What Is a Point Spread?

Ever watched your favorite team dominate, but felt there wasn’t much thrill in betting on them because the outcome seemed obvious? Or that the amount you'd win wasn't worth the money you'd need to risk? Sportsbooks solve this with point spreads, a tool that makes even the most lopsided matchups exciting to bet on.

A point spread is a number set by sportsbooks that represents the margin of victory one team must achieve, or stay within, for a bet to win. It’s designed to make betting more balanced, giving underdogs a head start or requiring favorites to win by a certain amount.

Point spreads aren’t just about fairness. They’re about action. Sportsbooks offer spreads to encourage betting on both sides of a matchup. Without spreads, bettors would avoid heavy favorites (because the payout is too small) and shy away from underdogs (because they’re unlikely to win outright). The spread creates a middle ground where both bets feel winnable. And that keeps the betting market alive.

Whether you're watching the Cowboys on Sunday or a college basketball doubleheader, spreads are everywhere. But how do you read them? And more importantly, how do you find value in them?

This guide breaks down how point spreads work, how to read them with confidence, common mistakes to avoid, and when betting the spread makes sense. By the end, you’ll be ready to use one of the most strategic tools in your betting arsenal.

How Point Spreads Work

Point Spreads are designed to balance betting between two teams, not to predict the score. Sportsbooks set a margin to make both sides attractive to bettors, ensuring they collect bets no matter the outcome.

Key Terms:

• Favorite – Expected to win. Marked with (-).

• Underdog – Expected to lose. Marked with (+).

• Spread – The number of points the favorite must win by or the underdog can lose by for bets to win.

• Cover the spread – When a team wins by more than the point spread (if favored) or loses by less than the spread (if the underdog). Think of it like giving a head start in a race. If the better runner wins but not by enough, they don’t “cover.”

• The hook – To avoid a tie, spread odds almost always end in .5, an added number called the hook.

• Giving points – This means you are betting on the favorite in a point spread bet. The favorite must win by more than the spread for your bet to win because you’re "giving" those points to the underdog as a handicap.

• Taking points – This means you are betting on the underdog in a point spread bet. The underdog can either win the game outright or lose by less than the spread for your bet to win because you're "taking" those points as an advantage.

Example:

The Dallas Cowboys are -6.5 against the New York Giants +6.5.

• Cowboys must win by 7+ points for you to win if you bet on them.

• Giants can lose by 6 or fewer—or win—for to win if you bet on them.

Let's say the final score is, Cowboys 28, Giants 21.

The math would look like this

• If you bet the Cowboys:

  The Cowboys score is 28. They are minus 6.5. So 28 minus the spread of 6.5= 21.5

  For betting purposes, the cowboys final score is 21.5

  So, the final score of the game for those who bet on the Cowboys is Cowboys 21.5, Giants 21.

  The Cowboys covered the spread. You win.

  
  

• If you bet on the Giants:

  The Giants score is 21. They are +6.5. So 21 plus the spread of 6.5=27.5

  For betting purposes, the Giants score is 27.5

  So, the final score of the game for those who bet on the Giants is, Giants 27.5, Cowboys 28

  The Giants did not cover the spread. You lose.

  
  
  
  
  
  

Reading the Odds

Here’s a typical sportsbook listing: 49ers -3.5 (-125) vs. Seahawks +3.5 (+110)

The -3.5 or +3.5 are the point spreads.

• -3.5 means that the 49ers must win by 4 or more points for a bet on them to win (you're "giving points" to your opponent)

• +3.5 means the Seahawks can lose by 3 or fewer, or win outright, for a bet on them to win (you're "taking points" from your opponent)

The (-125) or (+110) are the bet to return rations

• (-125) means you have to bet $125 to win $100 because the team is the favorite

• (+110) means you if you bet $100 you win $110 because the team is the underdog.

Example:

• If you bet on the 49ers -3.5 (-125), they must win by 4 or more points for you to win. If they win by exactly 3 or fewer, you lose. A $125 bet wins $100.

• If you bet on the Seahawks +3.5 (+110), they can lose by 3 or fewer points, or win outright, for you to win. A $100 bet wins $110.

Why Bet the Spread Instead of the Moneyline?

Here’s the real reason spreads exist: Sportsbooks need bets on both sides of a contest.

