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Against the Spread (ATS)
sports bettingBetting on a team to cover the point spread rather than simply win the game outright.
Key Takeaways
- 1ATS means betting on the point spread
- 2A team's ATS record differs from their win-loss record
- 3ATS is the most common way to bet on football and basketball
What is Against the Spread?
Against the Spread (ATS) refers to betting on the point spread rather than the moneyline. When you bet ATS, you're not just picking a winner — you're betting on whether a team will win by more than the spread (cover) or lose by less than the spread.
Example
If the Chiefs are -7.5 against the Eagles:
- Betting Chiefs ATS means they must win by 8 or more points
- Betting Eagles ATS means they must lose by 7 or fewer points (or win outright)
ATS Records
Teams and bettors track ATS records separately from win-loss records. A team might be 10-6 straight up but only 7-9 ATS, meaning they haven't been covering spreads despite winning games.