Point spread betting is the most popular form of sports wagering, accounting for roughly 60% of all sports bets placed in the United States. If you've ever heard someone say "I'll take the Patriots minus three," they're talking about point spread betting. But what exactly does this mean, and how does it work?
Think of the point spread as a great equalizer—it's designed to make any game competitive from a betting perspective, regardless of how mismatched the teams might actually be. Whether it's the Super Bowl champions facing a winless team or a college basketball powerhouse playing a mid-major opponent, the point spread creates a scenario where both sides have roughly equal chances of winning your bet.
A point spread is a handicap created by oddsmakers to level the playing field between two teams of unequal strength. The spread represents the number of points that the favored team must win by for bets on that team to pay out, or conversely, the number of points the underdog can lose by and still "cover the spread."
The point spread serves two primary purposes:
When you bet on the point spread, you have two options:
Most point spread bets are priced at -110, meaning you need to risk $110 to win $100. This 10% commission is how sportsbooks make money regardless of which side wins.
Point spread lines can look confusing at first, but they follow a consistent format. Here's how to decode them:
| Team | Spread | Price | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -7.5 | -110 | Favored by 7.5 points |
| Buffalo Bills | +7.5 | -110 | Getting 7.5 points |
The minus sign (-) indicates the favorite, while the plus sign (+) indicates the underdog. The number represents the point spread, and the price shows how much you need to bet to win $100.
You'll often see spreads with half-points (like -7.5 or +3.5). These exist to eliminate the possibility of a "push" (tie), ensuring there's always a winner and loser for betting purposes. Without the half-point, a game that ends exactly on the spread would result in all bets being refunded.
Let's walk through some real-world examples to illustrate how point spread betting works:
| Matchup | Final Score | Spread Result |
|---|---|---|
| Rams -3.5 vs Cardinals +3.5 | Rams 24, Cardinals 17 | Rams win by 7 (cover -3.5) |
In this example, if you bet on the Rams -3.5, you win because they won by 7 points, which is more than the 3.5-point spread. If you bet on the Cardinals +3.5, you lose because they lost by 7 points, which is more than the 3.5 points they were getting.
| Matchup | Final Score | Spread Result |
|---|---|---|
| Duke -12.5 vs Wake Forest +12.5 | Duke 78, Wake Forest 70 | Wake Forest covers +12.5 |
Here, Duke was favored by 12.5 points but only won by 8. Bettors who took Wake Forest +12.5 would win their bet, while those who bet Duke -12.5 would lose, despite Duke winning the actual game.
Point spreads exist because not all teams are created equal. In any given week during NFL season, you might have matchups like:
Without point spreads, betting on these games would be pointless—everyone would obviously bet on the better team. The spread creates competitive betting markets even when the actual competition isn't close.
While point spreads are most commonly associated with football and basketball, they're used across various sports:
| Sport | Typical Spread Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | 1-17 points | Most popular spread betting sport |
| College Football | 1-35+ points | Wider ranges due to talent gaps |
| NBA | 1-15 points | High-scoring, close games |
| College Basketball | 1-25+ points | March Madness creates huge spreads |
| NHL | Puck line (-1.5/+1.5) | Usually fixed at 1.5 goals |
Successful point spread betting requires more than just picking good teams. Here are proven strategies that winning bettors employ:
Different sportsbooks often offer slightly different spreads on the same game. Getting an extra half-point can be the difference between winning and losing. For example, if one book has Team A -6.5 and another has Team A -6, you'd want to bet the underdog at +6.5 rather than +6.
In football, certain margins of victory occur more frequently than others. The most important key numbers are:
Being on the right side of these key numbers can significantly impact your long-term results.
Sometimes you'll see a spread move in the opposite direction of the betting public. If 70% of bets are on Team A but the line moves in favor of Team B, it suggests sharp money (professional bettors) is on Team B. This can be a valuable betting signal.
Look for spots where teams might not be fully motivated or prepared:
Even experienced bettors make these costly errors when betting point spreads:
Never bet on your favorite team just because you want them to win. Emotional betting is a guaranteed way to lose money. Stay objective and focus on value, not allegiance.
Spreads move for a reason. If a line moves significantly, investigate why. Did a key player get injured? Is weather affecting the game? Understanding line movement helps you make better decisions.
After a bad beat, it's tempting to immediately place a larger bet to try to win your money back. This is called "chasing," and it's one of the fastest ways to go broke. Stick to your bankroll management plan regardless of recent results.
Getting an extra half-point might not seem like much, but over hundreds of bets, it makes a significant difference in your win rate. Always check multiple sportsbooks before placing your bet.
A "push" occurs when the final margin exactly matches the point spread. For example, if you bet Team A -7 and they win by exactly 7 points, the result is a push. In this case, you get your original bet back—no win, no loss.
Pushes are less common now because most spreads include half-points, but they still occur with whole number spreads. Some bettors actually prefer whole number spreads because they offer the safety net of getting their money back if the game lands exactly on the number.
Most sportsbooks allow you to "buy" points by paying extra juice. For example, you might pay -130 instead of -110 to move a spread from -7 to -6.5. This can be profitable around key numbers but is generally not recommended for recreational bettors.
Some sportsbooks offer alternative spreads with different payouts. You might see:
The bigger the spread you're willing to lay, the bigger the potential payout (and risk).
Teasers allow you to move the spread in your favor on multiple games in exchange for a reduced payout. A typical 6-point NFL teaser might let you move two spreads from -7 to -1 and +3 to +9, but you need to win both bets to collect.
Point spread betting offers some of the best odds in sports betting when approached with discipline and knowledge. The key is understanding that you're not just picking winners—you're predicting margins of victory. With proper bankroll management and a solid understanding of line movement, key numbers, and situational factors, point spread betting can be both entertaining and profitable.
Remember, successful sports betting is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on making smart, informed bets rather than trying to hit home runs, and always bet within your means. The spread might just be a number, but understanding how to use it effectively can make all the difference in your betting success.
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