Spread Betting In Sport Explained
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Spread Betting In Sport Explained
States Where Sports Betting Is Legal
What Is A Spread In Sports Betting?
What Does The + And – Mean In Sports Betting?
Forbes Advisor receives compensation from partner links on this page. Online bets are not legal in all locations, and this content is meant for those 21+. Winnings are not guaranteed, and you may lose all of your wagered funds. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
Pros Generally have better betting line value than the moneyline It can add more value to parlay wagers Can have higher maximum bet limits Adds excitement to games with a clear better team against a worse team Cons Assessing a wager could take more time The winning team in real life doesn’t necessarily win the wager
© 2022 Forbes Media LLC. All Rights Reserved
As of the second half of 2022, more than 30 states have retail and/or online sports betting laws enacted or pending legislation for the industry.
Since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, sports betting has caught on like wildfire. Each year, more and more bettors are finding interest in the activity.
Even if you’ve never wagered on a game, you’ve likely heard the term “point spread” or “the spread.” But what exactly is it? How can you use it when betting on your favorite sports team to add extra money to your wallet?
Here, we’ll not only explain what sports betting is, but we’ll look at the purpose of the spread, compare moneyline betting and spread betting, how it varies by sport and more.
To better understand spread betting, there are four main terms to know and understand: underdog, favorite, push, hook and juice.
When you first arrive at your favorite online sportsbook and look at the available bets for the upcoming games, you may notice two notations in the spread column—a “-” and “+.”
These are important as these not only indicate what the spread is but also illustrate which team is favored and which is the underdog.
For example, you look in the spread column of the upcoming Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins game. The Dolphins are +2.5 on the spread, and the betting line is -110.
With that +2.5, you could view the game starting with a score of the Dolphins up 2.5 to 0. Of course, the game’s score will be 0 to 0, but in the eyes of the spread, the Dolphins either need to win outright or lose by no more than two points.
You’ll lose that spread bet if the Dolphins lose 23 to 20. However, if they lose 23 to 21, you would win, as the added 2.5 points would result in a score of 23.5 to 23 through the prism of the wager.
On the other side, the “-” before the number indicates the favorite. Sticking with the above Dolphins/Ravens example, the Ravens would be -2.5.
Side note: For most sports, the spread will be the same on both sides, with the only difference being “-” or “+.”
Unlike the Dolphins, who need to lose by no more than two points, the Ravens now need to win by at least three points, given the added 0.5 on the spread.
Now, if the spread were Ravens -3, they would need to win by at least four. If the final score were 23 to 20, that would result in a push.
While we go into each wager hoping to win, taking a draw is better than losing.
A push can only occur when the spread is a whole number and doesn’t have the added 0.5.
As mentioned, if the spread is -3 and the team wins by three, this would result in a push as the underdog also has a spread of 3 on the other side, but with a “+.”
You don’t win or lose when this occurs—you receive your original wager back.
We’ve made mention of “the added 0.5,” but in sports betting, that added 0.5 is important. So important, in fact, that it has its own term—the hook.
There’ll never be a push with the hook, as teams cannot score half of a point. However, depending on which side you bet, the 0.5 acts like a whole point.
Again, if the spread is +2.5, you need to win outright or lose by no more than two; if the spread is -2.5, you not only need to win outright, but you need to do so by three or more.
Juice, also known as “vig,” is a price you pay for making a wager through an online sportsbook. The standard betting line, commonly seen in spread betting, is -110. With this betting line, you’ll earn $10 for every $11 wagered.
Think of it this way: If you see a “-” line of anything above -100, each point is the “juice” or the “vig.”
Spread betting is exclusively for sports betting. Thus, this isn’t a bet type you’d find at an online or retail casino.
The closest thing to a spread at an online casino would be the house edge, which is constant with each online casino game. In contrast, the spread is an optional wager in sports betting.
No matter what sport you’re a fan of, there’ll always be good and not-so-good teams.
