Online betting is becoming quite popular and one term that is commonly associated with it is spread. Spread refers to artificial handicaps made by sportsbooks to even out a matchup between opponents.
Understanding what spread is and how does a spread bet work, plays an essential role in your online betting experience. In this article, you can find everything you need to know about what does spread mean in betting and how does a spread bet works.
Point Spread in Betting Explained
Point spread betting is a common form of betting that is different from the traditional online betting, where players simply place a wager on a team to win or lose.
A point spread is usually set by the bookmaker, setting one team as the favorite and the other team as the underdog. The spread subtracts from the favorite’s points total to level the playing field.
For instance, two teams, Titans and Jaguars are playing and the Titans are a 7-point favorite over the Jaguars. Your sportsbook will present it as “-7″. You might wonder, what does negative spread mean? Well, the “minus” 7 means that at the end of the game, 7 points are subtracted from their score.
So, if you bet on Titans, they need to win by more than seven points for you to cash out. If they win by the exact point, that’s a “push” and you get your wager amount back.
However, the Jaguars would be +7. So, what does a +7 spread mean? It means that if you bet on them, they would need to lose by fewer than seven or win outright for you to win your bet. If they lose by three, you’d win the bet.
So, the betting spread functions as a handicap that Once the point spread is set, players are allowed to bet on either side of it.
Sports That Offer Point Spreads
Point spread is a common feature in the fundamental aspect of online betting, and it is incorporated in many sports. Here, we explore some sports that have point spreads and how it works:
NFL Point Spread Betting
The NFL is one sport where point spread betting reigns as one of the most widely embraced markets globally. However, in the NFL, points spread and experience significant fluctuations, particularly as the season progresses. As teams contend for the playoffs, spreads often surpass 10.0 points to reflect the shifting landscape of competition.
NBA Point Spread Betting
The NBA point spread is quite similar to that of the NFL. The spread usually fluctuates based on the teams involved and possibly goes higher as the season progresses. The NBA is quite popular in its league, and star players get ruled out at the last minute which pushes spread lines in one direction or another quickly.
MLB Point Spread Betting
In MLB, point spread is often referred to as runlines. They are typically available at -1.5/+1.5 per side and will rarely move past that number due to the nature of the sport.
In order to cover a -1.5 runline, a team must win by two goals or more. Conversely, a team with a +1.5 runline only needs to lose by one goal to cover and for bettors to win.
Does Spread Always Have A .5 At The End?
The point spread is usually set by the bookmaker and the figure gives the expected final score difference between the teams playing the game. The point spread could either be a negative and positive number, and if the spread is 5 points, you’ll see that as both -5 and +5. The favorite team needs to win above the spread point to win, while the underdog can lose just below the spread point to win.
There are certain scenarios in the game where the final margin lands exactly on the spread point, and it is a push, both parties will get their monies and bookie loses. To avoid this, the sportsbooks will often add “the hook” (.5) to the point spread.
So if a point spread is 3.5, the favorite has to win by more than 3.5 points, which is also the same thing as winning by four or more points, since you can’t score half a point. The .5 is just there to prevent pushes.
Are Those -110 Numbers Next To the Point Spread Sometimes Different?
The -110 numbers next to the point spread is how the bookies make their money from bets. This is called vigorish, or betting juice.
Basically, the vigorish lets you know what you will win when the bet cashes while the point spread tells you how many points a team needs to win by, for you to cash out.
-110 means players have to bet $110 to win $100, while +110, means players are to bet $100 to win $110 and your original bet back.
Sometimes the number changes, but the math works the exact same way. For people who are quite skeptical about bets and who are only comfortable betting as low as $10, they should just divide the vigorish by 10.
Sometimes, a sportsbook can move the vigorish up to -120/+100, depending on how bets are moving and the relative strength of the two teams.
It just means that the higher the vigorish, the higher you win or lose, and the lower the vigorish, the lower you win or lose.
Tips and Strategies for Betting Against the Spread
Point spread betting usually enhances the overall betting experience of the player as they are not only expected to predict who will win, but also how much they will win. This challenges players and makes them want to engage in the game and cover the spread.
