They need to win by more than the spread for you to win your bet. When it comes to NFL betting, the favorite is assigned a spread for the projected winning margin.

So, for example, if I bet on the Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) and they lose by three or fewer points or win the game outright, I would win my bet. If you bet on an underdog, they must either win the game outright or lose by a smaller margin than the assigned point spread.

For example, if I look at NFL odds and take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5) on the point spread, that means that they need to win by at least eight points for me to win my bet. If you bet on a favorite, they need to win the game by more than their assigned point spread. Spread Betting ExplainedĪs is the case with moneyline bets, point spreads involve betting on a favorite or underdog in a given game. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how point spreads work before placing a wager.Īlways pay attention to line movement and monitor point spreads on multiple sportsbooks to get the best bang for your buck, as this will help put you in the best position to succeed as a point spread bettor. Point spread betting is a popular form of betting, especially with basketball and football, since these are two sports where more points are scored throughout the game than in other sports like baseball and hockey.

Sports betting plus and minus meaning