A point spread is a handicap that makes two teams of different quality a roughly even bet — the favorite gives up points, the underdog gets them.
Sportsbooks don't want you betting which team will win. If one team is clearly better, everyone would bet the favorite and the book would lose. So they build a handicap into the bet itself. The favored team is listed with a minus sign: -6.5, for example. They have to win by more than 6.5 points for your bet to pay. The underdog is listed with a plus sign: +6.5. They can lose by up to 6.5 points and still cover the spread. The half-point is intentional — it prevents ties. A spread of -7 would mean the favorite winning by exactly 7 results in a push, where everyone gets their money back. The half-point forces a winner and a loser on every bet.
Example
Boston is favored by 4.5 against Miami. You bet Miami +4.5 at -110. Boston wins 108-105. Miami lost the game by 3, but with the 4.5-point cushion, your bet wins. You risked $110 to profit $100.
What it means for your decision
The spread isn't a prediction of the final score — it's the line where the market thinks equal money will come in on both sides. Reading a spread well means asking whether that line fairly captures the gap between the two teams tonight, given injuries, rest, and matchup. When it doesn't, there's potential value. When it does, you're just paying juice. Your decision is always yours.
Frequently asked
What happens if the spread is a whole number and the game lands on it?
That's called a push — no one wins and your stake is refunded. It's why most spreads include a half-point to force a result.
Why does the spread change before the game?
As bets come in and news breaks, books adjust the line to manage their risk. A moving spread tells you where the money and information are flowing.
Is it better to bet the favorite or the underdog?
Neither by default — both are priced at roughly the same juice. What matters is whether the line is set correctly for tonight's matchup.
Do spreads exist in every sport?
In most, yes — football, basketball, hockey (puck line), baseball (run line). Some low-scoring sports use smaller spreads or alternate formats.
Related terms
In the glossary