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When learning how to bet on sports, you’ll find that point spread betting is an excellent way of creating value. Point spread betting is synonymous with NFL and NBA moneylines, while it can increase your potential returns and chances of winning when backing favorites and underdogs, respectively.
The top online sportsbooks will also offer spreads on things like the number of touchdowns a player will score in a game, and similar prop markets. So, let’s explore point spread wagering in more detail and take a closer look at precisely how it works.
What is Point Spread Betting?
A point spread is a number set by sportsbooks that levels the playing field between two teams, primarily to drive betting action on both sides. The spread relates directly to the margin of victory in any given game.
To “cover the spread”, a team must win by a final margin larger than the point spread or, in the case of an underdog, lose by fewer points than the spread (or win outright).
Overall, the most popular point spreads focus on winning margin lines. Point spreads are regarded as one of the ‘big three’ betting types, along with moneyline and totals (over/under).
How Point Spread Betting Works
With point spread betting, you’re effectively wagering on the eventual points margin between two competing teams. Minus “-” point spreads (or handicaps) are typically afforded to betting favorites, while underdogs are afforded a ‘+’ point spread to help offset their perceived inferiority.
For example, if you back the Philadelphia Eagles with a -7 point spread against the Washington Commanders, you’re betting on them to win by eight points or more. However, if you expect the match to be much closer than the odds suggest, you could back the Commanders with a +7 spread.
This bet will payout in instances where the Commanders win the game or lose by six points or less.
In the 2025 Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs were -3 on the point spread to defeat NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles. So, anyone betting on this outcome needed the Chiefs to win by four points or more for the bet to pay out. However, the Eagles dominated and prevailed by 18 points, so their opponents failed spectacularly to cover the spread.
In the previous Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers were the narrow favorites and carried a -3 point spread. However, they ultimately lost by a three-point margin to the Chiefs, so backing them at this spread would have been unsuccessful. Many NFL matches feature a similar margin of victory, so -3 and +3 point spreads are the most common.
When you place a spread bet, the published odds always include the bookmaker’s commission or ‘vigorish’. This is why both spread outcomes in a particular game are available at negative odds (usually between -110 and -130), as this guarantees a nominal profit for the bookmaker regardless of the outcome.
Some may offer better value spreads that are priced -106 and -108, but even then, you’ll have to wager more than $100 to win the same amount in profit.
How to Read Point Spreads
Point spreads are super easy to understand once you comprehend the basics. The spreads themselves correlate directly with moneyline odds – the shorter the moneyline odds of a favorite, the bigger the spread they will have to cover.
- Handicaps: How to Spot Them – Point spreads effectively handicap bets because the spread is effectively the expected winning margin for the favorite.
- Finding the Favorite – Point spreads are always built around the favorite and their expected winning margin. If it’s a close game and you are not sure who is the favorite, check out the moneyline odds.
- Identifying an Underdog – The underdog always has the biggest moneyline odds. The spread effectively gives them a head start in the game. If an underdog wins a game, no matter what the spread line, they beat the spread. They can also beat the spread if they lose by less than the spread, increasing your chances of winning overall.
Gavin BeechiGaming Expert
The Importance of Shopping for Lines
With so many sportsbooks now in the marketplace, it’s well worth pointing out that point spread lines will vary, as will all game odds. With this in mind, it is always really important to shop around and find the best lines or odds as part of your betting strategy.
If you fancy the favorite to cover a -5 spread but another book is going -4 about the same team, you should be taking that -4, assuming the spread odds are the same. Similarly, if you fancy a dog, the bigger the line, the better your chance of landing a winning bet. Small margins can make a big long-term difference if you find the best value each time.
How to Bet Against the Spread (ATS)
Betting against the spread can be a great way to beat the book, especially if you think the spread is too high. To bet against the spread, you are simply backing the underdog (+) option. If a favorite is -5 on the spread, the underdog will be +5. You are betting on the underdog to lose by less than the spread – it’s normally referred to as ‘betting against the spread’.
Why would you bet against the spread? There are a million angles, and it largely depends on what you place more store in. The favorite might not have a particularly good record at a stadium, they might have traveled a lot, or they might be missing a key forward.
