Spread betting is incredibly popular for new sportsbook users and veterans alike. Point spreads are offered on almost every sport, and they even the odds by giving the underdog an advantage while the favored team gets a disadvantage. Point spreads can make even a mismatched game close, as far as bettors are concerned.
Ready to get acquainted with point spreads? We’ve got you covered with what they are, how they work, and strategies to make the most of them.
What Is Spread Betting?
Spread betting involves giving fake points to the underdog (the team expected to lose) and deducting fake points from the favorite. For example, you might see a spread like this:
- Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)
- Arizona Cardinals +3.5 (-110)
These numbers tell you a ton of information right off the bat (or should we say “from kickoff”). First, the Bears are favored, while the Cardinals are the underdog. This is because the -3.5 means the Bears would have to win by more than 3.5 points to cover the spread, which would mean bets on them win. The Cardinals, meanwhile, get the benefit of three additional points. They could lose by three or fewer points and still cover the spread. If they win, they also cover.
“Covering” the spread means winning the game after the phantom points have been added or deducted from the final score.
Finally, note that most spread bets come with odds of -110 (or very close to -110) on either side. This is because the spread evens things out for mismatched teams.
Common Types of Points Spread Bets
Spread bets are common in any sport in which two teams compete against each other. This means all the most popular sports offer point spread, but sometimes they go by a different name.
NFL spread betting is immensely popular among football fans. The most common spreads hover around the 3- and 6-point mark, giving the underdog a field goal or touchdown’s worth of advantage. Those numbers aren’t exact, and there can be a lot of variation in NFL spread betting. Check multiple sportsbooks to find the most advantageous line for your desired wager.
Spread bets are available for college football games as long as the games are available for betting in your state. College spreads tend to be higher (giving a bigger advantage to the underdog and a larger handicap to the favorite) because NCAA football has a lot of mismatches.
Basketball’s high-scoring nature makes it an ideal fit for spread betting. A good spread can even the odds for an underdog team and keep your bet alive. Spreads in NBA betting can vary widely based on each team’s performance, roster, and record.
In baseball betting, point spreads are called “run lines.” The idea remains, but the name is different. Most run lines in baseball are +1.5 for the underdog and -1.5 for the favorite, thanks to baseball’s low-scoring potential. This often results in juice on one side of a run line bet.
Hockey’s point spreads are called “puck lines.” Like baseball, hockey is low-scoring and typically has spreads of 1.5 with more beneficial odds on one side.
How To Bet the Spread
We’ve got a quick guide on how to bet the spread right here. Follow our steps to get going.
Log Into Your Sportsbook of Choice
You can click our exclusive links to sign up and claim a welcome bonus. Have your personal details handy for sign-up.
Navigate to Your Game of Choice
You can search directly or use the menus to find your preferred game.
Select the Spread Bet of Your Choice
Click or tap the line you wish to bet on to add the wager to your betslip.
Make a Deposit (If Necessary)
You can deposit after Step 1 if you wish, which means you won’t have to add funds to your account at this point.
Place Wager
Type the amount you want to bet, and the sportsbook will show you the payout if you win. Choose “Place Bet” and wait for the wager to process.
After that, you’re good to go. Watch the game and hope for a win!
Benefits of Spread Betting
Spread betting has many advantages. Let’s explore just a few of them.
First, most spreads on football and basketball have odds of -110 on either side of the bet. This is because giving fake points to the underdog and deducting from the favorite makes the game more of an even playing field. This means a lesser team might be able to compete with a superior opponent within the context of a spread bet.
Note that baseball and hockey spread bets (run lines and puck lines) don’t always have this advantage, but they may offer great odds on one side of the bet.
Additionally, spread bets are available at any sportsbook that is worth your time. Their sheer ubiquity means you can find ideal lines and odds by shopping for the best bets at various sportsbooks.
Finally, spread bets are flexible. Sportsbooks will list their normal lines as one of three major bets alongside moneylines and totals wagers. However, you can dig deeper into the available markets to find other spreads with the odds adjusted accordingly.
Spread Betting Tips and Strategies
Looking for ways to maximize your chances of winning a spread bet? Here are our top strategies.
Shop Around
Having multiple sportsbook accounts can be a huge advantage in spread betting. You might find a better spread at one sportsbook for one team or better odds for another. We recommend comparing your top sportsbooks to find the most profitable version of your desired spread bet.
Do Your Research
Keep an eye on trends, past performance, and injuries. Small changes can make a big impact on a game’s outcome. For example, if a star quarterback is sitting out, that could drastically change the final score.
Look At Alternate Spreads
Sportsbooks list their primary spreads on the main page for a matchup, but you can find other spreads with different odds by digging deeper. An extra point is sometimes worth it, even if the potential payout is a little smaller. Use alternate spreads to increase your chances when the information at hand makes it feel like the right option.
Seek the Juice
Particularly in baseball and hockey, spreads can offer great value on a particular team due to the sports’ low-scoring play styles. Look for higher-value bets on teams that could handily cover the spread.
Example Spread Bet
Here’s how a typical spread bet will look at DraftKings Sportsbook.
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | +2.5 (+102) | O 46.5 (-110) | +124 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -2.5 (-122) | U 46.5 (-110) | -148 |
The spread is grouped with the total and moneyline for the game as one of the three most common bet types.
This spread shows us the Baltimore Ravens are slight underdogs with a +2.5 spread. They need to win straight-up or lose by 2 or fewer points to cover. In football, +2.5 is not a great spread because it doesn’t even cover a field goal. However, there’s some good value with odds of +102, which would pay $102 on a successful $100 bet.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have a spread of -2.5. It’s slightly more advantageous for them (insofar as a “-” spread can be) because they could win by a single field goal and still cover the spread. Their odds are -122. A $122 bet on the Chiefs would win $100 (plus the initial bet back).
Tapping either team’s spread would add the bet to your betslip.
More Resources for Spread Betting
Once you’re ready to place your point spread bets, you can use some of our tools to help maximize your potential winnings.
Spread Betting FAQ
Betting on the spread means betting on a team to win after the spread has been added or subtracted from that team’s score. The line is set by sportsbooks, with the underdog getting extra points while the favored squad has points removed.
In a point spread, + means that the team will get those points added to their score before the bet settles. The – means those points will be subtracted to settle the bet. These are distinct from the +/- in the odds, which tell you how much you’d win.
The favorite is the team with a minus (-) symbol in front of their spread (not the odds). This means they are expected to win by about that many points and are thus given a handicap.
The underdog in a spread bet is the team with a “+” in their line. So, a team with a spread of +6.5 is the underdog. Keep in mind that the spread evens things out by giving the underdog a better chance than they would in a moneyline bet.
When a team wins by the amount in the spread, most sportsbooks label that bet a “push.” This means you neither win nor lose; you simply get your initial bet returned.
Any sportsbook worth your time will offer spread betting. It’s one of the most common bet types at every sports betting site.
Yes, spread bets can take many different forms. These include match round spreads in tennnis and UFC and margin of victory in cycling.
Spread betting is legal in all states with legal sports betting. Placing wagers of any kind on sports should always be done through legal and regulated sports betting apps.
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