One of the most popular bets in all of sports betting is the spread. What is it? A spread bet is a wager on the margin of victory in a game. Let’s dive into the popular bet type and break down everything you need to know before making your first wagers with the top sportsbooks.
What is a Spread Bet?
A spread bet is a wager on the margin of victory in a game or contest. It’s the sportsbook’s way of leveling the playing field when a team is heavily favored to win. There will be a point spread for the underdog which is represented with a plus (+) sign and the favorite will have a minus (-) sign. Here’s an example of an NFL game.
| Matchup | Spread |
|---|---|
| Chiefs | +2.5 (-110) |
| 49ers | -2.5 (-110) |
In this case, the Chiefs are the underdog with a spread of +2.5. If you wager🦹 on the Chiefs to cover the spread, they have to lose by 2 points or less to cover the spread. They can also win the game and you would win the bet.
If you wag༺er on the 49ers, you are betting on the favorite with a spread of -2.5. The🍎 49ers have to win by 3 points or more to cover the spread.
More: Learn about other moneylines, totals, and more
How Do Odds Work for Spread Bets?
Odds for sprea🀅ds are usually set around -110 on both sides. In th𝓡e example above between the Chiefs and 49ers, it would take a $110 wager on either team to win $100.
It’s important to pay attention to the odds of the spread. Sometimes a sportsbook might have the odds at -115 or -120 depending on how heavily the team is being wagered on. This is why it’s vital to shop around for the best lines and odds as you to get the best value.
More: Understanding odds on sportsbooks
Spread Favorites
As we said before, a spread favorite is listed with a negative spread. This type of bet allows bettors the chance to wager on a heavy favorite without having to fork ov🍬er an insane amount of money to win very little. For example, check out this example.
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|
| Celtics | -8 (-110) | -325 |
| Heat | +8 (-110) | +260 |
As you can see, the Celtics are favored on the moneyline at -325. That means it takes a $325 bet to win just $100. If you l♉🔥ook at the spread, the odds for them to win by 9 points or more are at -110. A $110 bet wins $100.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can just bet spreads all the time and be successful. You still have to do your research and analysis to make the best-informed decisions.
Spread Underdogs
A spread underdog is listed with a negative sign. Once again, a spread gives you the chance to wager on an underdog to🧜 cover instead of taking the long-shot odds of them to win. Check out this example.
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|
| Panthers | +14.5 (-110) | +800 |
| Bengals | -14.5 (-110) | -1350 |
If you look at the moneyline, the Panthers are huge underdogs at +800 and have a low probability of winning the game. Your research says they will keep the game close. You can bet on them to cover the +14.5 spread with -110 odds. They just need to lose b𝔍y 14 or less to cover the spread.
What Does “Cover the Spread” Mean?
While sports betting, it is common to hear the phrase “covering the spread.” If your team covers the spread, that means you have won your bet. For example, let’s say you wager on the Lakers as -10.5 point favorites vs the Wizards. The Lakers end up winning 120-99. That’s a 21-point victory so the Lakers won by more than 11. The Lakers covered the spread.
Spreads in Baseball (Run Lines)
What about baseball? It can’t be called a point spread if they score runs, right? In baseball, spreads are called the Run Line. The run line for every game is usually set at -1.5 for the favorite and -1.5 for the underdog. It is set at such a low number because baseball games are low-scoring and usually end up with a difference of just a few runs.
In baseball, you will see more of a variation in the odds on the run lin♉e. Check out the exam﷽ple below.
| Matchup | Run Line |
|---|---|
| Red Sox | +1.5 (-166) |
| Guadians | -1.5 (+140) |
As you can see, the Guardians are the favorite but the odds🅰 of the♔m covering are +140. That means a $100 bet wins $140 for a total payout of $240 as you get your initial stake back. If you want to bet on the Red Sox to cover the run line, it would take a $166 bet to win $100.
Spread in Hockey (Puck Lines)
In hockey, the spread is called the Puck Line.𒀰 Similar to baseball, you will see the puck line for the favorite listed as -1.5 and it will be +1.5 for the underdog. Also, you will see some variation in the odds attached to the spread. Check out the example below.
| Matchup | Run Line |
|---|---|
| Hurricanes | -1.5 (+164) |
| Islanders | +1.5 (-198) |
The Islanders are the underdog with a puck line of +1.5. That means they need to lose by 1 goal or less to cover the puck line. If you were to bet on the Islanders, a $198 bet would win $100 if the⛎y covered.
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