There’s always going to be a disparity in professional sports.
But that’s where the point spread comes in.
The purpose of a spread is to make the teams as even as possible. The point spread is typically generated by online sportsbooks using algorithms and other mathematical formulas which determine how superior or inferior a team is.
So, when you bet on the point spread, you can look at the favorite and think, “According to this bookmaker, this favored team is considered ‘x’ number of points better than this other team.”
While the spread accounts for the strengths and weaknesses of each team, the moneyline removes all of that.
The moneyline wager is picking which team will win outright, with no strings attached.
While picking a moneyline team may be easier, the conversation around bet value is necessary.
We can all conclude that the Rams are incredibly likely to beat the Jaguars. However, the moneyline in a bet like that could have a -1000 line for the Rams. This would mean that you’d need to wager a hefty sum of $1,000 to profit $100.
The spread counteracts that value disparity but introduces an additional variable.
Say the Rams are -14.5 point favorites. You may conclude that the Rams will win, but will they win by 15 or more?
Generally, a point spread betting line will almost always be roughly -110.
So, you can bet on the Rams to win outright at -1000 ($1,000 to win $100), or you can assess the situation, and whichever side you think will cover the spread will get you $100 on a $110 wager.
Now, there are times when betting on the moneyline makes more sense. That said, there are different strategies for different sports, such as the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA.
The key spread number in the NFL is -3 or anything less than that. When you see a -3 line, this is typically for when two teams are relatively equal in stature, but this could account for home-field advantage.
When you see a spread less than three, it may be better value, depending on which side you want to wager, to bet the moneyline.
According to Sports Insights , the chances of winning an NFL game by less than three points is minimal.
The point spread in the MLB is known as the “runline.” Unlike the NFL, the runline will always be 1.5 on each side. The betting line will almost always be different than -110, as 1.5 runs in a baseball game can be substantial.
Also, with the runline of 1.5 being so static, the “favorite” may not be the best candidate for that -1.5 runline.
The NHL also has an alternate term for the points spread—the puckline. Like MLB betting, the standard puckline is also 1.5. This makes sense, as MLB and NHL scores are far more synonymous than the NFL or the NBA.
As the NHL and MLB are more similar to one another final score-wise, the NBA and NFL are more on par.
However, the similarity isn’t the final score but rather the margin of victory. NBA games can have high point totals, but you’ll find that the spreads are more “in the ballpark” with the NFL.
It’s more common to find “larger” spread numbers in the NBA, but the betting line of -110 is something you should often expect to see.
You can absolutely win money when betting the spread. However, there are a couple of easy strategies you can deploy immediately to assist in winning cash.
If you’re in a state where multiple sportsbooks are available, we recommend looking to see if any offer better value for you, depending on the wager you intend to make.
Whether getting a better betting line or adding 0.5 or a whole point to a spread, this can be a way to find the most attractive bet for you.
Alternate line wagers may not be available at all sportsbooks, but it is something to consider. With this type of bet, you can bet on a different spread with the betting line value reflecting that change. You may sacrifice some betting line value for that added point or two.
All online sportsbooks will have some form of a bonus or promotion offer.
Whether it’s no-deposit bonuses, deposit bonuses, free bets, “risk-free” bets or something similar, you can leverage these to explore wagers that you might not have otherwise considered. Some promos are tied to specific bets.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners .
Graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Journalism, Richard Janvrin has been covering iGaming and sports betting since December 2018. Richard has covered betting at Bleacher Report, Gambling.com and The Game Day.
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.
States Where Sports Betting Is Legal
What Is A Spread In Sports Betting?
What Does The + And – Mean In Sports Betting?
Forbes Advisor receives compensation from partner links on this page. Online bets are not legal in all locations, and this content is meant for those 21+. Winnings are not guaranteed, and you may lose all of your wagered funds. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
© 2022 Forbes Media LLC. All Rights Reserved
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 th
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