How To Bet Spreads

When it comes to sports betting on the NFL, NBA, and NCAA football and basketball, the bettor is given an incentive by using the point spread. The point spread was designed, to attract bettors to take the underdog in games, as too much action was being placed on the favorite. The point spread, is used by bookie software agents, to balance out the money being placed on games. Here is a guide to help you understand the point spread.

The point spread is the amount of points within a game, that the sportsbook believe the favorite will defeat the underdog by. In order for bettors taking the favorite to cover the spread, they have to wager, that they believe the favorite will win by one more point then the spread to cover the bet. Conversely, a bettor taking the underdog has to believe, that the underdog will either lose by less than the point spread or win the game outright to win their wager. Here is an example using the NFLpoint spread.

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans – 3

Final Score: Cincinnati 17 Houston 24

In this example, the Houston Texans were able to cover the three-point spread and make bettors taking them to cover the spread winners, as they won the game by seven points. Bettors taking the Bengals would have lost because they failed to cover the spread.

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans – 3

Final Score: Cincinnati 21 Houston 17

In this example, the Bengals covered the spread, as they won the game outright, thus making the Texans losers both in the game and on the point spread.

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans – 3

Final Score: Cincinnati 20 Houston 23

In this example, both bettors taking the Bengals and the Texans would lose their wagers, because the point spread was a push. The reason it was a push, is because Houston won by exactly three points.