Are you new to sports betting and wondering, What Does Spread Mean In Betting? At WHAT.EDU.VN, we simplify complex concepts like point spreads, money lines, and over/unders to help you confidently place your bets. Let us guide you through the ins and outs of sports wagering, covering everything from understanding the point spread to exploring prop bets and parlays. We’ll cover key concepts like vigorish, teasers and futures. Ready to dive in?
1. Understanding the Point Spread: What Does It Really Mean?
The point spread represents the predicted score difference between two teams. It is shown as both a negative and positive number. For example, if the spread is 3 points, you will see it as -3 and +3. The favorite to win gets the negative number (-3), and the underdog gets the positive number (+3).
The number itself, without considering the plus or minus sign, will be the same for both teams because it is the expected margin of victory. If Team A is a 3-point favorite over Team B, Team A must win by more than 3 points to “cover” the spread. Team B can win outright or lose by one or two points to cover the spread.
1.1. What Happens in a Push?
If the game’s final margin is exactly 3 points, it is a “push,” and your money is returned. To avoid ties, sportsbooks often add “.5” (the hook) to a point spread. So, if a point spread is 3.5, the favorite must win by more than 3.5 points, meaning they must win by four or more points. The .5 ensures there are no pushes.
1.2. Example of Point Spread
Let’s say the Dallas Cowboys are favored by -7.5 points against the New York Giants. This means:
- If you bet on the Cowboys, they need to win by 8 or more points for you to win your bet.
- If you bet on the Giants, they can lose by 7 or fewer points, or win the game outright, for you to win your bet.
2. Demystifying Vigorish: The -110 and Beyond
The numbers next to the point spread, like -110, represent the vigorish, or betting juice. This is the fee you pay to place a bet, and it is how sportsbooks make money. With point spreads, the spread tells you how many points a team needs to win by, while the vigorish tells you how much money you win if the bet succeeds. Standard juice on a point spread or total is -110.
These vigorish numbers are based on $100. A negative number is what you must risk to win $100, plus your original bet back. A positive number is what a $100 bet makes you in profit if that bet wins.
- -110 means you bet $110 to win $100, plus your original bet back.
- +110 means you bet $100 to win $110, plus your original bet back.
2.1. Calculating Vigorish for Smaller Bets
The math works the same with smaller amounts. If you are more comfortable betting $10, divide the vigorish by 10.
- -110 means you bet $11 to win $10 ($21 total with your original bet back).
- +110 means you bet $10 to win $11 in profit.
2.2. Split Juice
Sometimes, a sportsbook will move the juice to a split like -120/+100, depending on how bets are moving and the relative strength of the two teams. In this scenario, you bet $12 to win $10 on -120 but would be doubling your money at +100 (bet $10 to win $10).
3. Over/Under Explained: Betting on Total Points
An over/under is the expected combined points scored by both teams in a game, also known as the total. When high-scoring teams play, the over/under can be as high as 55. When lower-scoring teams play, it could be 38.5.
“Over” bets need to surpass the total, while “Under” bets must stay lower. If the over/under is set at 45.5 points:
- If you bet “Over,” the combined score must be 46 points or higher to win.
- If you bet “Under,” the combined score must be 45 points or lower to win.
4. Moneyline Betting: Picking the Winner
The moneyline is a bet where you simply pick who will win the game, match, or event. However, vigorish applies to the moneyline as well. For example, if the Kansas City Chiefs are playing the Cincinnati Bengals, a realistic moneyline price could be Chiefs -350/Bengals +275.
- Following the math, you must lay $35 to win $10 on the Chiefs simply winning the game.
- A $10 bet on the Bengals to beat the Chiefs would win $27.50.
Remember, you always get your money back when you win a bet.
5. Prop Bets: Beyond the Final Score
A prop bet is a propositional wager often based on an individual player. For example:
- How many passing yards will the quarterback have?
- Will the running back score a touchdown?
There are also team-based prop wagers, such as:
- How many points will Team A score?
- Will Team B get shut out?
You can even bet on the color of the Gatorade poured on the coach of the Super Bowl-winning team!
6. Parlays: Combining Bets for Bigger Payouts
Parlays combine wagers on multiple games into one bigger bet for a larger payout, but you must win all wagers to get paid. A parlay requires a minimum of two “legs,” or bets.
Most people bet a little to win a lot on parlays. You can add as many bets as you want, but the more bets you add, the more likely you are to lose.
- A standard two-team parlay pays around +260.
- Three-teamers pay +600.
- Four-teamers pay around +1300.
If you lose any of the legs, the parlay is dead.
7. Teasers: Adjusting the Point Spread
A teaser is a multi-team bet that allows you to move each individual wager by 6, 6.5, or 7 points. Standard teasers are two legs and six points per leg, but you can have as many legs as you want. Like a parlay, every leg must win to cash the teaser.
For example, you could tease the Chiefs, who are 7.5-favorites, down to 1.5, as well as the 49ers from 3.5-point underdogs up to 9.5.
