Wager Mage
Photo by Евгений  Горман Pexels Logo Photo: Евгений Горман

What does 1.5 spread mean in football?

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.

Is Bitcoin a gamble?
Is Bitcoin a gamble?

Bitcoin is now over a decade old. While it has seen its fair share of doubt and ridicule when it launched, today it is by far the best-known and...

Read More »
Who is wealth god?
Who is wealth god?

Kubera (Sanskrit: कुबेर, romanized: Kuberā) also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine...

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.

Do footballers play bet?
Do footballers play bet?

Are players and staff at English clubs allowed to bet on football? In short, no. The FA introduced a worldwide betting ban on football for all...

Read More »
How often should I 3-bet?
How often should I 3-bet?

When should you 3-bet? It is easy to understand 3-betting for value. When playing solid, aggressive poker, a good rule is to always 3-bet your...

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 on Any Sport, Get $150 If You Win Bet Now

Further reading about betting

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

Happy Betting!

What is my handicap if I shoot 88?
What is my handicap if I shoot 88?

If you shoot between 81 and 85, your handicap will be between 6 and 9. If you shoot between 86 and 91, your handicap will be between 10 and 13. If...

Read More »
Who has the best goal to match ratio?
Who has the best goal to match ratio?

Legends like Iran's Ali Daei, who was the first football player to score 100 international goals, Ferenc Puskas of Hungary, who boasted an...

Read More »
What does spread +4.5 mean?
What does spread +4.5 mean?

Above is an football point spread. Pittsburgh is +4.5, with Cincinnati at -4.5, which means Pittsburgh is a 4.5-point underdog and Cincinnati is...

Read More »
What game app pays the most cash?
What game app pays the most cash?

Best Game Apps To Make Real Money Blackout Bingo. Blackout Bingo is a fresh, social, competitive twist to the classic game where you can win real-...

Read More »