Photo: Olha Ruskykh

How does a negative spread work?

A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a game. The stronger team or player will be favored by a certain number of points, depending on the perceived gap in ability between the two teams. A minus sign (-) means that team is the favorite. A plus sign (+) means that team is the underdog.

actionnetwork.com - Point Spread Definition, Examples - Action Network

What country is BetOnline from?

BetOnline Type of business Privately held company Available in English Founded 2001 Headquarters Panama City , Panama Key people Eddie Robbins III,...

Last updated Aug 18, 2019

What do +350 odds mean?

For favorites you are always risking the money to win $100, and with underdogs you risk $100 to win the amount. A -135 favorite means you must risk...

Last updated Jun 2, 2019

Make Your Bookie Cry And Pull The Hair By Generating $23,187

Promotion

A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a sporting event. It’s the most popular bet type in basketball and football. The perceived stronger team (the favorite) must win by a certain number of points/runs/goals to cash your bet. The worse team (the underdog) can lose by fewer than that same amount of points, or just win the game.

Let’s use a 2022 NFL Week 1 game as an example.

The Ravens are a -7 favorite against the Jets. That makes New York a +7 underdog.

Ravens win by 8+ points: Ravens bettors win

Ravens bettors win Ravens win by 1-6 points: Jets bettors win

Jets bettors win Jets win the game: Jets bettors win

Jets bettors win Ravens win by exactly 7: It’s a push, and bets are refunded Baltimore is expected to be much better than New York, hence the big spread. Sportsbooks apply the spread concept to way more than just the final score. Things like France -2.5 corner kicks vs. Germany, or Chiefs total touchdowns -1.5 vs. the Cowboys are also spreads.

Here’s how point spreads work.

Point Spreads, Explained

Point Spread Definition

A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a game. The stronger team or player will be favored by a certain number of points, depending on the perceived gap in ability between the two teams.

A minus sign (-) means that team is the favorite.

A plus sign (+) means that team is the underdog.

Here’s how DraftKings displays its point spreads for football, with the point spread boxed in red.

NFL Point Spread Examples, How it Works

It’s easiest to understand point spreads by seeing them.

Example 1

Let’s take the 2022 Super Bowl example:

Rams -4.5 (must win by 5+)

Bengals +4.5 (can win or lose by 1-4 points)

Score: Let’s say the Rams win 27-24 — Bengals spread bettors would win their bets. If the Rams win 30-20, Rams spread bettors would cash.

Example 2

Why is it called a donk bet?

Donk is a (potentially offensive) term used to describe a very bad poker player. A donk bet is a bet made out of position after check/calling on...

Last updated Jun 16, 2020

Why do British pubs have arms in the name?

Why do Pub Names End in Arms? Like the Red Lion, pub names that end in arms are to do with heraldry. 'Arms' is referencing the heraldic coat of...

Last updated Dec 2, 2020

Promotion

From Week 11 of the 2021 NFL season:

Bills -13.5 (must win by 14+)

Jets +13.5 (can lose by 1-13 or win)

Score: BUF 45, NYJ 17 (Bills cover -13.5, because they won by 28)

Example 3

Let’s take another example Week 11:

Rams -3.5 (need to win by 4 or more)

49ers +3.5 (need to lose by 3 or fewer, or win)

Score: SF 31, LAR 10 (49ers cover +3.5, because they won the game outright) You can learn more about American odds, but the number next to the spread is the juice associated with that bet. Most spread bets will be -110, so the sportsbook takes a 10% cut. That means for every $1 you want to win, you have to risk $1.10. So if you want to win $20 on a bet, you’ll have to risk $22. If you bet $22 on the Bills -13.5 and Buffalo wins by 14 points, you’ll win $20. If they only win by 10, you lose $22. Point spreads have an even tax on both sides because we expect each team to cover the point spread about 50% of the time. When betting moneylines — which requires you to pick the winner straight-up — you can get bigger payouts because the likelihood of the worse team winning the game outright is much lower than it just covering the spread.

How Do I Make a Spread Bet?

It’s easy to bet point spreads at a book like FanDuel or DraftKings. Here’s how it works:

Navigate to your desired sport.

Click on the spread you want to bet in the game module (it will be lined up with the team you want to bet). Head to the bet slip on the right side of the page (on your phone, it will pop up automatically).

Click “Login to Place Bet” and login, then submit your bet.

How Are Point Spreads Calculated & Made?

What does 2 1 odds mean?

The first number tells you how much you could win, the second number is the amount you bet. So, if the odds are listed as 2-1, you'll get $2 for...

Last updated Mar 9, 2018

Which fight made the most money?

Biggest earning boxing matches ever, including Floyd Mayweather's £678m fight with Pacquiao to Mike Tyson's £146m bout Mayweather vs Pacquiao, May...

Last updated Jun 7, 2021

Promotion

We could write another 5,000 words about how point spreads are truly made, but in the simplest terms, it’s a 3-step process. Oddsmakers build mathematically-driven ratings for each team before the season and continue to tweak them as games are played. They use those ratings, plus factors like home-field advantage, rest, and injuries, to create a point spread in advance of a scheduled game. Bettors then begin wagering on that initial point spread, which will influence the spread and move it to the most accurate possible number. Most sportsbooks do not create their own lines, and simply copy the movement they see at market-making books.

What Does Covering the Spread Mean?

“Covering the spread” is another way to say that a team won a point spread bet. In the above example, the Bills or more as a -13.5 favorite means they covered the spread. If the Jets (+13.5) lost by 13 points or fewer, or won the game, they covered the spread.

ATS Definition

What does it mean when a team is 9-2 ATS this season? ATS stands for “against the spread.” So an ATS record is simply wins and losses against the spread.

Run Lines & Puck Lines, Defined

Low-scoring sports like hockey and baseball do have point spreads, but they’re almost always -1.5 and +1.5. In hockey, a spread is referred to as the “puck line.” In baseball, it’s the “run line.” The odds are just changed depending on the ability of the team — you won’t get -110 on both sides. So you’ll get paid less for betting the Yankees -1.5 against the lowly Orioles than you would for betting the Yankees -1.5 against the Astros, when the two teams are more evenly matched.

actionnetwork.com - Point Spread Definition, Examples - Action Network

Is a 7-2 odds good?

7/2 odds are great because for every £2 winning bet you will return £7 profit. The 7-2 odds reflect the chances of your selection and bookmakers...

Last updated Jun 21, 2021

What is 1.5 in a bet?

When you see a +1.5 in front of a team's name, that means that they are 1.5-point underdogs in that matchup. Here is what this might look like from...

Last updated May 1, 2018

Promotion

Who is eligible for the 1400?

Those with an adjusted gross income — which is gross income minus certain adjustments — of $75,000 or less are eligible to get the full $1,400. Oct...

Last updated May 27, 2022

Promotion

Is a paid VPN better than a free one?

The only strength of a free VPN is that it's free. People typically don't expect high-end service when they get something without paying. But if...

Last updated Apr 27, 2019