However, if you want to bet against the spread and win, you need to have a good grasp of the game, the teams playing, other factors that might affect the game like weather conditions, and home/away advantages. And most importantly, you need to have a good strategy. It’s easy to win against the spread if you have all these in place. Here are some tips to help you:
1. Make Research
If you’re looking to cover the spread and win against it, then before placing any bets, you need to conduct thorough research and analysis on both teams involved in the game. Consider factors like star players, team performance, and recent form. It is important to do research on both teams and then place a bet on the better equipped team. This will reduce your chances of losing the bet.
2. Understand the Spread
Understanding the spread to win against it involves having several pieces of information like knowing what is spread in betting, negative spread meaning, and many more.
Having this information helps you decide how spread bets work and how it reflects the perceived strength of each team.
3. Manage Your Bankroll
Like any form of gambling, betting spread requires that you manage your bankroll responsibly when betting against the spread.
If it will help, set a budget for your bets and ensure you stick to it. Avoid chasing losses, and do not wager more than you can afford to lose. Also, don’t keep betting because you feel you’re winning.
Pros and Cons of Spread Betting
Pros
- Open earlier than other markets
- More reasonably priced than line-betting odds
- Every game has a potential interest
- Bettors can cash in on in-game situations.
- Possibility of a push
Cons
- Difficult to understand
Over/Under Explained
Over/under is a cool addition to sports betting that refers to total bet. Over/under allows players the freedom to bet on the flow of the game independent from the actual game outcome. This allows many bettors, both seasoned and newbies to cash out daily.
Here’s a simple illustration of how over/under work. Team A and Team B are to play a game, and the sportsbook sets the over/under line at 200 points.
Players will have the option to bet on whether they believe the total combined score of both teams will be over 200 points or under 200 points.
If the player bets on the “over” and the final combined score of the game is 205 points, they would win their bet because the total score exceeded the 200-point mark. Conversely, if the final score of the game is 195 points, bettors who wagered on the “under” would win their bet because the total score remained below the 200-point mark. This is a simple and exciting addition to sports betting, that even newbies can understand easily.
What Does Moneyline Mean?
Just like the over/under bet, the moneyline is a straightforward bet where players simply wager on who they think will win the game, match, or event.
Moneyline focuses solely on the final result. So, one team is the favorite, indicated by a negative number, while the other is the underdog, represented by a positive number. The odds on the favorite is usually higher than that of the underdog.
For instance, the odds might look something like this:
Team A: -150
Team B: +130
If you bet on the favorite, Team A, you would need to wager $150 to win $100 if Team A wins. While betting on the underdog, Team B means that if you bet $100, you will win $130 profit if Team B wins.
Overall, the moneyline provides a straightforward way for bettors to wager on the outcome of a game without having to consider the point spread.
Prop Bet Explained
Prop bet is a different kind of straightforward wager that centers around an individual or team. Prop bet involves bets like how many passing yards will the quarterback have? How many points will Team A score?
When it comes to prop betting, you can bet on random stuff about individuals and the team, and you’re likely to win.
What Does Parlay Mean?
In Parlay, players combine several individual wagers into a single bet. Most bettors will prefer to wager Parlays because they offer potentially higher payouts than individual bets, but they also come with increased risk. To win a Parlay, all individual selections need to be correct.
Each individual wager is called a “leg.” There’s no limit to what legs can include. It could be various types of bets, such as moneyline bets, point spread bets, over/under bets, or even prop bets.
Each leg could have different odds from the other, and the odds are multiplied together to determine the overall odds of the parlay. Parlay bets can include as few as two selections or as many as the sportsbook allows.
What is Teaser in Betting?
A teaser is quite similar to a parlay, only that it is much more exciting. In the teaser, bettors are allowed to adjust the point spread or totals line in their favor for each individual selection. Players get to add points to the underdog’s spread or subtract points from the favorite’s spread in exchange for lower potential payouts.
However, like parlay, for players to win teasers, all their selections have to be won.
What are Key Numbers in Sports Betting?
