What does point spread in NFL mean?

A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a game. The stronger team or player will be favored by a certain number of points, depending on the perceived gap in ability between the two teams. A minus sign (-) means that team is the favorite. A plus sign (+) means that team is the underdog.

What does point spread +1.5 mean?

Betting odds and lines from a sportsbook can be confusing at first, but they aren’t that hard to understand. In order to help you understand betting odds, we will use +1.5 as an example. When you see a +1.5 in front of a team’s name, that means that they are 1.5-point underdogs in that matchup.

How do you win a point spread bet?

In order for a point spread bet to be declared a winner, the side wagered on must “cover” the point spread. The favorite, which is the side with the minus number as the point spread, must win by more than the point spread dictates.

Is point spread the same as handicap?

A handicap bet is pretty much the same thing as a point spread bet. The terminology is popular in the United Kingdom, Europe, and most of the rest of the world.

What if the point spread is a tie?

Yes, ties can happen when point spread betting. If the point spread is an even number and the difference in the competition’s result falls directly on that number such that the teams are then evenly scored, it is a tie. In the case of a push, all bets are returned to the bettor.

How does the point spread work in the NFL?

First, the point spread determines who the favorite and underdog are in a matchup. If a team has a – sign in front of their spread, then that means they are the favorite. The team is giving points. If a team has a +, then this means they are the underdog. The team is taking points.

Is the point spread the same as the whole number?

Just like when betting on the over/under total for points, the spread is a half-point in addition to the whole number, there is no chance to push. The whole nature and goal behind the point spread, is to provide an even playing field for the favorite and the underdog.

When do point spreads go up on sports betting?

Depending on the sports and league + which online sports betting site is consulted, point spreads can be up for days before the start to a matchup. One of the nice things about online betting is that point spread wagering doesn’t stop at the start of the game.

What’s the most common line for a point spread?

The most common betting line for a point spread is -110. A -110 line on either side is like paying a tax or commission to the sportsbook. Bettors would pay 10 percent (aka juice) to the sportsbook, which is essentially a fee for brokering the wager.