A spread bet in football adds a points handicap to create a more balanced betting market. Instead of just picking who wins, you're predicting whether a team will win by more or less than the spread.
How NFL Spread Betting Works
Betting the favorite (-6.5): You need your team to win by 7 or more points. Win by 6 or fewer, or lose = your bet loses. Win by exactly 6.5 is impossible (half-point), so no push.
Betting the underdog (+6.5): Your team can lose by up to 6 points and you still win. Win outright is even better. Lose by 7+ = your bet loses.
The Standard Price: -110
Almost all NFL spread bets are priced at -110. You bet $110 to win $100. This $10 excess per $100 won is the sportsbook's fee (vig). At -110, you need to win 52.38% of your spread bets to break even.
How NFL Spreads Move
Lines open Sunday night or Monday morning. They move all week based on:
- Sharp betting from professional gamblers
- Public betting volume on popular teams
- Injury news and late roster changes
Following line movement — specifically reverse line movement (line moving against public bets) — provides insight into where informed money is going.
Key Numbers in NFL Spreads
In football, spreads near 3 and 7 are most significant because those are the most common margins of victory. A team at -3 is in a very different position than -3.5 because games end on exactly 3 points ~15% of the time. Always shop for the best number near key values.
[See NFL spread odds and line movement in real time with Oddible →]
