Point Spread Betting Explained for Beginners
Learn the fundamentals of point spread betting, a popular way to wager on sports that levels the playing field between two teams. Understand how to read point spreads and what it means to "cover the spread."
What is a Point Spread?
A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a game. It is a number set by oddsmakers to level the playing field between two teams that are not evenly matched. The point spread is one of the most popular ways to bet on sports, especially in football and basketball.
How to Read a Point Spread
A point spread is displayed with a minus (-) sign for the favorite and a plus (+) sign for the underdog.
- The Favorite (-): The favorite is the team that is expected to win the game. To win a bet on the favorite, they must win the game by more than the point spread. For example, if a team is a -7 point favorite, they must win by 8 or more points for your bet to be successful.
- The Underdog (+): The underdog is the team that is expected to lose the game. To win a bet on the underdog, they can either win the game outright or lose by less than the point spread. For example, if a team is a +7 point underdog, your bet is a winner if they win the game or lose by 6 or fewer points.
The "Hook" and Pushes
Sometimes you will see a point spread with a half-point, such as -7.5. This is known as the "hook" and it eliminates the possibility of a push. A push occurs when the favorite wins by the exact margin of the point spread. For example, if a team is a -7 point favorite and they win by exactly 7 points, the bet is a push and your stake is refunded.
Juice or Vigorish
When you bet on the point spread, you will typically see odds of -110 for both sides. This is the "juice" or "vigorish" (vig), which is the commission the sportsbook takes for accepting your bet. With odds of -110, you need to bet $110 to win $100.
Example of a Point Spread Bet
Let's say the Green Bay Packers are playing the Chicago Bears and the point spread is:
- Green Bay Packers -3.5 (-110)
- Chicago Bears +3.5 (-110)
If you bet on the Packers, they need to win by 4 or more points for you to win your bet. If you bet on the Bears, they can win the game or lose by 3 or fewer points for you to win your bet. If the Packers win by 3 points, it's a push and your bet is refunded. The half-point eliminates the push in this scenario.