What Does “Covering the Spread” Mean?
Covering the spread simply means beating the spread line. So, if a team is -12 on the spread, they will cover it if they win the game by 13 points or more. Similarly, if the underdog is +12 on the spread, they need to lose by no more than 11 points.
On either side, if the margin matches the spread, the bet is a push, and the stakes are refunded. If the spread involves half-point numbers, eg, 8.5/+8.5, then there has to be a winner and loser. Half-point lines tend to unlock higher implied probability values in some sports, especially those where draws are a viable outcome.
Live Betting Point Spreads
Live spread betting is an in-running line that moves according to the current game state. Lines and odds are constantly changing throughout the game, depending on what is happening on the field. If the favorite is heavily on top, their point spread will increase, and vice versa.
In the above example, the Progrind Women’s basketball team is in the third quarter of their match against the StarWorks Sports. The latter are leading by 10 points at the start of Q3, and can be backed to win with a spread of -16.5 points at odds of -120. However, Progrind still offers value with a +16.5 spread at odds of -112, especially with the match relatively evenly poised.
As the third quarter progresses, however, StarWorks Sports open an 18-point lead. This adjusts both the spread and the odds, as you can now back the leaders to win with a -23.5 handicap at a price of -123. Conversely, Progrind are now -109 to cover the same spread (+23.5), meaning that their odds have lengthened slightly as they’ve fallen further behind.
This fast-paced, volatile type of bet isn’t for everyone, especially as your bet could look in trouble just a couple of plays later. This is especially true as both spread betting lines and odds change in real-time. However, you can place more informed and timely spread bets in-play by watching matches or streaming them through your chosen bookmaker.
How to Place a Point Spread Bet
To place point spread bets, you will need an account at an online sportsbook. Here, we'll walk you through the steps required to get a sports betting account up and running.
Step 1 - Choose a Sports Betting Site
Choosing the right sports betting site is important. There are so many to choose from, and they all have different features, for example, not all would have live streaming or same-game parlays. Here, we’ll go through the process using BetNow. First thing is to click the green Join Now button at the top right of the page
Step 2 - Create a Betting Account
. Complete the registration form with your contact details, email, and phone number, and you are ready to go.Step 3 - Submit the Registration Form
Once you have completed the registration form, check all the details are correct and submit.Step 4 - Verify your Details
No need to verify by email. As soon as you complete the registration, you will be taken to a separate page where you can check and confirm your membership of the site.Step 5 - Place your Point Spread Bet
You can now pick out your favorite sport and wager and place your first bet at your selected sportsbook.
Point Spread Betting by Sport
You can place point spread bets on most team sports, but there is no doubt that the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL are the most popular for a point spread wager. Let’s take a closer look at how point spreads work within each of these.
NBA Point Spread Betting
A high-scoring game like basketball lends itself perfectly to a point spread wager, so it’s no surprise that NBA point spread betting is super popular. Bettors assess factors like home-court advantage, head-to-head records, recent form, and coaching strategy to evaluate NBA lines. NBA betting is also synonymous with teaser and pleaser wagers.
NFL Point Spread Betting
US sports fans love NFL betting like nothing else, and point spread lines are one of the most popular ways to enjoy a big Sunday game. Because of the nature of football scoring, NFL betting spreads are typically set around these key numbers: 2.5, 3, 3.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5.
Team news around an NFL football game is generally only truly meaningful if it involves a team’s quarterback, although roster injuries around a particular position might also have an impact. Recent form is a huge factor when assessing NFL point spread lines.
MLB Point Spread Betting
MLB’s version of the point spread is the run line. However, run lines tend not to have as much variation as spreads in other sports because just a single run decides such a big chunk (around 30%) of MLB games. Games also tend to be more evenly matched and competitive.
With that in mind, run lines are generally set at 1.5 (-1.5 for the fav, +1.5 for the dog). Run line bettors should dig into the starting pitchers, batting lineups, home/away splits, injuries, and weather when sizing up that day’s baseball run line betting options. In instances where you predict a larger winning margin, you should note that some sportsbooks offer longer and more flexible alternative run lines.