In football and basketball betting, there are common margins of victory or final scores that the games tend to land on. These margins are called key numbers.
These numbers are significant because they frequently determine whether bets on point spreads or total lines are winners, losers, or pushes.
In football, for example, key numbers often include 3, 7, and 10, while in basketball, key numbers might include 3, 5, 7, and 10.
When betting parlays, props, or even teasers, key numbers are something to remember.
What Does Futures Bet Mean in Betting?
A futures bet is completely different from the traditional sports bets. It is the type of bet placed on an event yet to occur. Some of these bets include betting on what team will win a league, betting on the total number of wins a team will achieve in a season, and many more.
Players who bet futures get offered higher payouts than standard bets because they involve predicting outcomes that are further in the future and often carry more uncertainty.
However, with future bets, players get their funds tied up for an extended period of time, because the bet may not be determined for weeks or months.
Should I Ever Buy Points? How to Buy Points
Players buy points as a strategy to give them a better chance at winning. The buying points strategy involves paying a fee to the sportsbook in exchange for moving the point spread or total line in your favor.
Depending on the sportsbook and their rules, players who buy points can move the point spread by half-points or full-points, For example, if a football team is favored by 6.5 points, you might choose to buy half a point to move the spread to 6 points, or buy a full point to move it to 6 points.
Whether or not you should buy points depends on your individual betting strategy, risk tolerance, and the specific circumstances of the wager.
While some players may find value in buying points to improve their odds of winning, others may prefer to stick with the original lines set by the sportsbook.
How to Bet During a Game
Every player can bet during a game as long as they have completed their registration with the bookmaker. After registering, players can place bets on the bookie through in-gaming or live betting.
Do Sportsbooks Set Lines To Try To Get 50% Of Bets On Either Side?
Yes, it is true. Sportsbooks set something called balancing the action, or setting a balanced book. This allows them to set betting lines to attract roughly equal amounts of money on both sides of a wager. They use this as a means of minimizing their risk and to ensure a consistent profit regardless of the outcome of the event.
How Much Do I Have to Bet?
Players can bet as low or high as the sportsbook allows. In all, it is advised to bet what you’re comfortable with losing, and most importantly, stay within your means.
You can apply a bankroll management principle where you don’t bet more than 2% and 5% of your live account.
How Does Sport Betting Work? Explain How A Beginner Can Bet On Games?
For a beginner, it is best to begin by selecting a reputable online sportsbook that is licensed and regulated in your jurisdiction. Then, familiarize yourself with the basic types of bets commonly offered by sportsbooks, including moneyline bets, point spread bets, and totals (over/under) bets.
Learn the basics like what does spread mean, what does minus 1.5 mean in betting, and what does + spread mean in betting.
When you are familiar with these, you can begin by placing simple bets on straightforward outcomes, moneyline bets that are easier to understand and are a good starting point for beginners.
A Piece of Advice To New Bettors
If you’re new to making bets, before placing any bets, establish a budget for your sports betting activities and stick to it. Only wager what you can afford to lose and avoid chasing losses by betting more than you can afford.
Author’s Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding what is spread in sports betting is crucial for bettors and players to make informed wagering decisions. While the spread adds excitement and interest to every game, providing opportunities for bettors to capitalize on in-game situations and potentially cash in on pushes, it can also be difficult to understand, especially for beginners. However, with spread betting explained and a solid grasp of the concept, bettors can effectively navigate the intricacies of the point spread and enhance their overall betting experience. So, whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just starting out, understanding what is a spread in sports betting is essential for maximizing your chances of success in the world of online wagering.
FAQ
What Does Spread Mean In Sports Betting?
When it comes to spread mean betting, there are certain things you need to understand. They are handicaps made by sportsbooks to even out a matchup between opponents.
How Do You Cover the Spread In Betting?
Covering the spread means betting against the spread, and winning your game. To do this, you need to come up with effective strategies.
How Do You Read The Spread?
Reading the spread is quite straightforward. It always has two sides: the favorite and the underdog. The favorite is expected to win by more than the spread, while the underdog is expected to lose by less than the spread to cash out.