If that favorite does indeed win by three points, all bettors have the full amount of money sent back to them. An example is if one team is favored by three points over the other. There will be some sports books that list favorites by a whole number. A late score can alter the payout and leave the gambler frustrated.Ī push only occurs if no hook exists with the point spread. That’s why seeing spreads that are 2.5, 3.5, 6.5, or 7.5 are all particularly challenging to predict. The hook is particularly troublesome in football bets, as each score is worth multiple points. Some people only bet on games that have the hook in the point spread, meaning the half point that guarantees a winner and a loser. Two common terms used in point spread betting that might not be familiar to the average person are the hook and a push. They all operate the same way, even if they go by slightly different names. If a team is a big underdog, they will get a much better payout even at +1.5.Īlternative lines do exist that will fluctuate depending on the matchup. What sports books will do instead is keep the favorites at -1.5, and the underdogs at +1.5. Very rarely will you see a +2.5 underdog in the low-scoring sports. They work a little bit differently since the sports are low-scoring. In hockey and golf, goal lines reign supreme. However, in baseball, point spreads go by run lines. Run/Goal Linesīasketball and football are the two major sports that rely on point spreads consistently. More opportunities to try out different strategies make sports gambling fun for most. It’s a matter of personal preference, as money line bets exist for a reason. Sign up for a FREE Consultation to start working with Legendary Sports Bettor Jon PriceĪ point spread makes everything relatively even so that there are more consistent payouts. There’s always a favorite and an underdog, and some sports gamblers don’t want to have to put a good chunk of money down just to win a little bit on a favorite. The truth of the matter is that very few contests are a true coin flip or pick’em decision. The team with +2.5 odds would have to either win, or lose by two points or less.Īnyone new to sports betting might wonder what makes a point spread necessary in the first place.

For the team getting -2.5 to successfully win the bet against the spread, they will need to win by three or more points.

How Does Overtime Work with Point Spreads?Ī 2.5 point spread means that the two teams match up pretty favorably, with one as the slight favorite.

Are There Any Alternatives to Point Spreads in Sports Gambling?.

Is the Point Spread Connected to the Money Line?.

Betting odds explanation point spread