The point spread is the most popular bet type in American sports — and once you understand it, every other bet type becomes easier to grasp.
Instead of just picking who wins, a point spread makes you predict the margin of victory. Here's how it works.
What a Point Spread Looks Like
Example — NFL game:
- New England Patriots +7 (-110)
- Dallas Cowboys -7 (-110)
Dallas is favored by 7 points. If you bet Dallas at -7, they must win by more than 7 points for your bet to win. If you bet New England at +7, they must either win outright or lose by fewer than 7 points.
If Dallas wins by exactly 7, the bet is a push — your stake is returned and no one wins or loses.
Why -110?
The (-110) next to the spread is the price (odds) you're paying. It means you must bet $110 to win $100. This is the sportsbook's commission — the vig. Both sides are usually priced at -110 to keep the book balanced.
Covering the Spread
You'll often hear phrases like "Dallas covered" or "the Patriots didn't cover." Covering means:
- Favorite covered = won by more than the spread
- Underdog covered = won outright OR lost by less than the spread
A team can win the game but fail to cover the spread (e.g., Dallas wins 17–14 when they were -7 favorites). That's what makes spread betting distinct from moneyline betting.
Tips for Reading Point Spreads
- Large spreads (10+) often appear in mismatched games — college football is notorious for 20+ point spreads
- The spread moves as betting action comes in and new information (injuries, weather) emerges — always check the current line before betting
- Home field advantage is usually worth 2–3 points built into the line
Ready to track how you perform against the spread? Oddible breaks down your ATS (against the spread) record by sport, team, and bet size.
