POINT SPREAD

Point Spread Odds and Betting

The point spread bet is extremely popular with those who wager on the NFL, NBA, and college football and basketball. Spread bets are also offered on soccer. The MLB and the NHL have a version of the spread called the runline and puckline respectively. Unlike basic point spread odds, the runline and puckline are always plus/minus 1.5. For the other sports, spreads vary. Each sport has its own, specific customary range.

Bookmakers use the spread to even the odds, giving bettors a chance of winning no matter which team they choose. If a spread is calculated properly, it will help to evenly disperse bets amongst both teams, lowering risk for the sportsbook. At the same time, it creates odds that are relatively even. Unlike the moneyline, with the spread you wager the same or about the same amount on the dog and the favorite.

Point Spread Bet Basics

Here’s a quick review from our sports betting odds page regarding how the spread works. As an example, we’ll use an NFL line.

  • New York Giants +3.5   (-110)

  • Dallas Cowboys -3.5.  (-110)

In this point spread bet example:

  • The Giants are given 3.5 points. Thus, if the team loses by fewer than four points or they win outright and you wager on them, you’d win. 

  • With this bet, if you wagered $11 you’d win $10 and get your original bet back. 

  • Dallas, which is listed second, and thus the home team, is at -3.5. In order for you to collect on a Cowboys bet, they must win by four or more points.  

  • In placing an $11 wager on the Cowboys, if they beat the spread, that is win by four or more points, you’d get back your original wager of $11 as well as a profit of $10. 

  • To collect on a spread bet, the favorite must “cover” the spread, or the dog must either win outright or beat the spread by losing by fewer points than they’ve been given.

Spread Specifics

As noted, each sport has its own particulars when it comes to the point spread bet. Here’s a quick look at each sport in relationship to these odds.

NFL

  • Commonly, pro football spreads range from EVEN to 14.0.

  • In rare instances you’ll find spreads greater than 14 points. The highest NFL spread was 26, which occurred in 2013, when the Denver Broncos were home favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

  • The home team almost always gets a minimum spread of -3.0. That’s for homefield advantage. However, there are times when that spread is lower or when the team is listed as the underdog. Statistically, the actual home field advantage on average is slightly under three points.

NBA

  • Pro basketball spreads often range from EVEN to eight points with the common spread being from five to eight points. 

  • However, NBA spreads can reach into double digits, topping out at around 14 points. 

  • Like in the NFL, the home team has an advantage. On average, the home court advantage results in a 2.66-point advantage. You’d never see such a line, but in practical numbers, that average translates to -2.5.

NCAAF and NCAAM

  • College football and basketball will often have much larger spreads than pro contests. In NCAAF, it’s not unusual to see a 21-point spread or higher and in NCAAM, spreads can be in the double-digits, topping out in the mid-to-high 20s. 

  • In college football, often larger spreads are the result of a Power Five conference team playing a Group of Five conference or a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team playing a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team. The Power Five and Independents are more elite that the Group of Five. All these teams are FBS clubs, while the FBS is more select than the FCS. Thus, when teams from disparate conferences meet, spreads can range from 20-to-40 or more points. 

  • There’s also a lot of disparity between college basketball conferences. As it is in college football, this can lead to much larger spreads than you’ll see for NBA games. 

  • Both sports will include high spreads for games that have one of the conference’s highest-ranked teams playing a bottom-dweller.

Soccer

  • When making a point spread bet on a soccer match, you’ll likely see a spread ranging from EVEN to 2.5 goals. 

  • Spreads can be as large four or five goals. However, such listing are unusual. 

  • Unlike the other sports, you may encounter odds such as +/-0.75 or +/- 1.25. These quarter and three-quarter fraction odds, basically work the same as odds featuring a half-point spread. As an example, whether a team is listed at -1.25, -1.50, or -1.75, that club must win by two goals or more to cover.

  • Soccer offers two-way and three-way bets. The two way features one team against the other while a three way includes both teams as well as a draw wager.

MLB

  • The runline in baseball is always +/-1.5.

  • What you’ll find with MLB betting is each game often has one team’s odds listed as a plus and the other as a minus. This is due to the fact that unlike a traditional point spread bet, the runline is stable and unchanging. That means the amount you wager to win on one team, or the other is rarely the same. 

  • Runlines are pitcher dependent, which means runlines include the starting pitchers and if either hurler does not start, then all bets are canceled, and all wagers returned.

NHL

  • The puckline in hockey is always +/-1.5

  • As it is with MLB, with the NHL, the puckline is unchanging and stable. Thus, one team may be listed with a plus and the other with a minus. 

  • To ensure there’s never a tie, the NHL has sudden-death overtime and, if still tied after the OT, the winner is decided by a shootout. Thus, there’s no draw bet. In the last 13 years, the average total has been 43. However, during that stretch of time in each individual season, the average total has always been expressed as a fraction.

The Push and Point Spread Bet

At times, point spreads will be listed without a fraction. That means that a game could end in a tie. As an example, if in our example above, where the Giants are at +3.0 and the Cowboys -3.0 and the final score is 21-24 in favor of Dallas, according to the spread, the game is a virtual tie. That would be what’s called a “push.” If that’s the case, all bets would be returned. Of the types of bets described above, the only two that cannot result in a push are runline and puckline wagers.

Betting Tips – Point Spread Odds

Remember that odds only tell part of the story. Make sure that prior to making any wager, you do your research and compare moneyline and spread odds. Odds are a bookmaker’s projection regarding who’s favored and likely to win. In no way do they determine who will win.

  • Make sure that you monitor news regarding upcoming games. An ill or injured player, long road trip, internal controversies, and other developments can influence the outcome of a game, as well as changes in odds. 

  • Compare point spread to moneyline odds to determine which is the better wager

  • Review odds when they are first posted, as these numbers are often soft and will firm up later as game time approaches. The initial posting of odds can result in some good deals.

  • Check odds in the morning, afternoon, and evening, as they can fluctuate.

  • Put in the time to understand the sport and teams thoroughly. This will help ensure you make a smart bet.

  • Along with understanding the odds, your risk, and possible profit and the sports and teams, ensure that you perform due diligence on the game. In your analysis, utilize team statistics, injury reports, player stats, team information, matchups, etc. 

  • When wagering be realistic about your bets and don’t put all your cash on one game. Spread it out, placing it on various games that offer you the best opportunity to win.  

  • If, after you’ve performed due diligence, you are uncomfortable making a bet on a specific game, find another game to wager on or simply skip betting on anything at that time.