, both of which are known for occasional lopsided victories.

When it comes to other sports like baseball, soccer, and hockey, the landscape of point spreads shifts considerably. Terms vary with baseball’s point spread known as the “run line” and hockey’s as the “puck line.” Because these sports generally feature less scoring, the spreads are naturally smaller, typically set around 1.5 points with the odds fluctuating depending on the anticipated likelihood of a team winning by at least a two-point margin.

While wagering on the spread continues to attract fans of lower-scoring sports, many prefer to place straight bets on the victory of a team or over/under bets concerning the total number of runs or goals scored.

Basketball

Basketball is highly favored for spread betting, with the NBA and the WNBA drawing considerable betting action on their games’ point spreads.

Not to be overlooked, NCAA basketball garners a substantial following among spread betting aficionados, particularly highlighted during the frenzy of March Madness. A contributing factor to the prevalence of point spreads in college basketball is the restrictions on player prop betting in some states.

Additionally, betting enthusiasts have the opportunity to place spread wagers on other basketball events, including the NBA In-Season Tournament, G League games, and Olympic basketball games.

Football

The NFL reigns supreme in the betting world, particularly for spread bets. Options are available for the regular season, playoffs, Super Bowl, and even the preseason.

College football also offers widespread point spread betting opportunities, from the regular season games to the high-stakes College Football Playoffs. Moreover, the spreads for spring football leagues such as the UFL are open for betting. The nuances of football scoring, particularly common margins like 3 and 7 points that correlate to field goals and touchdowns, are closely tied to the point spreads set.

FAQs About the Point Spread

For those who are still curious about point spread betting, here are some FAQs to check out:

What does covering the spread mean?

When a team successfully beats the point spread established by the bookmaker, it implies they’ve either won or lost within the confines of the predicted margin. The point spread functions as a forecast of the expected difference in the final score, letting the underdog lose within a narrower margin or requiring the favorite to secure victory with a greater margin. For instance, if a favored team wins by 14 points when the spread favored them by 11 points, they have effectively covered the spread.

Can you include point spreads in a parlay bet?

Incorporating point spread wagers into a parlay bet is possible, allowing gamblers to enhance their potential returns. By combining various spread bets into a single parlay, the overall odds become more attractive.

Why do point spread bets get voided?

There are scenarios in which a point spread bet might be nullified. It could happen if the sportsbook erroneously lists the spread or if an event is suddenly halted, postponed, or rescheduled. It’s not uncommon in baseball for a bet to be canceled due to a last-minute pitcher substitution or a postponement due to weather. Should your bet face cancellation, you will receive a full refund of the initial amount wagered.

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