Sports betting spread, often referred to as the point spread, is one of the most popular and widely used forms of wagering, especially in sports like football and basketball.

It’s designed to level the playing field between two teams, giving bettors a more balanced way to wager on games where one team is heavily favored.

Whether you’re a beginner or just curious, understanding how spreads work is essential to placing smarter bets.

What Is the Spread?

The spread is essentially a margin of victory set by oddsmakers. It assigns a handicap to the favorite (the team expected to win) and an advantage to the underdog (the team expected to lose).

Bettors wager on whether a team will “cover the spread,” meaning they either exceed the margin set by the bookmakers (favorites) or stay within it (underdogs).

Here’s a classic example:

• Dallas Cowboys -6.5
• Green Bay Packers +6.5

In this scenario:

• The Cowboys are the favorites, and they need to win by more than 6.5 points (7 or more) for a bet on them to win.
• The Packers are the underdogs, and they can either win outright or lose by 6 points or fewer for a bet on them to win.

The spread creates an even contest for bettors, no matter how lopsided the matchup might seem.

It’s not about which team wins or loses—it’s about the margin of victory or defeat.

How to Read and Interpret Spreads

Understanding spread numbers and symbols is simple once you get the hang of it:

1. A minus (-) indicates the favorite. They must win by more than the spread number.
2. A plus (+) indicates the underdog. They can lose by fewer than the spread number or win outright.

For instance, if the spread is set at 7 points:

• If you bet on the favorite (-7), they must win by 8 points or more to cover the spread.
• If you bet on the underdog (+7), they must lose by 6 points or fewer (or win) for you to win your bet.

If the spread is a whole number (e.g., 7 instead of 6.5) and the favorite wins by exactly the spread margin, it’s called a push, and your stake is returned.

Why Use Spreads?

Point spreads are designed to create balanced betting markets. If one team is much stronger than the other, a simple moneyline bet on the favorite would offer little value, while the underdog would seem like a hopeless gamble. By introducing a spread, bookmakers make both sides of the bet more appealing.

For example:

• Without a spread, the Cowboys might be heavy moneyline favorites at -300, meaning you’d have to bet $300 to win $100.
• With a spread of -6.5, both sides of the wager might have odds of -110, making it a fairer, more balanced proposition.

How to Bet on the Spread

Betting on the spread is straightforward:

1. Choose whether you think the favorite will win by more than the spread or if the underdog will stay within the margin.
2. Place your wager. Most spreads come with standard odds of -110, meaning you need to bet $110 to win $100.
3. Watch the game and hope your team covers the spread!

Key Tips for Betting the Spread

1. Understand Key Numbers: In football, common winning margins (e.g., 3, 7, 10 points) are crucial. Spreads like -2.5 or -6.5 mean a team needs to cover by just a half-point more than these key margins, making them more strategic to bet on.
2. Study Team Performance: Look at how teams perform against the spread (ATS). Some teams consistently exceed expectations, while others often underperform relative to the spread.
3. Factor in Home Advantage: Home teams often have an edge, and this can influence the spread. Consider how well a team plays at home versus on the road.
4. Monitor Line Movements: Spreads can change as new information (like injuries or weather) becomes available or as money flows in on one side. Timing your bet can make a difference.
5. Avoid Emotional Bets: Betting on your favorite team can cloud judgment. Stick to the data and avoid biased decisions.

Final Thoughts

The point spread is one of the most exciting ways to bet on sports, as it levels the playing field and makes every game competitive from a betting perspective.

By understanding how spreads work and learning to analyze games critically, you can approach spread betting with confidence and improve your chances of success.