How To Bet On Spread

How To Bet On Spread

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What Is A Spread In Sports Betting?

What Does The + And – Mean In Sports Betting?

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Like to bet on sports but not a big fan of doing semi-complicated math? Then point-spread wagering was made for you.
Simple addition and subtraction—that’s all you need to know to grasp the nuances of spread betting, which is by far the most popular form of wagering for two of North America’s most popular sports: football and basketball (both college and pro).
What follows is a primer on how to wager on point spreads, including examples from multiple sports.
A point spread is nothing more than a bookmaker giving one team (or player) a head start in a game or event. In sports betting, this head start comes in the form of points (football, basketball), runs (baseball), goals (soccer, hockey), strokes (golf) and games or sets (tennis).
The idea is simple: If you wager on the team receiving the head start, you’re wagering on the underdog and hoping for one of two results: Either the team wins outright, or it keeps the final margin within a specific number of points/runs/goals. That number, established by oddsmakers, is called the point spread.
Conversely, if you bet on the team that starts from behind, you’re betting on the favorite, which needs to win by a margin greater than the point spread to cash your wager.
The point spread number in any game/event is always the same for both teams. The only difference: The spread associated with the favorite is denoted with a minus (-) sign, while the spread attached to an underdog carries a plus (+) sign.
Here’s how a point spread is expressed in an NFL game:
In this example, if you bet the Titans on the spread, you’re “getting” 3.5 points right from the start. You can win that bet one of two ways: The Titans defeat the Colts (win outright) or lose by one, two or three points.
A wager on Indianapolis means you’re “giving” 3.5 points—so before the game even kicks off, you’re losing 3.5 points to zero. That means the Colts not only must win the game, but they have to prevail by a margin of at least four points.
In this scenario, if the final score is Colts 23, Titans 21, Tennessee would “cover” the 3.5-point spread. However, if the Colts prevail 27-21, they would “cover” the spread.
Regarding spread betting, remember this: If you bet on the favorite (-3.5), you’re “giving away” those points throughout the entire contest. If you bet on the underdog (+3.5), you’re “getting” (or “receiving”) those points from start to finish.
Point spreads are expressed two different ways: as whole numbers (-6, -10, +13, +21) and fractions/decimals (+4.5, -8.5, +11.5).
Any point spread that has that extra half-point (or half-run, half-goal, etc.) means no matter what the game/event outcome is, there will be a definitive winner and loser from a betting perspective.
However, when that half-point—referred to as “the hook” in betting parlance—is absent from a point spread, it’s possible the final score on the field could result in a tie (or “push”) for wagering purposes.
Here are two NBA examples involving a hypothetical Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns matchup:
Betting result: Bucks spread bettors lose (didn’t win by at least six points); Suns bettors win (lost by fewer than six points)
Betting result: Push (the game was decided by the exact point spread of 5 points)
In the latter situation, all point spread bets are refunded. That is, everyone who wagered on Bucks -5 would get their money back, as would everyone who wagered on Suns +5.
It’s not uncommon for point spreads to move up and down—and it can happen multiple times in the span of hours or even minutes. This “line movement” tends to occur most frequently the closer you get to game time.
Why do sportsbooks make these adjustments? There are numerous reasons, but here are the three most common:
Lopsided betting action: A sportsbook’s ultimate goal is to have the same amount of money bet on both sides of every game/event (thus limiting the book’s financial liability).
So let’s say a bunch of five-figure wagers come in on a 4-point underdog, and the other side (4-point favorite) has only received a few hundred dollars in bets. In this case, the book might adjust the point spread to -3.5/+3.5 or even -3/+3 to balance out the action (that is, attract more money on the favorite and less on the underdog).
Injuries/suspensions/trades/rest: When news breaks that a key player won’t be suiting up—the quarterback in football; the starting pitcher or best hitter in baseball; the top player in basketball; the goalie in hockey—you can be sure oddsmakers will adjust the point spread. How much depends on the missing player’s worth to his/her team.
Weather: Obviously, this pertains to outdoor sports only, but inclement weather—wind, rain, snow, etc.—can lead to a point spread shift. That said, poor weather more often leads to line moves with totals (i.e., the Over/Under) than spreads.
In almost all instances, whenever making a point spread wager, bettors must pay a fee called the “vigorish” (also known as “the vig” or “juice”). This fee is displayed in the same manner as moneyline odds.
The standard odds for spread wagers is -110 for both the favorite and the underdog. That means no matter what side you’re taking, when the vig is -110, you must wager $110 for every $100 you want to win, $11 to win $10, or $1.10 to win $1.
