Everything you need to know about Point Spread Betting
Understanding Point spread betting is essential to betting. Those who are new to betting generally have heard of point spread bets, but may be unsure of what that means and how they work. But, luckily for those who are new, it is very simple to get started.
Our guide will help you understand point spread betting, and teach you ins and outs, and the differences between NFL point spreads and college football point spreads. It is important to realize there are several different factors involved in professional and college level sports wagers, as well as wagers on championships like Super Bowl point spread bets. Read on to learn more!
What Is A Point Spread?
The points spread, also known as ‘betting the spread’ or ‘handicap betting’ is a sports betting market that means a team must win by a specific number of points (or goals), or they must not lose by a specific number of points / goals.
In betting, point spread betting is one of the most popular ways most people will bet on sports. While NFL point spread and NBA point spread bets are what first made this wager type popular, the format has been adopted by many other professional sports as well.
In a moneyline wager, you are betting on an overall winner in a chosen matchup. Each matchup of sports teams will have a favorite team to win the game or match and an underdog, as well as associated odds that reflect their chance of winning. While it may be more profitable to bet on an underdog, favorites are likely to win more often. This can lead to many one sided and uninteresting games. This is where point spread bets come in.
In a point spread, you are wagering on the point margin between two teams. Let’s say you have bet on the underdog to cover the spread. Once the game is over, if the underdog has kept the game close, within a certain amount of points, or won outright, your point spread bet is a winner. If you are new to sports betting, the concept may be a bit confusing but it is actually very simple and straightforward. Let’s take a look at an example to break it down.
EXAMPLE OF HOW ODDS LOOK
In the above matchup, the Green Bay Packers are the favorite to win. Because they are the favorite to win, they have a corresponding handicap of -7.5 points. If you bet on them to win, they must beat the opposing team by at least 7.5 points.
On the opposite side of the wager, the New England Patriots are the underdog to win. To beat the spread, they have to close the point gap to within 7.5 points or win outright. When the game is over, you can take the Patriots final score and add 7.5 points. If they now have more than the opponent, your bet is a winner.
In both examples, -110 odds are given. Make sure to check an odds listing on a website before placing your bet.