Welcome to our guide to point spread betting, in particular focusing on this type of betting within the context of two major sports; American Football and Basketball.
A point spread wager can be considered to be a form of handicap bet, where a team is given a positive spread (+10 points) or a negative spread (-10 points). Stronger teams tend to have negative spreads, while weaker teams have a positive spread.
The greater the difference in perceived quality between the two teams, the higher the point spread is likely to be. Conversely, the closer in ability two teams are, the smaller the point spread between the teams is likely to be.
The aim is to back the spread bet selection that, when their point spread is applied to their score, sees them win the game.
But before we explain the point spread bet in more detail, it is a good idea to learn about the key spread betting terms used in this form of betting.
The Key Terms used in Point Spread betting.
If you are reading about Point Spread betting, perhaps in a sportsbook review or similar, then there are some terms you should be aware of regarding this particular type of bet.
Those terms and their meaning within the context of point spread betting, is outlined below.
- Bet the Spread – The act of placing a line bet on the Spread market for Basketball or American Football.
- Cover The Spread – This term is used for a point spread bet on a team that is a winner. When this happens the team is said to “cover the spread”, which means they achieved a scoreline that, when the spread is applied, means that they will win the bet.
- Favourite – The spread bet option that has the negative spread is the favourite to win the game. The lower the negative spread number, the stronger the favourite the team is to win the game in a standard betting market.
- Moneyline bet – A straight up win bet on either of the teams to win with no handicap or spread applied to either team’s score. In effect, a bet on either team to win the game outright.
- Negative Spread – A spread betting amount with a negative integer (-2.5, -6 etc)
- Positive Spread – A spread betting amount with a positive integer (+6, +7.5 etc)
- Spread Odds – The odds for your selection with their spread applied to their final score in the game. These should be around the even money mark.
- Underdog – The spread bet selection that has a positive spread is the underdog in the fixture and is judged not as likely to win the game as the other team in standard betting markets.
How does Point Spread betting work?
Outlined below is an example from a standard Point Spread betting market for American Football.
Example – Point Spread Betting in the NFL
- Green Bay Packers (+3.5) @ Detroit Lions (-3.5)
In this example, you can see that the bookmakers feel the game between the Packers and Lions is a relatively close game, with the Packers being the +3.5 underdogs in the spread market, while the Lions are the -3.5 favourites.
As this is a close game, the spread between the two teams is relatively small.
If you back the Packers to cover the spread, then the Packers must either win, tie or lose by no more than three points for your bet to win.
Alternatively, if you back the Lions, then Detroit must win by four points or more for your bet to win. Any other scoreline would see a bet on the Lions lose.
Common Questions about Point Spread Bets
Q – Why does the Spread have .5 of a point?
Good question! By using .5 of a point, bookmakers can eliminate any possibility of a tie, thus ensuring either one team or the other wins the bet.
Q – What is the aim of the Spread in Basketball and American Football betting?
The aim of the spread is to try and make the game as close to a 50/50 outcome as possible by applying the point spread to each team’s final score. This is why most odds for point spread markets are around the even money mark.
Q – What happens if sportsbooks set a spread at -4 and the team I back loses by four points, resulting in a tie?
When this happens in the points spread bet market, a tie means that the bet is a push, which means that you will get your stake money returned. This is why many point spread betting markets utilise the .5 point option to ensure one team is the winner.
What are popular sports for point spread bets?
It should be noted that point spread betting is available on more sports than just American football and basketball. You can bet the spread on plenty of other sports too.
The two most popular sports for point spread bets are:
- American Football (Including the NFL, College Football)
- Basketball (Including NBA, College Basketball, Euro Basketball etc)
Spread bets are very similar to handicap bets that you can find in other sports (such as soccer, rugby, handball, volleyball etc) and work in a very similar way.
What are the advantages to point spread betting?
- Bookmakers have to estimate the spread for matches and this can lead to teams being over or under-handicapped, which gives punters a slight advantage.
- Point spread betting makes betting on very one-sided fixtures more exciting and equal.
- Once you understand the basic concept, point spread betting is a very easy and enjoyable way to bet on basketball and American Football.
- Just two winning options mean a better chance of picking the winner.
What are the challenges when betting on the point spread?
- Identifying when the spread offered is good value, or whether a team has been handed too big a spread for them to overcome.
- Odds for individual point spread bets are shorter than other types of bet.
Are there any betting strategies for point spread betting?
There are a couple of simple strategies you can follow to enjoy the point spread betting markets to the full, they include:
- As with any bet, research your bets carefully before placing them to judge whether the spread offered is good value for one of the teams in particular.
- Shop around for the best value odds for your chosen bet.
- For better value odds, place several point spread bets together into an accumulator bet.
Point spread betting is massively popular and if you follow our guide, then you’ll soon find out why this is one of the most popular American Football and Basketball bets on offer at sportsbooks!