(Note: Some sportsbooks won’t even list “-110” on their betting boards and apps—it’s just assumed that’s the vig.)
Sometimes, oddsmakers will adjust the juice rather than move the point spread up or down a half-point (or more).
So let’s say the New England Patriots are facing the Miami Dolphins; the point spread is Patriots -3.5/Dolphins +3.5; and most bettors are wagering on New England. Instead of shifting the spread to Patriots -4/Dolphins +4 (with -110 odds on both sides), the sportsbook might retain the -3.5/+3.5 spread number but move the vig to Patriots -120/Dolphins +100.
In this instance, bettors backing New England have to risk $120 to win $100 and need the Patriots to win by at least four points. Dolphins bettors would risk $100 to win $100 (even-money odds) and need Miami to win the game or lose by no more than three points.
The answer to this question: It depends on which side wins the wager, the bettor or the book. When bettors come out on top—no matter if it’s a spread or moneyline wager—they get the juice back as part of their winnings. But when a bettor loses, the sportsbook retains the vig (think of it as the “cost” of doing business with the sportsbook).
Here are two examples that illustrate where the vig ends up:
Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Point spread: Ravens +6.5 (-110)/Steelers -6.5 (-110)
The wager: $110 (to win $100) on Steelers -6.5
Betting result: Bettor wins and collects $210 (original $110 wager, plus $100 in winnings)
Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Point spread: Ravens +6.5 (-110)/Steelers -6.5 (-110)
The wager: $55 (to win $50) on Steelers -6.5
As we’ve detailed, spread betting with football and basketball is as basic as it gets. You’re either “giving” points (betting on the favorite) or “receiving” points (betting on the underdog). The rest is simple math (add to/subtract from the final score).
With other sports, spread betting is a bit different (yet still not all that difficult to comprehend).
Most bettors who wager on the NFL, NBA, and college football and basketball stick with the point spread. However, the moneyline is usually the preferred format for sports like the NHL, MLB and soccer.
The main reason: Football and basketball are higher-scoring sports that often feature final scores with wide margins (35-17, 122-101, etc.). Point spreads help tighten those margins in the betting market.
Conversely, baseball, hockey and soccer are traditionally lower-scoring sports with tighter victory margins (6-4, 4-3, 1-0, etc.). As a result, the “point spread” is always a low number.
In baseball, the spread is referred to as the “run line” and is always listed as -1.5 (favorite)/+1.5 (underdog). In hockey, it’s called the “puck line,” and just like baseball, it’s always -1.5/+1.5.
For a run line/puck line favorite to “cover the spread,” it must win by multiple runs/goals, while a run line/puck line underdog must win outright or lose by no more than one run/goal.
As for soccer, the spread is known as the “goal line”. Considering that fútbol is the lowest-scoring team sport on the planet, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that the goal line is usually listed at -0.5/+0.5.
Here’s what that means: If you bet a favorite on the goal line (-0.5), it must win the match—if the final score is a tie, you lose your wager. But if you bet a goal-line underdog, you can cash with an outright win or a tie (because you’re “getting” half a goal).
As with football and basketball, spread wagering in other sports comes with vigorish attached. The key difference? Whereas the vig in football and basketball spread betting is most often -110 on both sides, in the other sports, it can vary greatly. And it’s all correlated to the moneyline odds.
Here are two examples (one from MLB, one from the NHL):
If the moneyline for a Texas Rangers-Houston Astros game is Astros -220/Rangers +190, the associated run line probably would be Astros -1.5 runs (-115)/Rangers +1.5 runs (-105).
Perhaps you like the Astros’ chances to beat the Rangers on this day but aren’t interested in laying -220 odds on the moneyline (that is, betting on Houston to win the game, regardless of the victory margin). You can instead choose to bet the Astros on the run line at -115 odds.
So you’ve essentially cut the odds price in half (from -220 to -115), but here’s the tradeoff: Houston has to win by at least two runs for you to win your bet.
Switching to the NHL, let’s say the moneyline in a Vegas Golden Knights-Colorado Avalanche game was tight, something like Vegas -120/Colorado +110. The puck line odds would be much more extreme, roughly Golden Knights -1.5 goals (+170)/Avalanche +1.5 goals (-190).
Why? Because oddsmakers believe this contest is a virtual toss-up (hence the tight moneyline odds). The puck line odds tell you it’s more probable that Vegas wins by exactly one goal (or loses outright) than wins by multiple goals.
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Matt Jacob is a freelance writer and editor based in Las Vegas. He has written/edited for multiple print publications and online platforms, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Washington Post, UNLV communications, VegasSeven magazine, Premier Boxing Champions and, most recently, Props.com.

