Point spread betting is a popular method in sports betting that helps level the playing field between favorites and underdogs. It is commonly used in sports such as football and basketball, but can include a variety of others.
In this guide, we’ll break down how point spread betting works, the key terminology, and strategies to help you understand how to make smarter wagers. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced bettor, mastering the spread is essential and made easy with this point spread betting guide.
The point spread is a betting line used to equalize the perceived difference in strength between two teams, often in football or basketball. It represents the number of points one team is expected to win by, with the favored team giving up points and the underdog receiving points. This creates a more even playing field for people who like to bet on sports, offering a way to bet on both sides of a game.
Point spread betting might seem a little complex at first, especially if you are new to the community and just learning how to bet on sports. But when you put it into a real world example it makes this a lot simpler and easier to understand. Here’s an example of point spread betting in action:
When it comes to spread betting there are typically two different types that are commonly used - known as half-point and full point. The key difference between the two is one allows for the possibility of your bet to be pushed, while the other guarantees a win or a loss.
In half-point spread betting, the spread includes a half-point (e.g., -3.5 or +7.5). This prevents the possibility of a tie or push because no team can win or lose by a half-point. The bet is either a win or loss.
An example of this is if a team is -3.5, they must win by 4 or more points for the bet to be successful. If the spread is +7.5, the underdog can lose by 7 or fewer points, or win outright.
A full-point spread includes whole numbers (e.g., -3 or +7), and there’s a possibility of a push if the favorite wins by exactly the spread amount. When this happens, the bettor typically gets their stake back.
An example of this is if a team is -3, they need to win by more than 3 points for the bet to pay out. If they win exactly by 3 points, it’s a push, and the bettor gets their wager refunded.
So, you’ve learned what is point spread in betting, at least from a general standpoint. But, how does this betting type work in specific types of sports such as football, basketball and more. Let’s take a look:
In football markets such as the NFL and college football, you’ll be able to use point spread betting just like in the previous example. However, let’s take another look at an example tailored to the NFL.
If the spread is New England Patriots -7 vs. Miami Dolphins +7, the Patriots must win by more than 7 points for bets on them to pay out. If the Dolphins lose by 6 points or less, or win the game, bets on them will win. Here’s a look at some hypothetical final scores:
| Hypothetical final score | Results against the spread |
|---|---|
| Patriots 30, Dolphins 21 | Patriots cover -7 |
| Patriots 28, Dolphins 21 | Spread pushes |
| Patriots 32, Dolphins 27 | Dolphins cover +7 |
It’s a similar situation for basketball betting too, and it doesn’t matter what kind of site you might be playing at, whether it bet bet365 or any of the main sportsbooks. Let’s look at a half point betting example this time.
Let’s say the Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Golden State Warriors, and the point spread is set as:
In this case, the Lakers need to win by 6 or more points for bets on them to win. On the other hand, the Warriors can either win the game outright or lose by 5 points or fewer for bets on them to pay out. Here’s a breakdown of possible outcomes:
Spread betting is a great way to enjoy your favorite sports, allowing you to place exciting bets that even the odds. However, you don’t have to rely on this type of betting, there’s a huge variety of alternatives out there including prop betting sites, moneyline wagers, parlays and much more. The table below breaks down some of the most popular alternative betting types:
| Bet type | Details |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | A bet on which team will win the game. |
| Straight bet | A bet placed on a single outcome (e.g., one team to win or one team to cover the spread). |
| Over/under | A bet on whether the total points scored in a game will be over or under a set number by oddsmakers. |
| Parlays | A combination of multiple bets into one, where to win, all bets in the parlay must be successful. Parlays increase the potential payout but are riskier. |
| Proposition bets | A bet on specific events or outcomes within a game, not necessarily tied to the final score (e.g., which player will score the most points). |
| Futures | A bet on an event outcome that will happen in the future, such as who will win a championship or league title. These bets are placed before the event. |
| Asian handicap | A form of point spread betting where the underdog is given a head start, and the favorite has a reduced margin to cover, often with half-point spreads. |
| In-play betting | Betting on a game after it has started. This type of betting allows you to place wagers as the action unfolds, often with changing odds throughout the game. |
As you can see from our guide, spread betting does not need to be difficult. Once you’ve seen some real examples and carefully read our descriptions, it’s pretty easy to pick up and start placing bets. Additionally, these bets can be placed on a wide variety of different sports markets and can even be used as the match is taking place, with in-play betting.
So now that you’re a spread betting expert, it’s time to put your knowledge to use. Be sure to check out our many sportsbook reviews here at Players Best. Find a sports betting site that meets your needs, claim their welcome bonus and start placing spread bets today.
Point spread betting is a type of bet where a favorite team must win by a specific number of points (the spread) for the bet to win. The underdog can either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread for the bet to win.
If a team wins by exactly the spread, it's called a "push," and your bet is refunded. For example, if the spread is -3 and the favorite wins by exactly 3 points, the bet is pushed, and you get your original stake back.
The team with the negative spread ( -) is the favorite, meaning they need to win by more than the spread to cover. The underdog has a positive spread (+), and they either need to win or lose by fewer points than the spread.
