Understanding point spread: making things simple

Basketball and football are two of the highest-scoring sports with teams packing and stacking their points in order to achieve victory in any match-up. In such high-scoring games, betting on who will win in the end -i.e. moneyline bet – is not always fun, nor is it always an attractive option for sports bettors, no matter how much bookies and betting sites in Malaysia try to promote them.

This is especially true when we have a clear favourite in the game. In fact in the vast majority of confrontations between two teams, one is the favorite and one is the underdog. How much of a favourite or how much of an underdog they are, however, can make all the difference in betting.

When we have a huge favourite in a match-up, bettors are most likely indifferent in betting on this team. The sportsbooks’ odds for the victory of the favourite will most certainly be considerably low and so punters will not find it particularly attractive or even lucrative to risk their money for a low margin. And we say “risk” because, in sports gambling, risk is always a present element…

So, when there is an imbalanced distribution of probabilities for each of the teams winning a game, then oddsmakers of online betting websites need to find ways to make things more even and create some sort of balance that will generate action on both sides of a bet. This is done by setting a point spread between the two opponents.

Point spread, therefore, is an artificial difference in the final scoring of the two teams. A difference in the total points at the end of the game which needs to be covered for a bet to win.

Decoding Point Spread Signs

Let’s take it from the beginning once again. Sportsbooks want to make matches as interesting as they can get for the sports bettors. And to do so, they establish a betting line and decide on a point that is spread among the opponents. In point spread betting, you will notice either a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign.

This indicates the underdog and the favourite. When we have a certain point accompanied by the minus sign for a team, then this is the favourite to win the game and the point indicated is the number of points that it will have to win in the end if betting on this team is going to generate profits. Accordingly, when the same point number accompanied by the plus sign indicates the underdog and the whole bet against this spread means that to win the bet the underdog must lose by a certain number of points.

So, if we have an NBA game featuring a clear underdog (or a clear favourite) then we will see something like that:

Teams Spread

Team A  -7

Team B +7favourite

Team A is the favorite to win the game and so if you bet against the point spread, then your wager wins if they win by more than 7 points. Accordingly, if you bet on Team B, your wager wins if they lose by more than 7 points. To make it more simple, just add or subtract the points from the total score at the end for each team.

Now if Team A wins by exactly 7 points (or the other way round), then it is a push, which means that you are getting your money back. To prevent this from happening – as it is quite dull to bet and just receive back your money – oddsmakers add a 0.5 in the point spread. This eliminates the possibility of a ‘push’ and makes a bet either a profitable one or a losing one. So, in the previous example we will have:

Teams Spread

Team A  -7.5

Team B +7.5

Here, things regarding the favourite and the underdog remain the same. The only difference is that there is no ‘neutral’ point. Of course, the final score can’t really have a difference of 7.5 points, but this makes sure that the exact difference of 7 goes in one of the two sides of the bet.

Point spread betting is very popular and it is important that you grasp the basics of how it works and what it means to wager on the marginal difference in the scores of two teams in a game. If you are a beginner bettor, then you will appreciate that understanding point spread betting is not only useful, but can also come in handy for making good betting choices!

Point spread betting, often referred to simply as “the spread,” is a popular method used by sportsbooks to level the playing field and make sports matchups more enticing for bettors. This article has provided a clear explanation of how point spread betting works, emphasizing the role of the favourite and the underdog in this betting strategy.

Unraveling the Plus and Minus Signs

In point spread betting, sportsbooks assign a specific point value to each team, denoted by either a plus (+) or minus (-) sign. The minus sign designates the favourite, while the plus sign represents the underdog. The points assigned to the teams reflect the margin they must either exceed or stay within for a bet to be successful.

For example, if Team A is playing against Team B, and the point spread is set at -7 for Team A and +7 for Team B, Team A is considered the favourite. To win a bet on Team A, they must secure a victory by more than 7 points. Conversely, if you bet on Team B, your wager succeeds if Team B either wins the game or loses by fewer than 7 points. This means that the margin of victory or defeat is taken into account in point-spread betting.

To prevent ties or “pushes,” where bettors get their money back without a profit, oddsmakers often include a 0.5-point fraction in the spread. This fractional point ensures that there is always a decisive outcome in the bet. For instance, in the updated example with Team A at -7.5 and Team B at +7.5, a bet on Team A succeeds if they win by 8 or more points, while a bet on Team B wins if they either prevail or lose by 7 or fewer points.

Elevating your expertise

Understanding point spread betting is crucial for both novice and experienced bettors. It not only enhances your comprehension of how odds work but also aids in making informed betting decisions. By analyzing the spread, you can assess the expected performance of each team and make bets based on your predictions.

As you delve further into the world of sports betting, point spread betting will become an invaluable tool for making strategic and calculated wagers. It adds an exciting dimension to your sports betting experience by allowing you to bet on the margin of victory, making every point scored in a game potentially significant to your wager’s outcome. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced bettor, mastering point spread betting is a valuable skill that can lead to more successful and enjoyable betting experiences.