Lewis HumphriesSports Betting Expert
NHL Point Spread Betting
The NHL version of the point spread is the puck line, which stipulates a certain number of goals between two sides. Because ice hockey is generally a low-scoring sport, puck lines are typically set at 1.5. If a line is set at 1.5 goals, then the favorite needs to win by two goals, or the dog needs to win, or lose by no more than a single goal.
Teaser and pleaser wagers are also synonymous with point spread betting, although they oppose each other directly. Here’s a summary of each one and how they work.
Teaser Bets
Put simply, teaser bets involve the exchange of points for volume. More specifically, you can buy a predetermined number of points for your spread when building a parlay that features between two and 10 selections.
Teasers are typically used when engaging in NFL and NBA betting. Standard teaser bets allow you to buy six points per football and four points per basketball encounter. Each leg of your parlay must win if the wager is to pay out, but the process of buying points opens up additional market opportunities and increases your chances of winning overall.
Pleaser Bets
A pleaser bet is the exact opposite of a teaser. With this wager type, you’ll give or ‘sell’ points to your chosen sportsbook, across both single betting lines and parlays. Standard football pleaser bets allow you to adjust the spread by 6, 6.5, or 7 points. In exchange, you’ll receive better odds and a higher potential payout.
To identify viable pleaser betting opportunities, it’s important to analyse upcoming matches using relevant datasets. The goal is to find outcomes where the actual implied probability is higher than the published odds suggest, as this enables you to adjust the spread without overly compromising your chances of winning.
Point Spread Betting Tips From Our Experts
Assessing point spread lines involves research and understanding. Here are our top five tips for finding point spread line value.
- Do your research: Know your numbers, player stats, head-to-head data, and recent form. Also, make a clear delineation between home and away form, as the hosts win 62.7% of the time in the NBA and on 57.6% of occasions in the NFL. Also, be sure to target the most relevant datasets depending on your target betting lines.
- Keep on top of team news: Team news can have a huge impact on spread lines, especially if it involves a pitcher or a quarterback. However, if you are slow to react, you will have missed any potential value in the point spread change. Reputable news sites and social media are great sources of real-time data.
- Shop around: Find the best lines and point spread bet odds by having multiple sportsbook accounts. The differential might seem small and immaterial, but in the long term, these edges add up. By analyzing odds, you may also seek out opportunities to engage in value betting.
- Keep on top of staking: Disciplined staking is essential, especially when you are taking negative prices on point spread bets. Whatever your staking plan or betting strategy, stick to it. Similarly, try not to chase losses, while we’d also recommend tailoring your stake to suit the odds and potential returns.
- Don’t combine point spreads in parlays: The prospect of turning three point-spread wagers into a +500 return might look appealing, but each leg of a parlay multiples the vig, so the more individual legs of the parlay there are, the worse total value the bet will be. Balance and insight are key when building this type of wager.
Pros and Cons of Point Spread Betting
Betting the spreads won’t be for everyone, especially the in-game lines. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this type of sports bet.
What we like
- Point spread bets level the playing field in a game, meaning every game has a potential interest, even complete mismatches
- Typically, point spread lines open earlier than other markets, making them a popular avenue for sharp value seekers
- Spreads are generally more reasonably priced than standard moneyline betting odds
- In-game point spreads provide bettors the chance to cash in on in-game situations
- The possibility of a push, if the result hits the line, is additional insurance on a wager
What we dislike
- Spreads can be a little more difficult for rookie bettors to understand, although hopefully not after reading this page!
- In-game spread lines change quickly, making it difficult to get the line you want.
Final Thoughts on Point Spread Betting
Point spreads are a great option for sports fans, especially in high-scoring games like the NFL and NBA. It’s a vehicle that can be used to get better odds on a favorite or cover a broader range of outcomes when backing an underdog. It should also be used as part of a more comprehensive sports betting strategy that seeks to create greater value and flexibility.
Responsible Betting
Like all forms of gambling, betting on sports comes with significant risks. With this in mind, you must bet responsibly and within your means at all times.
Responsible gambling tools are available on all sportsbooks that can help with this process, such as adding deposit limits, playing times, and even complete exclusion, if your betting has gotten out of control.
We’ve published a broad range of additional sports betting guides at ReadWrite. Here are a few of the most relevant to point spread betting:
