What Is Point Spread In Sports Betting
⚡ ALL INFORMATION CLICK HERE 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻
What Is Point Spread In Sports Betting
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
Sports betting has expanded both in the number of markets that exist and with new intricacies added to player props and live betting. But spread betting is one of the more popular forms of sports betting, and this is a sentiment that will likely never change.
Spread betting has its own allure given the simplicity of the wager type and the ease in following along during a game in the context of each spread wager. In this article, we will discuss what spread betting is and the markets available for this type of bet.
Additionally, we will identify and address some of the complexities of spread betting and some frequently asked questions regarding this betting method.
Point spreads are handicaps placed on a team based on whether they are expected to win or lose by a certain margin. Oddsmakers attempt to reach a specific number line for spreads that they believe would make the forecasted final score closest to even.
One other popular type of betting is placing wagers on the moneyline. A moneyline wager is a bet placed on who will win or lose a game or contest regardless of spread.
For example, if the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees played, and the Dodgers had a +100 odds moneyline, you would win $100 on a $100 bet. The payout is simply 1:1. A wager on the Dodgers’ side would be a winner as long as the Dodgers win the game.
This is very different from the spread, which oddsmakers set to make the teams competing as even as possible, taking into account the perceived strengths and weaknesses of each side.
When it comes to the spread, there is always a favorite and an underdog unless the uncommon occurrence of a pick’em occurs. A favorite will always be surrendering points, i.e. a -7 spread for the Buffalo Bills against the Miami Dolphins means that oddsmakers have labeled the Bills as the favorite by seven points. On the other side, the Dolphins will draw a spread of +7, meaning that oddsmakers view the Dolphins as an underdog by seven points.
The aforementioned pick’em is a situation where no spread exists because the matchup is viewed as one that is extremely close. This basically defeats the purpose of the spread and makes it so that the moneyline is the only bet available in most cases.
The Miami Heat are playing the Orlando Magic in the NBA. The Heat are listed as nine-point favorites, drawing a spread of -9. The Magic, as a result, draw a spread of +9. If the Heat win the game by more than nine points, they will be the winning side against the spread (ATS). If the Magic lose the game by fewer than nine points or win the game outright, they will be the winning side against the spread.
In the event that the final score results in the Heat winning by exactly nine points, i.e. 112-103, neither side of the spread will win and will result in a “push.” This returns all wagers to bettors on the spread.
Point spread bets are appealing because of their simplicity. In addition to the spread number, there are also odds attached to each spread. The vigorish, also known as juice, can be seen on each spread bet before placing your wager.
The vig can be thought of as the book’s fee for taking the wager.
Arguably the best thing about spread betting is that the odds are normally between the -120 and +100 odds range. This ensures that bettors are laying far less juice to make these types of bets than they otherwise would on something like a lopsided moneyline.
A +7 spread is very commonly seen in the NFL due to the scoring of a touchdown and a successful extra point. It can be seen in other sports, as well. If the spread is set at +7, this means that to cover, the underdog must either win the game outright or lose by fewer than seven points. For the favorite to cover, they must win by more than seven points.
A +1.5 spread is less common compared to other spread numbers across all sports given what the oddsmakers are implying when attaching it to a game.
This means that the underdog must win outright or lose by exactly one point to cover the spread. Alternatively, a +1.5 spread means that the favorite must win by two points, runs, etc. or more. The +1.5 is the standard “run line” in MLB betting.
Many baseball games are decided by fewer than two runs.
In the event that the underdog only loses by one, they would be doing what is called “winning by the hook.” This refers to the fact that a side wins against the spread by exactly 0.5 points which is quite common given how excellent oddsmakers are in getting their predictions close to the final score.
As previously mentioned, spread bets have odds attached to them that are usually quite reasonable, existing in the range of -120 to +100 in most cases. Depending on whether you are a bettor who looks to win one unit on a bet or you wager a unit on all bets, this has a significant impact on how much you can make on an individual wager against the spread.
A unit is simply a predetermined dollar figure for your standard wager. If you set aside a certain amount of money for sports betting, a unit is typically 1% of your sports betting funds. This helps bettors minimize risk on any one bet, as sports betting has high variance.
If a bettor with a $100 unit size wagers on a -120 odds spread, they would be placing either a $120 bet to win $100 or a $100 bet to win $83.33.
Let’s now discuss some spread betting examples and intricacies of each major North American sports league. Each league is different given the way scoring is done in each sport, creating somewhat of a learning curve for spread betting.
Betting on spreads in the NFL is one of the most popular ways of utilizing spread betting in the United States. The typical spreads available are first quarter, first half and full game spreads with some bettors also engaging in second half spreads. The NFL has a standard structure for this betting market, unlike some of the other major sports leagues.
An example of an NFL spread wager would be to bet the full game spread of the Arizona Cardinals +7.5 points against the Los Angeles Rams. This would require the Cardinals to win the game outright or lose by less than a touchdown.
Similar to the NFL, NBA spread betting is fairly standard. The same methods are available such as quarter, half and full game spreads. Bettors have proven to engage more in the quarter-by-quarter betting as opposed to the NFL given the fast-paced nature of basketball.
For example, a bettor can place a wager on the first quarter between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. The Celtics are favored by two points against the spread. Bettors would be forced to either back Celtics -2 or Heat +2 with an exact difference of two points representing a push.
MLB betting has a very different structure than the NFL and NBA because scores and winning margins are often low. There are technically no “spreads,” but rather a “run line.” Unlike most other sports, MLB run lines typically have odds that can reach as high as -200 or +200 depending on what direction the game is predicted to go.
If the New York Yankees are matching up with the Boston Orioles and the Yankees have a -250 moneyline attached to them, their run line will look something like “Yankees -1.5 at -120 odds.” On the other hand, if the Yankees were to play the Los Angeles Dodgers and were just -115 favorites, their run line would look something more like “Yankees -1.5 at +190 odds.”
NHL “puck lines” operate very similarly to the way MLB run lines do. However, the main difference with hockey is that the average game has far fewer goals scored than a baseball game has runs scored.
If the Nashville Predators play the Anaheim Ducks and the Predators are -200 favorites, their puck line would likely look something along the lines of “Predators -1.5 at -110 odds.” However, if the Predators were to play the Lightning at -115 favorites, the puck line would look something closer to “Predators -1.5 at +190 odds.”
Betting on the spread can be an enjoyable time for any bettor as it adds a wrinkle into the experience that bets on markets like moneylines do not provide. Whether you are looking to back that massive underdog or the close home favorite, doing the research can maximize your profits when engaging in spread betting.
All in all, wagering on spreads is one of the simplest and purest forms of sports betting and should be viewed as one of the best options holistically.
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 .
Daniel Preciado studied sport analytics at Syracuse Univeristy and has covered sports betting since 2018 for The Game Day, The Action Network and Fansided.
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
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,
Free Young Nudist Video
Salon International De La Lingerie
Sex Massage Fort Lauderdale