What is point spread betting, and how does it work

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<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Point spread betting is a popular form of sports betting that involves placing a wager on the margin of victory in a particular game or match. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>This type of betting is particularly popular in American football, basketball, and other high-scoring sports, where there is often a significant disparity in talent between two teams. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>In this article, we will explain the basics of point spread betting and how it works.</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>What is Point Spread Betting?</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>In point spread betting, the goal is to predict the margin of victory in a particular game or match. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>The sportsbook or bookmaker will set a point spread, which is a number that represents the margin by which the favored team is expected to win. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>For example, if the point spread for a football game is -7, the favored team is expected to win by seven points or more. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Conversely, if the point spread is +7, the underdog is expected to lose by no more than seven points.</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>How Does Point Spread Betting Work?</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Let’s take a look at an example to better understand how point spread betting works. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Suppose the point spread for an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors is -6.5 in favor of the Lakers. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>This means that the Lakers are favored to win by at least seven points, while the Warriors are expected to lose by no more than six points.</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>If you were to place a bet on the Lakers to cover the spread, they would need to win by seven points or more for your bet to be a winner. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Conversely, if you were to bet on the Warriors to cover the spread, they would need to win the game outright or lose by six points or fewer.</span></span>

If the Lakers were to win the game by exactly six points, the game would be considered a „push,” and all bets would be refunded. In some cases, the point spread may be expressed in half-points to avoid the possibility of a push.

Why Do Sportsbooks Use Point Spreads?

Sportsbooks use point spreads to even out the betting action on both sides of a particular game or match. By setting a point spread betting, the sportsbook can create a situation where roughly half of the bets are placed on the favored team and half are placed on the underdog.

This is important because the sportsbook makes money by taking a commission on each bet, known as the „vig” or „juice.” If all of the bets were placed on the favored team, the sportsbook would be at risk of losing money if the favored team won by a large margin.

By setting a point spread, the sportsbook can ensure that the betting action is evenly split between the two teams, reducing their risk and ensuring a profit over the long run.

How Do You Read Point Spread Odds?

In point spread betting, the odds are expressed as either a positive or negative number. The negative number represents the favored team and the amount of points they are expected to win by, while the positive number represents the underdog and the number of points they are expected to lose by.

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>For example, if the point spread for a football game is -3 in favor of the Dallas Cowboys, this means that the Cowboys are favored to win by three points. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>If you were to bet on the Cowboys to cover the spread, you would need them to win by more than three points for your bet to be a winner.</span></span>

<span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Conversely, if the point spread for a basketball game is +5 in favor of the Miami Heat, this means that the Heat are the underdogs and are expected to lose by no more than five points. </span><span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>If you were to bet on the Heat to cover the spread, you would need them to win the game outright or lose by four points or fewer.</span></span>

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