What is a Point Spread? Point Spread Betting Explained
Point spread betting is one of the most popular types of sports betting, especially in football and basketball. When you place a point spread bet, you’re not just betting on who will win; you’re betting on “Against the Spread” (ATS). This means you’re predicting the margin of victory, not just the outcome of the game. The point spread is basically a handicap given to each team to even things out for bettors, making the game more balanced and interesting. It’s a great way to raise the stakes because it’s not just about who wins, but by how much.
Breaking Down Point Spread Betting
In simple terms, point spread betting makes betting on uneven matchups more exciting. Oddsmakers create a spread that gives the underdog a bit of a head start and puts the favorite in a position where they have to win by a certain amount. So, if you’re betting on the favorite, they need to win by more than the spread, while the underdog just has to lose by fewer than the spread or win outright to cash in your bet.
This kind of betting is especially popular in sports like football and basketball because the high scores make spreads more relevant. You won’t see point spreads as often in lower-scoring sports like baseball and hockey, where betting lines like moneylines or puck lines are more common.
How Does the Point Spread Work?
When sportsbooks set a point spread, they label one team as the favorite and the other as the underdog. The favorite gets a negative point spread (like -3.5), which means they need to win by more than that number of points. The underdog, on the other hand, gets a positive spread (like +3.5), so they can either win the game or lose by less than the spread to win the bet.
Let’s use an NFL example:
- St. Louis Rams +3.5 (-110) vs. Dallas Cowboys -3.5 (-110)
In this matchup:
- The Cowboys are the favorite, and they’re giving 3.5 points.
- The Rams are the underdog, and they’re getting 3.5 points.
As a bettor, you have two options:
- Bet on the Cowboys (-3.5): The Cowboys need to win by at least 4 points for you to win.
- Bet on the Rams (+3.5): The Rams can either win the game or lose by 3 points or fewer for your bet to win.
The -110 next to each team is the odds or price of the bet. In this case, you’d have to bet $110 to win $100 if you get it right.
Winning and Losing with the Spread
Let’s keep rolling with the Cowboys vs. Rams example. Here’s how the outcomes might play out:
- Cowboys win by 4 or more points: If you bet on the Cowboys (-3.5), you win because they covered the spread by winning by more than 3.5 points.
- Rams win or lose by 3 points or less: If you bet on the Rams (+3.5), you win because they either won outright or didn’t lose by more than 3 points.
- Cowboys win by exactly 3 points: This one’s tricky. If the spread had been Cowboys -3, it would be a push, meaning neither side wins, and you get your money back. But since it’s -3.5 in this case, the Cowboys didn’t cover the spread, so the Rams bet would win.
Why Do Point Spreads Exist?
Point spreads exist to make betting more balanced and fun, especially when one team is clearly better than the other. Without spreads, everyone would just bet on the favorite, and that would be boring for bettors and costly for sportsbooks. The point spread evens things out by adding a layer of challenge now the favorite has to win by a certain amount to cover the spread, while the underdog has a better chance of winning the bet, even if they lose the game.
For example, if the Cowboys were heavily favored over the Rams, most people would bet on the Cowboys to win. But with a point spread of -3.5, now the Cowboys have to win by at least 4 points, which makes it harder and gives bettors a reason to take a chance on the underdog Rams.
Point Spread Betting Examples in Different Sports
NFL Point Spread Example
- Game: Philadelphia Eagles -6.5 vs. New York Giants +6.5
- Betting on the Eagles (-6.5) means they need to win by 7 or more points for your bet to win.
- Betting on the Giants (+6.5) means they can either win or lose by 6 points or fewer for your bet to hit.
NBA Point Spread Example
- Game: Los Angeles Lakers -4.5 vs. Golden State Warriors +4.5
- A bet on the Lakers (-4.5) needs them to win by at least 5 points.
- A bet on the Warriors (+4.5) wins if they either win outright or lose by 4 or fewer points.
Point spreads in basketball and football work the same way because both sports have high enough scores to justify the spread.
Key Betting Terms for Point Spread Betting
- Favorite: The team expected to win and is given a negative point spread (e.g., -3.5).
- Underdog: The team expected to lose and is given a positive point spread (e.g., +3.5).
- Covering the Spread: When a favorite wins by more than the spread, or when an underdog wins or loses by fewer points than the spread.
- Push: A tie between the point spread and the final score. In this case, your bet is refunded.
- Juice/Vig: The fee or commission sportsbooks charge to accept the bet, usually shown as -110, meaning you have to bet $110 to win $100.
Understanding Point Spread Odds
The odds next to the point spread, like -110, tell you how much you need to bet to win a certain amount. For example, -110 means you have to bet $110 to win $100. That extra $10 is called the juice or vig, and it’s how the sportsbook makes its money.
Sometimes, you’ll see different odds for each side of the bet, like:
- Cowboys -3.5 (-105) vs. Rams +3.5 (-115).
In this case, you’d need to bet $105 on the Cowboys to win $100, but you’d need to bet $115 on the Rams to win the same amount. This difference encourages bettors to put money on the side that’s less popular.
Challenges with Point Spread Betting
Point spread betting isn’t as straightforward as just picking a winner. Even if your team wins, they still need to cover the spread. For example, if the Cowboys win but only by 3 points, a bet on Cowboys -3.5 would lose because they didn’t cover the spread.
Spreads can also change before the game based on things like:
- Injuries to key players.
- Weather conditions, especially for outdoor sports like football.
- Betting patterns, where sportsbooks might adjust the spread to balance the bets on each side.
Smart Strategies for Betting Against the Spread (ATS)
- Study Team Matchups: Don’t just look at overall team performance—focus on how teams match up against each other in specific areas like offense and defense.
- Watch for Line Movements: Spreads can shift as money comes in on one side. Pay attention to these changes, as they might show where sharp money (from expert bettors) is going.
- Factor in Home Field Advantage: Home teams often get a slight edge in the spread due to playing at home, which can influence the outcome.
- Avoid Betting with Your Heart: It’s easy to bet on your favorite team, but emotions can cloud your judgment. Stick to the data.
- Pay Attention to Key Numbers: In football, numbers like 3 and 7 are common winning margins because of how scoring works. Betting around these numbers can give you an advantage.
Conclusion
Point spread betting is a fun and challenging way to get more involved in sports betting, especially for games with higher scores like football and basketball. The key to success is understanding how point spreads work, keeping an eye on how they change before the game, and knowing how to read the odds. It’s not just about who wins—it’s about whether they cover the spread. By analyzing matchups, staying on top of line movements, and making smart betting decisions, you can improve your chances when betting against the spread.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is point spread betting?
Point spread betting is when you bet on whether a team will win or lose by a certain number of points, rather than just picking a winner.
What does ATS mean?
ATS stands for Against the Spread, meaning you’re betting on whether a team will cover the point spread.
How do you win a point spread bet?
If you bet on the favorite, they need to win by more than the spread. If you bet on the underdog, they need to win or lose by less than the spread.
What’s a push in point spread betting?
A push happens when the final score matches the spread exactly, and your bet is refunded.
What sports use point spreads?
Point spreads are most common in football and basketball.
Can point spreads change before a game?
Yes, point spreads can change based on injuries, weather, and how much money is being bet on each side.