TL;DR
- The spread in sports betting focuses on how much a team will win or lose, not just which team will win outright.
- It adds value when you believe a matchup is closer than the odds indicate or think the underdog will perform better than the sportsbooks expect.
- Spread betting doesn’t automatically increase your chances of winning because the results will ultimately be determined by how you evaluate potential matchups.
- The spread betting format provides bettors with a more strategic game plan, but it’s important to understand the pros and cons.
In the world of sports betting, perhaps one of the most popular ways to level the playing field is to opt for a wager on a spread bet. But what is a spread in sports betting, and how easy is it to do?
Uniquely, spread betting can increase the enjoyment of an evenly matched contest, as well as heighten the wagering opportunities in a one-sided matchup.
As a result, ESI will dive into the mechanics of what is a spread in gambling, why it matters, and how you can take advantage of this betting market by using real-world examples. If you’re looking for an alternative wagering opportunity outside of a standard moneyline bet, then spread betting is for you.
What is the spread?
The spread in sports betting is the projected margin of victory set by sportsbooks to handicap a matchup between two teams or two individual players. Instead of simply betting on which team will win, you’re actually predicting how many points the team will win or lose by.
This betting market is commonly found in football and basketball, where one squad might be heavily favoured. A spread awards the underdog a leg up while challenging the favourite to win by a certain number of points.
When considering spread betting, you might also come across terms such as ‘push‘ and ‘cover the spread,’ so below is a table of common terms you’re likely to encounter when researching what the spread is in sports betting.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Favourite (-) | The team is expected to win and must win by more than the spread. |
| Underdog (+) | This team is expected to lose and can lose within the spread or win outrightly. |
| Push | Should the favourite win by exactly the spread given, then the bet is refunded. |
| Cover the Spread | The team you bet on wins by more than the required points. |
Understanding the spread in sports betting
Let’s explore more about the spread bet (meaning) and use it in the context of a sporting event.
Example 1: NBA spread bet
Let’s say an NBA matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks had the sportsbooks offering the Pistons as the favourites at -8 on the point spread.
If you believed the Pistons would win, then Detroit would need to win by more than eight points for your bet to win. However, if you bet on the underdog Knicks at +8, New York would need to lose by fewer than eight points or win the game outright.
Now, say the Pistons won the game 115 – 106. The margin of victory would be 9 points, which means your bet on the Pistons covered the spread and won.
Example 2: NFL spread bet
So, in an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, a sportsbook lists the 49ers as -3 favourites. Suppose the final score is 24 to 22 in favor of San Francisco. The two-point win for the 49ers means the following:
- While moneyline bettors who backed San Francisco would have won their wagers, spread bettors who picked the 49ers at -3 still lost because the two-point margin of victory did not cover the spread. San Francisco should have won by at least four points.
- Bettors who backed Dallas as the underdog at +3 won because the Cowboys lost by fewer than three points.
With the sports betting spread explained, you can now begin to gauge the risk versus the added reward the spread offers if you think a team will likely win by a margin bigger than the sportsbook’s figure.
Fundamentally, the spread adds value if you believe a matchup is closer than the odds indicate and if you think the underdog will perform better than expected.
Does spread betting improve your chances of winning?
The answer here is both yes and no, as the results will ultimately be determined by how you evaluate potential matchups. If you seek to create a better value bet, you’ll need to identify teams that consistently outperform the spread or spot underdogs likely to give the favourites a tough matchup, which is easier said than done.
✅ Pros of spread betting
- Higher potential returns compared to moneyline bets
- More engaging than outright winners
- Helps find value in lopsided matchups
- Available across a wide range of sports
❌ Cons of spread betting
- Poses a higher risk, given that even if your selection wins, the margin of victory may still be less than the spread
- Less profitable than moneyline bets in close games
- Last-minute goals or buzzer-beating shots can ruin a winning bet
While moneyline bets often provide narrower margins, spread betting offers players an alternate betting market to capitalise on games with a higher or lower score expectation than the sportsbooks suggest.
Conclusion: Is spread betting for you?
For those asking, “What is a spread in gambling?” the main takeaway is this: spread betting is all about predicting the margin of victory or defeat, not just which team wins. If you can find teams likely to beat the spread or keep it close as underdogs, this betting market can challenge your game know-how and reward your strategic wagering with a nice payout.
In addition, new and popular sportsbooks actively promote the spread, which balances the betting field while also adding an extra layer of excitement to final result betting.
Disclaimer: Remember, gambling comes with risks, so always practice responsible betting. Set a budget, stick to it, and walk away when the fun stops. Help is available if you ever need support.
FAQs
The spread is a suggested margin of victory set by sportsbooks that handicap a favourite in a bid to give both sides a level playing field in any given matchup. Bettors then wager on whether they believe a team will ‘cover’ the spread rather than if the team will win or lose.
In spread betting, you’re not simply picking the winner of a sporting contest; you are, in fact, picking the margin of victory. Essentially, the favourites must win more than the suggested amount for the spread to be met, with opportunities to bet against the spread if you think the underdog will make it a close game.
No, not necessarily. Betting the spread does not automatically lead to bigger wins. However, it can offer bettors like you opportunities to place more strategic bets, especially in closely fought matchups.