- The point spread in one sentence
- Reading the minus and plus signs on a spread
- A worked point spread example
- Pushes and the half-point hook
- Why the usual spread odds look like -110
- Spread names in other sports
- Why spreads move before a game
- Age limits and where to find support
- Writing about how betting works
- Frequently asked questions
A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory, not just on who wins. The favourite, shown with a minus sign, must win by more than the number. The underdog, shown with a plus sign, can lose by fewer points than the number or win outright. A margin exactly on the number is a push.
Watch any American football or basketball coverage and you'll hear commentators say a team is favoured by three, or by seven and a half. That number is the point spread, and it's the most common way US sport is bet on. If you've only ever seen simple win-or-lose betting, it can look strange at first.
Here's how I'd explain it in plain English. This is a neutral guide for adults, drawn from Caesars Sportsbook's betting guide, Wikipedia and the Gambling Commission. It isn't a recommendation to bet and there are no tips here. If gambling is worrying you, the section near the end lists free, confidential help.
The point spread in one sentence
A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a game, not simply on who wins. Caesars says oddsmakers set the number to give people on both sides a balanced bet. The stronger team is handicapped by a set number of points, which is why you'll also see it called a handicap, a line or just the spread.
So instead of asking "who wins?", a spread bet asks "does the favourite win by more than the number, or does the underdog keep it closer than that?"
Reading the minus and plus signs on a spread
Every spread comes with two signs, one for each side:
- The favourite carries a minus sign, for example -3.5. A bet on the favourite only wins if the team wins by more than that number.
- The underdog carries a plus sign, for example +3.5. A bet on the underdog wins if the team loses by fewer points than the number, or wins the game outright.
Caesars uses the word covering for this. A team covers when it beats the spread, whatever the final result of the game. A favourite at -3.5 that wins by 3 has won the game, but anyone who backed it against the spread has lost, because it needed to win by 4 or more.
A worked point spread example
Illustrative numbers only: imagine Team A is -7.5 and Team B is +7.5. The table shows what happens at a few final margins.
| Final result (example) | Bet on Team A (-7.5) | Bet on Team B (+7.5) |
|---|---|---|
| Team A wins by 10 | Wins, as 10 is more than 7.5 | Loses |
| Team A wins by 7 | Loses, as 7 is not more than 7.5 | Wins |
| Team B wins the game | Loses | Wins |
Notice that in the second row the favourite won the match and the bet on it still lost. That's the whole point of a spread: the result of the game and the result of the bet are two different things.
Pushes and the half-point hook
What happens when the margin lands exactly on a whole-number spread? Caesars explains that a favourite at -7 that wins by exactly 7 produces a push. The original stake is returned, with no profit and no loss.
To avoid that, sportsbooks often add half a point, known as the hook, so -7 becomes -7.5. A half-point spread guarantees one winning side and one losing side. Caesars adds that 3 and 7 are known as key numbers in football because they're such common winning margins, which is why oddsmakers pay close attention to lines around them.
Why the usual spread odds look like -110
Caesars says most spread bets are offered at -110 on each side. In American odds, that means risking 110 units to win 100 units. So whichever side you pick, the odds are usually the same.
The same guide shows why spreads exist. A heavy favourite on the moneyline might be -280, meaning 280 units risked to win 100, because the team only has to win. The same team on the spread at -7 is offered near even odds, because it now has to win by a margin. I explain the win-only version in my guide to what a moneyline bet is.
Spread names in other sports
Football and basketball use points, but the same idea turns up elsewhere, with different names. Caesars lists two:
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- Run line in baseball, usually set at 1.5 runs. A -1.5 favourite has to win by 2 or more runs.
- Puck line in ice hockey, usually set at 1.5 goals. A +1.5 underdog covers with a win, or a one-goal loss.
Because those numbers stay fixed, Caesars notes it's the odds that move instead.
Why spreads move before a game
The number isn't set in stone. Caesars says lines can change before kick-off because of injuries, weather, rest and how much is being bet on each side. Its example is a -3 opening line that closes at -4.5. If you're reading about a game, it's worth remembering that the spread quoted in an article might not be the one on offer later.
Age limits and where to find support
In most cases the minimum legal age for gambling in Great Britain is 18, and that includes betting shops and online gambling, according to the Gambling Commission. In the United States the legal age and the rules vary by state, and Caesars says its users must be 21 or older and located where it operates legally.
If betting stops being fun, free help is available. The National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24 hours a day, according to the NHS. GambleAware also offers free, confidential support in Great Britain by phone or online chat. You can talk to your GP too.
Writing about how betting works
Plain explanations of terms like the spread help readers understand what a bet really involves before they go near one.
If you cover sport and betting, you can see sports betting sites that accept articles from contributors on my pitching page.
Frequently asked questions
What does -3.5 mean in betting?
It means the team is the favourite and must win by 4 or more points for a bet on it to win. A bet on the other side, shown as +3.5, wins if that team loses by 3 or fewer points or wins the game.
What is a push in a spread bet?
A push happens when the margin lands exactly on a whole-number spread, for example a -7 favourite winning by exactly 7. The stake is returned with no profit or loss.
Why do spreads have half points?
Caesars says sportsbooks add a half point, called the hook, to prevent pushes. A spread like -7.5 always produces a winner and a loser.
Is a point spread the same as a handicap?
Yes, the idea is the same. The stronger team is handicapped by a set number of points, which is why the spread is also called a handicap or a line.
How old do you need to be to bet on a spread?
In most cases the minimum legal age for gambling in Great Britain is 18. In the US it varies by state, and Caesars requires users to be 21 or older.
