Wager Mage
Photo by Erik Mclean Pexels Logo Photo: Erik Mclean

What does +1.5 mean in basketball?

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.

How much can you withdraw from my bookie?
How much can you withdraw from my bookie?

Withdrawals at MyBookie.ag Are Hassle-Free MyBookie allows you to cash out between $25 and $5,000 per transaction, eliminating most fees, and...

Read More »
What is a cold caller in poker?
What is a cold caller in poker?

In poker, do you know what it means to cold call? It's the term used when someone, who doesn't have any money/chips invested in the pot, just calls...

Read More »

Betting odds and lines from a sportsbook can be confusing at first, but they aren’t that hard to understand. In order to help you understand betting odds, we will use +1.5 as an example. 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 a New York sportsbook:

Chicago Bulls -1.5

New York Knicks +1.5

This means that sportsbooks believe that the Chicago Bulls have a higher probability of winning the game over the Miami Heat. Setting the line at just 1.5 does mean that these two teams are extremely close. This is what is called a “spread” bet, or “betting against the spread.” This is a very common bet in basketball and football games, but it is seen in other sports as well. I this case, the Chicago Bulls would have to win the game by at least two points to be declared a winner of the bet. The Miami Heat can actually lose the game but must keep the final score within 1.5 total points. Even though we are using +1.5 for this exercise, spreads are usually more spread out than this. There can be spreads of all different lengths, and it just depends on the sport, as you can see below. If you are betting on a team with a (+) in front of their odds, they are viewed as the underdog in a particular matchup. A team with a (-) in front of their odds are considered the favorite in that matchup.

+1.5 Means Different Things Depending on The Sport

Almost all forms of sports betting offer spread betting, but they behave differently depending on the sport. The most common sports that offer spread bets are basketball and football, but baseball, hockey, and soccer offer spread bet variations. In fact, baseball, hockey, and soccer commonly set the run or goal line at 1.5, which rarely changes. The underdog will almost always be listed at +1.5, while the favorite will be listed at -1.5.

How to be rich at 25?
How to be rich at 25?

Starting at 18, when you graduate high school, means you would need to earn $391 per day to make it to $1 million by age 25. What about if you...

Read More »
What are the 3 golden rules?
What are the 3 golden rules?

Golden rules of accounting Rule 1: Debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains. Rule 2: Debit the receiver, credit the giver. Rule...

Read More »

There is not a ton of scoring in those three sports so there aren’t any large spreads. The spreads don’t increase even if one team is a huge favorite in a particular matchup.

Lines Can Always Move

Another thing to keep in mind is that lines can always move, and most of them will move several times before a game begins. If you see a line of +1.5 on a football or basketball game, look for that line to be adjusted when it gets closer to the start of a game. There are several reasons that lines move, and it’s important for you to try to figure out why they are moving before placing a bet. Lines typically move because there are changes in financial circumstances, players are being injured, or there is some other news that may affect the likely outcome of a game or match. If you ever see a line completely shift and change who is favored in a matchup, do some research to see if you can figure out what may have caused this. To ensure you get the best of a line, research all of the best online sportsbooks before placing your action.

Bet Online

For those of you who are interested in bet online, we recommend creating an account with DraftKings:

DraftKings Sportsbook ✔ U.S. licensed & regulated

✔ Bonus for new bettors

✔ Safe and secure Bet $5, Get $200 in Free Bets Instantly Bet Now

Further reading about betting

To understand more about how sports betting works, check out our betting guides:

Happy Betting!

How to make an extra $2,000 a month?
How to make an extra $2,000 a month?

How Can I Make an Extra $2000 a Month? Invest in the Stock Market. Investing in the stock market is one of the best decisions you can make in...

Read More »
Is trips better than straight?
Is trips better than straight?

Three of a kind, also known as trips or a set, is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of two other ranks (the kickers), such...

Read More »
What does God say about trusting him in hard times?
What does God say about trusting him in hard times?

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Feb 26, 2013

Read More »
Do casinos have cameras in the bathroom?
Do casinos have cameras in the bathroom?

According to our sources behind the scenes, the general thing to remember is this: If it's somewhere you feel you need privacy, you have it....

Read More »