Photo: Sam Lion

What does a positive point spread mean?

Betting Line The minus sign denotes that that team has to win by more than that margin while the plus sign indicates that the other team can lose by that margin, or win the game, and they cover the spread in either case. Following this example, the Chiefs are at -4.5.

bettingpros.com - What Is The Point Spread And How Does It Work? - BettingPros

How much money can you put in the bank without the IRS?

Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000...

Last updated Apr 16, 2021

Can you get 2 bp in rugby?

Standard system 4 points for winning a match. 2 points for drawing a match. 0 points for losing a match.

Last updated Jan 15, 2021

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

Promotion

The point spread is one of the most popular sports betting options when it comes to betting on college football and the NFL. A point spread is a figure set by the oddsmakers that really serves as a margin of victory. The team you bet on has to ‘cover’ or beat that margin for you to win your bet. If you’re new to this, let’s take a closer look at what it is and how it works.

Explaining The Point Spread

The easiest way to better understand the point spread is by using an example. Let’s look at a potential matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs:

Betting Line

Oakland Raiders +4.5

Kansas City Chiefs -4.5

The first thing you’ll want to notice is either the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ sign. The minus sign denotes that that team has to win by more than that margin while the plus sign indicates that the other team can lose by that margin, or win the game, and they cover the spread in either case. Following this example, the Chiefs are at -4.5. This means that in order to win on the point spread or cover, Kansas City would need to win the game by five points or more. On the other side of the equation, Oakland is listed as a 4.5-point underdog. This means that as long as the Raiders either win outright or lose by four, three, two or one point, they will cover the spread. When it comes to the point spread, the team that has the minus sign is laying points and is always the favorite. On the other hand, the team that has the plus sign and is getting points is the underdog.

How To Calculate Winnings

Typically, on the point spread, both teams are assigned both a point spread number and a money line value. Now that you know what the point spread is, we’ll explain how to calculate the payout. When there’s a minus sign in front of those odds, it suggest the amount of money you need to bet to win $100. In this case, it would be risking $110 to win $100. If you place a $110 bet on the Chiefs at -4.5 and they win by five or more, you will get your original $110 back along with another $100 in winnings for a total of $210. If you risk $110 on the losing side, then you lose that amount.

The Point Spread Push Explained

In addition to wins and losses, the third potential point spread outcome is the “Push.” A push is any instance when the final margin of victory is the exact same as the point spread. For example, if the Chiefs were listed at -5 in the example that we used above and then beat Oakland 32-27, this would be considered a push. Usually, the oddsmakers try to use half-points so that we don’t end up in a tie, but there are many lines throughout the week that land on whole numbers. If you push, you get your original stake back.

Check out our PointsBet review and promo codes >>

Dave Golokhov is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Dave, check out his archive and follow him @davegolokhov.

Betting 101

Can you make a living from betting?

As with anything in life, making money from sports betting requires time and effort. And those looking for a get-rich-quick solution or minimal...

Last updated Feb 1, 2022

Do professional gamblers do parlays?

However, bettors can sometimes parlay several teams together for massive one-time payouts. Parlays are most popular during football season where...

Last updated Sep 29, 2022

Promotion

How much is 30 to 1 odds?

The odds and what they mean Odds Payoff range 10-1 $22.00-$23.90 15-1 $32.00-$33.90 20-1 $42.00-$43.90 30-1 $62.00-$63.90 22 more rows

info.nassauotb.com - The odds and what they mean - Nassau OTB

Beginner's Corner

The odds and what they mean

The odds represent the publics opinion of each horse's chances of winning a race, based on how they actually bet. A horse's odds reflect how much has been bet on it to win the race. Horses that are given a better chance of winning (favorites) will pay off less than the horses that are not expected to run well (longshots). Odds in the newspaper or track program reflect a horse's morning line odds. Morning line odds are set by oddsmakers and handicappers before the betting actually begins, and are meant to represent the best estimation of what a horse's odds will actually be. Actual odds are posted before each race, and can change constantly until the race begins. The current odds are always posted on television and computer screens and on the racetrack tote board leading up to a race. The posted odds are based on win wagers only. All posted win prices are posted to reflect winnings for each $2 bet. If you are confused by the odds and are never sure what your horse is going to pay if it wins, it is easy to calculate the approximate payoffs by doubling the odds and then adding in the cost of a $2 wager. For example: If the odds are 4-1, a $2 win bet would pay $10 (4 x $2 = $8 + $2 = $10).

When in doubt, you can always consult the following table:

How do I prove gambling losses?

Other documentation to prove your losses can include: Form W-2G. Form 5754. wagering tickets. canceled checks or credit records. receipts from the...

Last updated Feb 1, 2020

Which sorting algo is best?

Quicksort Quicksort. Quicksort is one of the most efficient sorting algorithms, and this makes of it one of the most used as well. The first thing...

Last updated May 23, 2019

Promotion

How do you win a horse every time?

8 Easiest Ways Of Winning Big When Betting On Horses This 2021 Understand That There Are No Certainties. Horse race betting in nature doesn't have...

Last updated Dec 28, 2020

Promotion

Can you cash out DraftKings out of state?

You can cash it out while you're at home. The only thing you can't do at a sportsbook like DraftKings if you're not in a legal state is actually...

Last updated Jan 25, 2018