Moneylines are straightforward. Just pick the winner. But they fall short in lopsided matchups. If a favorite is almost certain to win, like UConn women’s basketball against an unranked team, they might be listed at -600 on the moneyline. That means you’d have to bet $600 just to win $100. Most bettors won’t risk that much for such a small return. So they don't bet.

On the flip side, the underdog might be +450—a $100 bet wins $450, but only if they pull off a major upset. Betting on them feels like gambling, not strategy. So Bettors don't bet.

This is bad for sportsbooks. If bettors don’t see value in either side, they won’t place a bet.

So in instead of a moneyline bet, sportsbooks offer spreads, like UConn -15.5 vs. DePaul +15.5, both at -110 odds. Now, bettors have a real choice:

• Will UConn win by 16+?

• Will DePaul keep it close?

Spreads turn unappealing matchups into competitive betting opportunities. Bettors use spreads because they avoid betting big on a favorite or hoping for a miracle from an underdog. Spreads keep bettors in the game and keep sportsbooks profitable.

Common Point Spread Betting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even simple bets come with pitfalls. Here’s what to watch for:

1. Winning ≠ Covering: A team can win but fail to cover. Know the margin needed, not just who wins.

2. Ignoring Line Movement: Spreads change due to public betting, injuries, weather. Suppose you bet early on the 49ers at -3.5. By game day, sharp bettors move the line to -2.5. Now you’ve missed a better number, costing you a win.

3. Riding the “Hot Team”: A team is just coming off a series of recent big win? Everyone may be betting them. Lines might be inflated. Value hides in overlooked teams.

4. Chasing Losses: Doubling down after losses leads to bad decisions. Bet smart, not emotional.

   
   

Success in spread betting comes from discipline, research, and sharp timing.

Real Point Spread Examples

Example 1: NCAA Women’s Basketball

• UConn -15.5 vs. DePaul +15.5

• Final: UConn 82, DePaul 68 (UConn wins by 14)

• Result: UConn needed to win by 16 or more points to cover -15.5. They won by 14 points, whic is not enough to cover. UConn bettors lose. DePaul bettors win.

Example 2: NFL

• 49ers -3.5 vs. Eagles +3.5

• Final: 49ers 31, Eagles 24 (49ers win by 7)

• Result: 49ers needed to win by 4 or more points to cover -3.5. They won by 7 points, which covers the spread. Bettors on San Francisco cash in. Eagles bettors lose.

Spreads aren’t just about who wins. They’re about how much they score.

Got it?

• Phoenix Mercury -4.5, Atlanta Dream +4.5

• The score: Phoenix 68, Atlanta 61.

What bettor wins? What bettor loses? Check your answers at the end of this article!

When Should You Bet the Spread?

Spreads shine in specific scenarios. Watch for opportunities such as:

• Blowouts Incoming: Skip the low-paying moneyline. Bet the spread and profit from dominance.

• Rivalry Games: Emotions run high. Underdogs often keep it close—points matter.

• Weather & Injuries: Sudden changes? Spreads may not adjust fast enough. That’s your edge.

• Teasers & Alternate Lines: A teaser lets you shift the spread by a few points, giving more flexibility but lowering the payout. Useful for experienced bettors.

Picture this: It’s Sunday, rain is pouring, the favorite’s QB is out. The spread hasn’t budged. That’s your moment.

Key Takeaways for Beginners

So when’s your next chance to bet smart? Let’s recap what gives you the edge.

• The spread exists to create balanced betting, not predict scores.

• You bet on how much a team wins or loses by, not just the result.

• Spreads help you avoid risky moneyline bets on big favorites or longshot underdogs.

• Watch how lines move—it’s a window into the betting world’s pulse.

Betting spreads is like cooking with spice, you don’t just want heat, you want balance. Now you know how to use that balance to win smarter.

Got It: Results:

• Phoenix Mercury -4.5 bettors: Phoenix needed to win by 5 or more points for this bet to win. Phoenix won by 4 points (68 - 64 = 4), which is not enough to cover the spread.➝ Phoenix bettors lose.

• Atlanta Dream +4.5 bettors: Atlanta could lose by 4 or fewer points, or win, for this bet to win. Atlanta lost by 4 points, which is within the spread.➝ Atlanta bettors win.