How is the point spread determined?

Asked by: Javier Harris

You will find a plus or minus sign listed in front of each team’s point spread, depending on which team is the favorite (minus sign) and which is the underdog (plus sign). If you bet the favorite, Tampa Bay, to win at -3.5, the Buccaneers will need to win the game by four points or more to cover the spread.

What does a +7 spread mean?

What does +7 spread mean? If the spread is seven points for a game, it means the underdog is getting seven points, noted as +7 on the odds. A team posted at -7 is the favorite and is laying seven points.

What does +5 mean in point spread?

If you bet on an underdog, they can lose by fewer than the assigned spread or win outright for you to win. For example, if a spread is (+5.5) points, your team can lose by 5 or fewer or win outright.

What does a 6.5 point spread mean?

For the underdog to win the point spread bet, they can either win or lose by less than 6.5 points. If the underdog team wins by 30 points or loses by less than 6.5, then the outcome is the same. The underdog will have covered, and anyone who bet on their point spread will have won that bet.

How is NFL spread calculated?

For a given matchup, you want to compare the Pythagorean projected win totals of the two teams. Each half win is worth 1 spread point. For example, a team with a projected win total of 9 would be favored by 3 points on the spread over a team with a win total of 7.5.

What does +3 spread mean?

Bookmakers set a spread with the hopes of getting equal action on both sides of a game. For example, the Colts are a -3 point favorite against the Texans. The -3 points is the spread. If you want to bet the Colts on the spread, it would mean the Colts need to win by at least three points for you to win the bet.

What happens if you bet $100 on a money line?

A moneyline pays out based of $100: If you bet the favorite, the odds indicate how much you must bet to win $100; if you bet the underdog, the odds indicate how much you would win on a $100 bet. The total payout would be the initial stake plus your profit.

What does +1.5 spread mean?

The point spread in hockey odds is often referred to as the puck line. In the NHL, the puck line is almost always set at 1.5, meaning the favorite needs to win by two or more goals.

What does a 4.5 point spread mean?

Conversely, New York is a 4.5-point underdog, which means to win the bet the Giants would need to win outright or not lose the game by more than four points. If the Cowboys win 20-17, they win by three points and do NOT cover the 4.5 points, but the Giants have “covered the spread” by staying within 4.5 points.

How do you beat the spread?

To cover the spread, a bettor must either bet on the favorite or the underdog, and to win their wager, the team must cover the point spread—or, win by more than the point spread. For example, let’s say Seattle is a 13-point favorite over Denver.

What are the best spreads to bet?

He also says the best teasers take teams through the spreads of three and seven, which are both key numbers that cover the most common winning margins. Favorites get teased down while underdogs get teased up. Specifically, favorites of -7.5, -8, and -8.5 get moved down to -1.5, -2, and -2.5, respectively.

How often does the favorite cover the spread in the NFL?

What percent of NFL favorites cover the spread? From 2006-2021, favorites have covered in just under 48 percent of the time. Home favorites cover the spread 46.25 percent of the time, while road favorites cover a higher percentage of the time at 51.38 percent.