8. Key Numbers: The Importance of 3 and 7
Key numbers are the most common final margins of victory, almost always used in football. The most important key numbers are 3 and 7 because those are the respective values of a field goal and a touchdown (plus the extra point).
Many NFL games are decided by either 3 or 7 points. Many point spreads are structured around a team being 3- or 7-point favorites.
8.1. Using Key Numbers in Betting
In the 2022 NFL Conference Championship week, the Chiefs were 7-point favorites before moving to 7.5. This .5 can be the difference between getting your money back on a push when Kansas City wins 31-24 or cashing a winning ticket.
Remember key numbers when betting a teaser. Strive to tease your bets “through” key numbers.
9. Futures Bets: Predicting Long-Term Outcomes
A futures bet is a wager on a team to win a division, conference, or championship. You can make these bets all year round, and the odds will fluctuate based on a team’s perception and a sportsbook’s liability.
The best teams have the lowest odds, while longer shots have bigger payouts. For example, the Chiefs might be +125 to win the Super Bowl, while the Rams are +200, the 49ers +450, and Bengals +750. If Cincinnati was +10000 at one point this season, a $10 bet would cash out for $1,010 if they win it all.
Sportsbooks also have player futures for markets like MVP and Rookie of the Year.
10. Buying Points: Is It Worth It?
Buying points (or half-points) allows you to move a point spread in your favor, but you must pay extra juice. It can cost 15 to 20 cents (so -110 becomes -125 or -130) to move a half point, and that juice adds up quickly. Consider buying +6.5 up to +7 or -7.5 down to -7 because of the key number factor.
11. Live Betting: Wagering During the Game
Yes, you can bet during a game. This is called live betting or in-game wagering. Sportsbooks allow you to bet basically any time during a game.
If Team A is beating Team B 14-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter, you are offered a brand-new point spread at that exact time. If Team B was a 4-point underdog at kickoff, you could potentially bet on the same team but at +10 or +10.5 on the live line.
These lines and point spreads are based on predictive algorithms, so there are plenty of times inside a game where you can pick off good numbers.
12. Balancing the Bets: How Sportsbooks Set Lines
Sportsbooks try to balance the ledger with money, not individual bets, and people bet vastly different amounts. One $1,000 bet on Team A balances out ten $100 bets on Team B.
Money balance is more important than ticket balance.
13. Betting Amounts: How Much Should You Wager?
You do not have to bet a lot. Bet what makes you comfortable, and stay within your means. Most professional bettors implement very disciplined bankroll management principles, and they bet no more than between 2% and 5% of their entire roll on a game.
If you set aside $1,000 to gamble with for a football season, a wise approach is to range individual bets from $20 to $50 a game.
Betting $5 on a Sunday with the understanding you are OK to potentially risk no more than $100 total all season long is also fine.
14. Getting Started: Easiest Ways to Bet for Beginners
Start with straight bets. There’s no reason to dive into parlays until you understand the basics of picking against the spread or betting on the over/under.
Focusing and specializing in one sport or a specific group of teams is a great way to get started. Wagering around your favorite NFL team (or a hated rival) is a good first step.
Beyond the NFL, college basketball is a great sport because there are so many teams and the sportsbooks can’t possibly keep up on all 350-plus teams. Find a conference, study it, and bet on those games.
15. Essential Advice for New Bettors
Do your homework and don’t drink a lot of juice! Research teams, understand the odds, and manage your bankroll wisely.
FAQ: Your Questions About Spread Betting Answered
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a point spread in sports betting? | A point spread is the expected score difference between two teams, used to even the odds in a game. |
| How does vigorish affect my betting odds? | Vigorish, or juice, is the fee charged by sportsbooks. It affects how much you need to bet to win a certain amount, or how much profit you make on a winning bet. |
| What is an over/under bet? | An over/under bet is a wager on the combined total points scored by both teams in a game. You bet whether the total will be over or under a specified number. |
| What is a moneyline bet? | A moneyline bet is a simple wager on which team will win the game outright, without any point spread. |
| How do prop bets work? | Prop bets are wagers on specific events within a game, such as a player’s performance or a specific outcome, rather than the final result. |
| What is a parlay, and how does it pay out? | A parlay is a combination of multiple bets into one. It offers a higher payout but requires all individual bets to win. |
| What is a teaser bet? | A teaser bet allows you to adjust the point spread in multiple games, making it easier to win each individual bet, but it requires all bets to win, and the payout is lower than a parlay. |
| Why are key numbers important in betting? | Key numbers, like 3 and 7 in football, are common margins of victory. Understanding them can help you make more informed decisions when betting on point spreads and teasers. |
| What is a futures bet? | A futures bet is a wager on an event that will happen in the future, such as a team winning a championship. |
| Is live betting a good option for beginners? | Live betting can be exciting, but it requires quick decision-making and a good understanding of the game. Beginners should start with simpler bet types before trying live betting. |
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