Sports Betting Strategy: Spread Betting

Date IconLast Updated: Mar 14th, 2024
Share On Your Network
Sports Betting Strategy: Spread Betting
© PA

When it comes to sports betting, point spreads can be one of the most popular betting types, depending on which sport you’re wagering on. Essentially, a point spread allows the oddsmakers at your favorite sports betting sites to provide a small margin of error by creating a spread in which you can place your bet within based on the score of the game. This will mean you will be betting on a team to score a certain number of points – but the spread will signify the number of points between either team’s score.

How does a point spread work?

If you’re betting on a favored team, your sportsbook will have that team listed as a negative number, let’s say -7.5. Conversely, an underdog team will be listed with a positive number, +7.5.

Depending on your research and which team you have decided to bet on, these two outcomes have different meanings.

  • The negative number signifies how many points the favored team has to win the game by.
  • The positive number signifies that the underdog team must win or lose by less than that many points.

Ultimately:

  • The favored team will need to win by more than 8 points.
  • The underdog team will need to lose by less than 7 points, or win the game outright by any amount.

This will give the underdog a slight advantage, so where you may not find value in betting on an underdog on the moneyline, you can find some value here by betting on point spreads.

How to read Point Spread odds

We have the basics of a point spread wager down, now let’s look at the odds that will be associated with your wager. If you’re familiar with moneylines, you will understand how the odds work for the most part, but we can briefly go over this again.

Your sportsbook or sports betting site will create odds based on thorough statistical analysis and will choose a favored team and an underdog team. The odds associated with these teams will show the likelihood of that team winning the game. Again, the negative symbol will show that the team is likely to win, and the higher the number is in the negative, the more likely that team is to win. The positive symbol will again show you the underdog team, and the higher the positive number, the less likely it is that team will win.

Point Spread Betting using American Odds

American odds are most prevalent in North America and are commonly viewed in Canada by sports bettors, so we will start there.

When you are looking at the point spread odds for a game, you will see your negative/positive spreads and then next to it in brackets will be the odds (-110) or something of that nature. Point spread odds aren’t the same odds you would see with moneylines, having huge underdogs as there is a margin of error, so sportsbooks don’t tend to be too risky with this betting type.

We commonly will see (-105) or (-110) but sometimes you may see upwards of 20 points on either side, if it is a highly likely betting option.

What American odds do really well is show you your potential winnings on a $100 wager if you’re betting on underdog odds. If your +7.5-point spread that you had above had odds attached to it of (+105), you would win $105 on a $100 wager – it’s that simple.

The favored team’s odds will show us how much we need to wager to win $100. Let’s say that -7.5 point spread had (-115) odds, you would need to wager $115 to win $100.

Point Spread Betting using Decimal Odds

If you’re more accustomed to decimal odds, we have you covered as well – decimal is also viewed in North America but is mostly prevalent as a standard odds format in Europe. The decimal odds are very simple and can show you what you could potentially win for each dollar you bet. All you need to do is take the decimal odds that are listed by the team you want to bet on, and multiply your stake by those odds (subtract your $1 from your odds).

Our underdog odds above on an $80 wager would work out to 2.05 and all we would need to do is multiply 1.05* 80 = $76 (We removed the $1 wager from the odds to make it 1.05) then you would also receive your $80 returned for $164 in winnings.

Our favored team’s odds would work out to 1.86 in decimal odds, and if we were to place an $80 wager on them, we would take away our initial $1 to make the odds .86:

0.86 * 80 = $68.80 then you would also receive your $80 back for a total of $148.80 in winnings.

Point Spread Betting using Fractional Odds

Last but not least, fractional odds give you the opportunity to put those grade school math skills to the test. When using fractional odds for point spreads, you will follow the same rules as the other odds formats, you will simply multiply your stake by the numerator then divide that by the denominator.

Our 7.5-point favorite above’s odds would translate to 20/23 in fractional odds. If we were to bet $50, we would multiply 50 by 20 = 1,000 then divide that by 23 = $43.48 in winnings on top of your initial stake for a $93.48 payout.

The underdogs on the other hand, would have fractional odds of 21/20. This would mean we would multiply $50 by 21 = 1,050 then divide that by 20 for $52.50 in winnings. Add this to your initial $50 to double your money.

Verified Betting Sites Canada

Point Spread Betting by Sport

Point spreads can be displayed differently or look differently depending on which sport you are betting on. We want to show you real examples of point spreads in each professional sport so you can have an idea of what this should look like or why point spreads are called different things in different sports.

NFL Point Spreads

NFL point spreads are arguably more popular than moneyline wagers or totals when it comes to betting regularly on Sundays. With point spreads you have the option to bet on underdogs with a little more confidence. In the NFL you may see spreads between 1.5 and 11 points, depending on the teams.

Popular point spreads are set as a field goal differential or a touchdown differential – 3.5 or 6.5. If you are betting on the Indianapolis Colts (+3.5) and the Detroit Lions (-3.5), you know the Lions are favored and need to win by more than four points, and the Colts are the underdogs and need to win or lose by less than three.

NBA Point Spreads

We all know the NBA is high scoring, which can make predicting the score nearly impossible. However, we don’t see large spreads in the NBA due to the caliber of play. Teams tend to be so closely matched and teams can score so quickly, if the oddsmakers keep the spreads close, they won’t have huge risk associated with the games.

You might commonly see -1.5/+1.5 spreads or even a few points more, but nothing too high unless we are looking at a huge underdog situation.

NHL Point Spreads (Pucklines)

Hockey is one of those sports that doesn’t record points, they record goals, so point spread didn’t exactly roll off the tongue. In the NHL, we call point spreads Pucklines. They work the same as other sports, they just go by a different name.

You can find spreads between 0.5 and 5.5 goals, as hockey is such a low-scoring game. You may find a point spread on a Montreal Canadiens (-1.5) and Boston Bruins (+1.5) game that you want to bet on. This means the Canadiens are favored and will need to win by 2 or more points, and the Bruins are the underdogs and need to win, or they can lose by 1 goal and your bet will still win.

MLB Point Spreads (Runlines)

Baseball is another sport that doesn’t track points, they track runs. Point spreads in the MLB are aptly named Runlines. There will be runline spreads usually are in the 0.5 to 2.5 range, but in baseball, it can be easy to accumulate points fast - all a team needs is one hot inning or a Grand Slam, and we’d be looking at a vastly different ball game.

If you’re looking at the Arizona Diamondbacks (+1.5) versus the Pittsburgh Pirates (-1.5), we predict a close game, and the Pirates are favored, meaning they will need to win by 2 points. If you bet on the Diamondbacks, they could lose by one run, or win the game outright for that bet to cash.

Soccer Point Spreads (Goallines)

Soccer spreads, or goalline wagers because they don’t track points, is one of the trickier point spreads because they will have spreads that are fractions of points. You may see your usual 0.5, 1 point, 1.5, but you will also see quarters of points. Also, soccer games can end in a draw, which means the teams would tie, forcing a push and you wouldn’t win anything, just your stake is returned.

Best Online Sportsbooks for Point Spread Betting

Now that you have an idea how point spread bets work and how to read the odds, you can start preparing your betting strategy on making your spread bets. Finding a new sports betting site for your point spread betting should be a top priority and is the best starting point if you’re new to sports betting.

Our sportsbook reviews provide an in-depth look at the most important criteria that sports bettors of all skill levels look for, including deposit options, bonus information, sign-up processes, security, mobile compatibility and more.

Finding a sportsbook that suits your needs is important, and making sure the sportsbook has great point spread odds is an important factor!

FAQ

What is the Point Spread?

Down Arrow

How does betting on point spreads work?

Down Arrow

What does point spread mean in basketball?

Down Arrow

What does point spread mean in football?

Down Arrow

How to read the point spread?

Down Arrow

Recommended Betting Sites

Bell Icon
Affiliate Disclosure: At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. More
  1. Only US Sportsbook with NFL Streaming
    Caesars Rewards Redeemable at Ceasars Locations
    Improved Odds for NY Mets & Chicago White Sox
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    GAMBLING1000
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    14
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    Backed by Caesars Entertainment, the sportsbook provides real-life loyalty rewards for bettors bringing the Las Vegas feel to you. Between Live Streaming, Generous Welcome Offer, & Daily Boosted Parlays, you'll find yourself very busy on the Caesars Sportsbook App.
  2. Brand Ambassadors such as Jamie Foxx
    MGM Rewards Redeemable at MGM Resorts
    Official Partner of NY Knicks, Rangers & Devils
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    GAMBLINGCOM
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    11
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    BetMGM is one of the biggest sportsbooks in the US. Brand offers a broad variety of sports betting markets. It's M rewards program is uniquely rewarding.
  3. Fanatics Sportsbook Discover Simplifies Your Betting Experience
    FanCash Feature Delivers Increase Value With Unique Rewards
    Industry-Leading Search Functionality Available
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    not required
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    No
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    9
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    Fanatics Sportsbook, in partnership with Genius Sports, launched BetVision, a unique live betting and streaming product for football games within their app.
  4. Hard Rock Rewards Redeemable in Cafes & Casinos
    Mobile App Uses Accertify for Security
    Supports Payments with Nuvei
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    not required
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    10
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    Hard Rock Sportsbook partners with American Express Accertify to protect its mobile users from fraud. The world renowned brand features a comprehensive selection of sports.
  5. Bet on Same Game Parlays to Receive Free Bets
    Backed by Rush Street Gaming, Founded in the 90s
    20% MLB Profit Every Tuesday
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    GAMBLING
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    9
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    BetRivers provides a wide range of free bet promotions for major league sports. Also offers the iRush Rewards program.
  6. Official Live Streaming of MLB Games
    Free-To-Play Prize Pool Games
    Official Partner of the NBA, Including NBABet Stream
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    not required
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    19
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    No
    DraftKings is one of the biggest US sportsbook brands. Also provides Daily Fantasy Sports, an online casino, and NFT marketplace.
  7. 'Operator of the Year' 2021
    MLB Same Game Parlay $20 Refunds
    Official Partner of the NFL, NBA, NHL, & MLB
    Promo Code
    Tooltip The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
    not required
    Live Streaming
    Tooltip Is there live streaming of sporting events?
    Yes
    In-Play Betting
    Tooltip The number of sports with in-play betting available
    18
    Bet Builder
    Tooltip Can you create your own personalised bets?
    Yes
    Cash Out
    Tooltip Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
    Yes
    First Bet Offer
    Yes
    FanDuel is one of the biggest sportsbook operators in the US. Backed by Flutter Entertainment, one of the biggest gambling operators globally.