What is a Point Spread?

The point spread (aka runline in baseball or puck line in hockey) is the handicap, or head start, that oddsmakers gives to the underdog. Betting against the spread can make a lopsided event more interesting - rather than just winning outright, the favorite has to win by more than the point spread (aka "cover the spread") for bets on the favorite to win.

The point spread’s purpose is to make betting on either side equally attractive. Here's an example of how it works, with NFL spread betting:

Let's say the New England Patriots are the road team against the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. All signs point to the Patriots being the favorite and the Rams the underdog. The linesmaker might decide to give the Rams a three-point head start, which is expressed as Rams +3, or Patriots -3.

If you bet on the Patriots, you'll win your bet if they win the game by more than three points. If you bet on the Rams, however, you'll win your bet if they lose by less than three points (e.g., if their score is higher after you add three points to it).

The juice or price attached to the point spread determine your payout. A negative number (e.g., -170) shows how much money you must wager to win $100 while a positive number (e.g., +150) shows how much money you will win on a $100 wager.

The standard odds of -110 may or may not be listed. If one side is receiving a lot of action, the odds may be adjusted in an effort to balance the action.

You can place a point spread bet on the whole game or just a portion of it – where first half (1H), second half (2H), quarter (Q*), or 5th inning (5inn.) lines are offered. The point adjustment during the specified period of the game determines the betting outcome.

Especially when it comes to football, there’s no bet that is more synonymous with sports betting than the spread.