Spread Betting On Underdog
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Spread Betting On Underdog
States Where Sports Betting Is Legal
What Is A Spread In Sports Betting?
What Does The + And – Mean In Sports Betting?
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 needs to win by eight or more. If you bet on an underdog, they can lose by fewer than the assigned spread or win outright for you to win. For example, if a spread is (+5.5) points, your team can lose by 5 or fewer or win outright.
Moneylines just require your team to win the game outright — the winning margin does not matter in this type of bet. Each team will be assigned a moneyline based on their projected probability of winning the game. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers might be (-250) at home against the Rockies, who might be (+190). In this case, you would risk $25 to win $10 if you take the Dodgers. You would win $19 on a $10 bet if you took the Rockies.
It is better to choose moneyline in MLB, NHL, and soccer when taking favorites because the price is too high in the NFL or NBA. For example, if you took the Chiefs moneyline and they were favored by 7 points, you’d likely be laying (-400), which means you’d be risking four times your bet. However, it could be profitable for you to go with the moneyline on underdogs in the NFL or NBA since they’ll provide some nice value.
Point spread bets are good because they allow you to take heavily favored teams without incurring the financial risk involved. For example, let’s say the Chiefs are favored by 10 points against the Raiders. If you were to bet on them to win on the moneyline, you would likely be risking seven times your original bet. In this case, you can take them to win by more than 10 points and only have to pay a (-110) price.
Another reason to consider spread betting is that you can take an underdog without worrying about that team winning the game. For example, if I took the Raiders (+10) against the Chiefs, I would still win my bet if they lost by nine points or fewer. Point spreads allow bettors
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