Point spread betting explained
The favorite has to win by more than the spread; the underdog covers by losing by less, or by winning.
Key points
- A -3 favorite has to win by 4 or more; a 3-point win is a push and the stake comes back.
- Half-point spreads such as -2.5 or +3.5 can't push.
- A spread at -110 risks $110 to win $100, so it needs a 52.4% win rate to break even.
On this page
How a spread bet is settled
Take the final score, add the spread to your team's points, and see who's ahead. If your team is still ahead, the bet wins. If it's level, it's a push.
Chiefs -3 (-110) against the Raiders +3 (-110)
- Chiefs win by 7
- Chiefs -3 wins
- Chiefs win by 3
- Push
- Chiefs win by 1
- Raiders +3 wins
- Raiders win
- Raiders +3 wins
A winning $110 bet at -110 pays $100 in profit. A push returns the $110.
The number is the spread and the price next to it is what the bet costs. Most spreads are priced near -110 on both sides. When one side gets more action, a book can move the price, say to -120, before it moves the number.
Pushes and half points
A whole-number spread can land exactly. A half-point spread can't, because no game ends with half a point. That half point decides the bet on one exact margin:
- -2.5 wins on a 3-point win; -3 pushes on it; -3.5 loses on it.
- +2.5 loses on a 3-point loss; +3 pushes on it; +3.5 wins on it.
Books charge for the better number. Moving from -3 to -2.5 often costs a worse price, such as -120 instead of -110. Whether that's worth paying depends on how often games land on that exact margin.
Key numbers in football: 3 and 7
Football points come mostly in field goals (3) and touchdowns with the extra point (7), so final margins of 3 and 7 come up more often than any others. A spread sitting on 3 or 7 decides more bets than a spread on 5 or 6.
| Sport | Games | On 3 | On 7 | Books differ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | 28 | 4 (14%) | 3 (11%) | 11 (39%) |
| College football | 47 | 2 (4%) | 2 (4%) | 22 (47%) |
Upcoming games at MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS (the spread most of the books post), updated Oct 31, 1:45 AM ET.
This is why a move from -3 to -3.5 matters more than a move from -5 to -5.5: the first crosses a margin that decides many games, the second doesn't. Basketball has no strong key numbers because scoring comes in steps of 1, 2 and 3 all game.
This week's spreads at four sportsbooks
Books don't always post the same spread. Here is the underdog's line at each book for three of this week's closest games. The best line is the one with the most points; between equal lines, the better price wins.
| Team | MyBookie | Bovada | BetOnline | BetUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) | +1 (-110) | +1.5 (-110) | 0 (+100) | 0 (+100) |
| Denver Broncos (NFL) | +1 (-110) | +1 (-110) | +1 (-105) | 0 (+100) |
| UConn Huskies (college football) | +1 (-110) | +1 (-115) | 0 (-110) | 0 (-110) |
Upcoming NFL and college football games this week, updated Oct 31, 1:45 AM ET. Best = the most points, then the best price.
If one book has +3.5 and another +3, the +3.5 bet wins on a 3-point loss where the +3 bet only pushes. Our NFL odds page and college football odds page show every game this way.
Spreads in other sports
Baseball's run line and hockey's puck line are spreads fixed at 1.5. Since the number barely moves, the price does the work. A favorite at -1.5 often pays a plus price, because winning by two or more is much harder than just winning.
A favorite on the moneyline and the -1.5 line
- Moneyline
- -180
- $100 wins
- $55.56
- -1.5 line
- +120
- $100 wins
- $120
Prices for illustration. The -1.5 bet pays more because it loses every one-run (or one-goal) win.
Basketball spreads work like football's, only bigger: a 10-point NBA favorite is common. Our NBA betting guide covers what moves them.
Frequently asked questions
What does +7 mean in betting?
The team is a 7-point underdog. A bet on it wins if it loses by 6 or fewer or wins outright, and pushes if it loses by exactly 7.
What happens if the game lands on the spread?
It's a push: the stake is returned. Half-point spreads such as 3.5 can't push.
Is the spread the same at every sportsbook?
No. Each book sets its own number and price. This week's lines at MyBookie, Bovada, BetOnline and BetUS are in the table above.
Why do 3 and 7 matter?
Football scoring comes mostly in 3s and 7s, so final margins of 3 and 7 come up more than others. A spread on or across those numbers decides more bets.
Does overtime count for the spread?
Yes. Spread bets are settled on the final score, overtime included.
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