It serves as a reference for how oddsmakers and the betting public view one team relative to another. In this article, we'll look at what a point spread is, how it is determined, how to bet it, and tips for aspiring handicappers who are betting on the spread. You can bet point spreads at DraftKings Sportsbook: The point spread is determined by oddsmakers.
For example, DraftKings Sportsbook set the point spread for a matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at 3.5. The Seahawks were favored, meaning bettors backing the Seahawks on the spread would need Seattle to win by four or more points to win their bet, while bettors backing the Pats would win if New England won the game outright or lost by seven or fewer. A spread is different from the money line since it involves a winning margin for the favorite, where a bet on both sides is a 50/50 proposition.
Using the same Seahawks vs. Patriots example, betting on Seattle to win outright carried less risk than betting on New England to cover a 3.5-point spread. However, the spread odds were -110 (wager $110 to win $100), while the money line odds were -185 (wager $325 to win $100).
Check out the latest point spreads at FanDuel Sportsbook: The betting public can sometimes influence a spread. If a large portion of incoming bets on this market trend towards one team, the sportsbook will adjust the spread to balance the handle. For example, if a vast majority of bets coming in are on the Jets, the spread might move to Patriots -7 or Patriots -6.5.
New England is still the favorite (denoted by the minus sign) and New York is still the underdog (denoted by the plus sign), but number-shifting could push more bettors towards New England. Sportsbooks will also note whether sharp bettors (bettors with strong winning records) are putting their money on a certain side and may adjust the line as a result. Books will also take line movement at competing sportsbooks under consideration.
Lines can also move due to major player injuries or lineup decisions. For instance, if a star player is ruled out before a game, the spread will fluctuate accordingly, with the star's team becoming either a longer underdog or a shorter favorite. The spread represents a point differential, suggesting the potential gap between the favorite and underdog in NFL, college football, NBA and college basketball betting.
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