Brian Pempus has covered the U.S. gambling indusry since 2009, starting with Card Player Magazine in Las Vegas. He was later deputy editor of sports betting at Better Collective and managing editor at The Game Day, before joining Forbes Advisor in 2022.

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Posted: Jul 28, 2021 Last updated: Aug 26, 2022
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Point spread betting is a popular form of betting, especially with basketball and football, since these are two sports where more points are scored throughout the game than in other sports like baseball and hockey. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how point spreads work before placing a wager.
Always pay attention to line movement and monitor point spreads on multiple sportsbooks to get the best bang for your buck, as this will help put you in the best position to succeed as a point spread bettor.
As is the case with moneyline bets, point spreads involve betting on a favorite or underdog in a given game. If you bet on a favorite, they need to win the game by more than their assigned point spread. For example, if I take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5) on the point spread, that means that they need to win by at least eight points for me to win my bet.
If you bet on an underdog, they must either win the game outright or lose by a smaller margin than the assigned point spread. So, for example, if I bet on the Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) and they lose by three or fewer points or win the game outright, I would win my bet.
When it comes to NFL betting, the favorite is assigned a spread for the projected winning margin. They need to win by more than the spread for you to win your bet. If you take the underdog, you can win your bet if they win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread allows.
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The favorite is assigned a spread for the projected winning margin. They need to win by more than the spread for you to win your bet. If you take the underdog, you can win your bet if they win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread allows.
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The favorite is assigned a puck line of (-1.5) and the underdog of (+1.5). In this case, if you bet the favorite, they have to win by two or more goals. You will likely have a payout ranging from (-130) to (+200) for a favorite on the puck line.
If you bet on the underdog, this means that they can lose by one goal or win outright for you to win the bet. Betting on the underdog on the puck line is a costly decision, as it’s usually priced (-170) or higher.
The NHL betting site to place spreads bets is FOX Bet. They have very competitive odds and plenty of promotions. :
The favorite is assigned a run line of (-1.5) and the underdog of (+1.5). In this case, if you bet the favorite, they have to win by two or more runs. You will likely have a payout ranging from (-130) to (+200) for a favorite on the run line.
If you bet on the underdog, this means that they can lose by one run or win outright for you to win the bet. Betting on the underdog on the run line is a costly decision, as it’s usually priced (-150) or higher.
Soccer includes spreads when it’s between two unevenly matched teams. In these types of games, favorites are given spreads between 1-3 goals. This means that they need to win by more than that spread for you to win your bet.
A point spread is assigned based on the projected outcome of the game.
Home-field advantage is a huge factor in the point spread. For example, if the Kansas Chiefs play the Denver Broncos at home, the Chiefs would likely be favored by 10.5 points. However, if the game were in Denver, the Chiefs would be favored by about 4.5 points. The impact of home-field advantage depends on the team playing with it — some teams do not have as favorable a crowd or atmosphere as others. Denver, for example, is a particularly tough place to play, given the altitude.
There are other factors like injury status, current form and overall talent in the game. It’s important to keep track of the latest news around the league to find value on point spreads.
It’s also worth noting that some teams just aren’t very good at covering the spread while favored in the game. For example, a team might have a good record but had won numerous close games, so they might not be as good against the spread. This statistic is also worth keeping an eye on.
Keep in mind, that there are other types of sports bets worth taking into consideration.
A push is when the final result of the game lands precisely on the number of the spread. For example, if I bet on the Toronto Raptors (-4) over the Orlando Magic and the Raptors win by four, I would push my bet, which means that my money is refunded and the bet ends in a tie. Games with halves in their point spreads, like the Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) over the Atlanta Falcons, will never result in a push.
The favorite is the team projected to win the game. They are assigned a point spread with a minus symbol (-) in front of the number, such as Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5). If you were to bet on the Steelers to cover the spread in this instance, Pittsburgh would need to win by seven or more points for you to win your bet.
The underdog is the team that is projected to lose the game. They are assigned a point spread with a plus sign (+) in front of the number, such as Carolina Panthers (+5.5). In this case, the Panthers would need to lose by five points or fewer or win outright for you to win your bet.
Be sure to learn how to bet on sports before wagering.
When betting on the point spread in the NFL, you need to remember key numbers. A touchdown, for example, is worth seven points, while a field goal is worth three points. The key numbers are three, seven, and ten points.
The difference between a 2.5-point spread and 3.5-point spread is vast, as you may end up losing your bet if your team loses by way of a game-winning field goal (three points). 6.5-point spreads, 7.5-point spreads, 9.5-point spreads and 10.5-point spreads are also worth keeping an eye on as final scores are often within three, seven, and ten points.
It’s also worth mentioning that the home team usually gets an imaginary spread of three points. If a home team is favored by (-2.5), the oddsmakers are telling you that the road team is the superior team. You should keep a close eye on home teams that are favored by few points, as it’s often the sharper play to go with the road team in those situations.
You don’t need to worry about key numbers as much in the NBA, but I would advise always betting on the point spread when betting basketball. More often than not, if the team wins the game, they’re able to cover the spread. But, at the same time, be careful with high spreads in the NBA.
Betting on a favorite of 10 or more points can come back to bite you in the NBA, as teams tend to send in their subs when up double-digits in the fourth quarter, which can allow the opponent to cut down the lead — resulting in something called a back-door cover. These exist in the NFL as well.
In NHL, MLB and soccer, tread lightly with spreads. Only take the underdog if they aren’t priced too high — often, you’ll see them at (-200) or higher, which is far too risky. It’s also tough to take the favorite, especially if they end up winning by only one goal. However, it could be profitable since you get some solid value on the favorites. I prefer betting on the spread in MLB than NHL or soccer because baseball teams usually win by more than one run.
Point spreads involve a winning margin. If you bet on a favorite, they need to win by more than the assigned spread. For example, if a spread is (-7.5) points, your team
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