Sports Betting 101: Point Spread Betting Explained

Last updated Oct 24, 2022 12:19 PM ET

New bettors most certainly have heard of point spread bets, but may be unsure of what that means and how they work. Luckily, it is very simple to get started. Our friends at OddsChecker will help you understand point spread betting, and teach you the differences between NFL point spreads and college football point spreads. It is important to realize there are different factors involved in professional and college level sports wagers, as well as wagers on championships like Super Bowl point spread bets. Read on to learn all of the nuances of this wager type.

Put simply, the points spread – also commonly known as "betting the spread" or "handicap betting" – is a sports betting market that means a team must win by a specific number of points / goals, or they must not lose by a specific number of points / goals.

Point spread betting is one of the most popular ways to bet on major professional team sports. While NFL point spread and NBA point spread bets are what first made this wager type popular, the format has been adopted by other professional sports as well. In a moneyline wager, you are betting on an overall winner in a chosen matchup. Each matchup will have a favorite team to win and an underdog, as well as associated odds that reflect their chance of winning. While it may be more profitable to bet on an underdog, favorites are likely to win more often. This can lead to many one sided and uninteresting games. This is where point spread bets come in.

In a point spread, you are wagering on the point margin between two teams. Let's say you have bet on the underdog to cover the spread. Once the game is over, if the underdog has kept the game close, within a certain amount of points, or won outright, your point spread bet is a winner. If you are new to sports betting, the concept may be a bit confusing but it is actually very simple and straightforward. Let's take a look at an example to break it down.

But this is just the beginning. Check out OddsChecker's point spread betting guide, and soon you'll be on your way to successful wagering!

Meanwhile, if you're new to sports betting, here are some handy tips that can help you stay on the right track.

Be disciplined - Don't get carried away, set a budget and stick to it. Don't chase losses and just make small bets to start with until you're more familiar with how it all works.
Track your bets - Make a note of all the bets you place and their outcomes. You may want to do this with a spreadsheet, a piece of paper or an app. Once you have enough data, it'll help you understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
Find picks - While you're getting to grips with how sports betting works, you may want to take advantage of the experience, knowledge, and insight of professional handicappers who offer picks and predictions that you can use when making your bets.
Find free bets - Free bets can help you get more for your money by taking away some of the risk. Most sportsbooks offer free bets to new customers, so check out our list of the latest free bets to find the ones that are right for you.
Compare odds - While most sportsbooks offer odds on most sports, they won't all be equal. Placing a bet with the best odds means you'll receive more if you're successful. We make this easy by comparing the odds of all the leading bookies in the US, helping you to always get the best value from every wager you place.