If you are new to sports betting, you have most likely heard about point spread betting, but may be unsure how it works. That’s where GameChampions comes in. It’s very simple to get started, and we will help teach you.
We understand how confusing sports betting lingo can be, so we have broken it all down for you in basic terms. In this newcomers’ guide, we will lay it all out for you so you know exactly what point spreads are and how to place your first wager of this type. Are you ready to learn? Let’s get going…
What is point spread in betting?
You will commonly hear sports bettors say, “Betting on the spread,” but what does point spread mean in betting? Point spread is a popular sports betting market in which a team must win by a specific number of points or goals or lose by a certain number of points or goals.
Each matchup includes a favorite and an underdog, along with odds that reflect how likely they are to win. While underdogs provide more profitable bets, favorites are more likely to win the match. For this bet type,
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aim to give you a 50/50 chance of winning by evening out the odds.
Most of the time, point spread means that a weight is added to the final score. The favorite will have points deducted to improve their odds, while the underdog will have points added to their final score.
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Point spread betting: An example of how it works in practice
Whether you are asking, “What is a parlay in sports betting?” or the same for any other bet type, we always do our best to clear things up. In this section, we will give you a complete breakdown of how point spreads work.
We know that point spread may seem a little confusing at first, but it’s a rather straightforward type of wager. To help you understand how it works, let’s take a look at an example of point spread bets in action.
| Team |
Point Spread |
Odds |
| Miami Heat |
+7.5 |
-110 |
| New York Knicks |
-7.5 |
-110 |
In this matchup, the New York Knicks have been picked as the favorite to win, as indicated by the ‘-’ symbol. As they are the favorite, the New York Knicks have been given a handicap of -7.5 points. If you want to place a wager on this team to win, they will need to beat the Miami Heat by a minimum of 7.5 points.
On the flip side, the Miami Heat are the underdog, meaning that they are less likely to win the match. As such, they must win outright or close the gap within 7.5 points. When the game has ended, the Miami Heat’s final score must have 7.5 points added. If the Miami Heat now have more points than the New York Knicks, you will win the bet.
What does +/- mean in point spread betting?
As you saw in the example above, the plus (+) and minus (-) symbols indicate the point spread margin between the two teams. This margin is set by the sportsbook and will be highlighted next to the odds.
- ‘+’ will be attached to the underdog
- ‘-’ will be attached to the favorite
Why is point spread betting popular?
Point spread betting has become incredibly popular, especially in football and basketball. Let’s take football, for example, there is usually a clear favorite and underdog, which makes the match perfect for point spread bets.
Using football as an example here, moneyline bets can often be unattractive to sports bettors because of the clear favorite/underdog. This means the odds are usually one-sided. However, point spread bets make the matchup more interesting and attractive.
Instead of betting on an overall winner, you are betting on the point margin between the two teams. As such, this type of bet provides the perfect opportunity for bettors.
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Best sports for point spread betting
We have already mentioned point spread bets being popular for football, but there are other sports that this type of bet goes well with. In this section, let’s take a closer look at a few sports where point spreads work.
In basketball matches, like the NBA, point spreads are the ideal option because of how many points are involved. In many cases, the point spread can be easy to predict, making it an exciting market at
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One again, rugby matches have a high number of points, meaning that point spread bets work extremely well.
We can’t mention point spread bets without including football, as it’s one of the most common sports linked with this bet type.
Point spread bets are very popular in NFL betting, as bettors usually focus on the point spread on matches. This is because the games are often uneven, so point spreads bring more value.
Pros and cons of point spreads
Advantages
- Levels out the playing field
- Provides more profitable odds
- Works well with several sports
- Risk of losing, like any bet
Disadvantages
- Risk of losing, like any bet
Conclusion: Prepare for your first point spread bet
As we come to the end of this guide, we hope that you now have a better understanding of how point spread bets work. We have explained how to read the odds by providing a real example of how this type of wager would work in real life. While it may have felt overwhelming at first, you can see how easy this type of bet is for beginners.
Now you know all about how point spreads work, why not try it out on your next betting session? With several sports to choose from, betting on the spread can add more value by giving you more profitable odds.
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Point spread betting FAQ
🏆 How do point spread bets work?
Quite simply, you are betting on the margin of two teams winning/losing. Instead of picking an outright winner, you will bet on the points margin of the favorite or underdog.
⚽ What’s the best sport for point spread wagers?
Point spreads are ideal for several sports, including football and basketball, as they can improve the odds for matches with clear favorites.
📊 How do I read the point spread?
The only two symbols you will need to learn are the + and -. The favorite team will be indicated by a ‘-’ symbol, while the underdog will be given the ‘+’ symbol.
