BETTING GUIDES

What is a Point Spread Bet? How it Works in Sports Betting

Asher Hyre Updated: May 14 2026 18:05

The point spread market is one of the most popular in sports betting, along with moneylines and totals.

Point spread betting is very simple. Similarly to a moneyline bet, it's a main market that has to do with the outcome and score of the game.

How Does a Point Spread Work?

The only difference between a point spread and a moneyline is the handicap, also known as a spread.

The spread is a margin set by oddsmakers to level the playing field between unevenly matched teams. The favorite (team that is supposed to win) must win by more than the specified margin, while the underdog can win or lose by less than that number to win the bet.

Point spreads balance the betting action on either side of the game, making even the most lopsided games fun to follow.

How to Read Point Spread Odds

Odds determine the amount of money that you will make on a bet.

When using bet365 in the United States and Canada, odds are depicted using the plus (+) or minus (-) signs.

The minus sign indicates the expected winner (favorite) and offers a lower payout than the wager itself. A plus sign indicates an underdog, and comes with higher payout.

Typically, the odds for a spread will be set to -110 on each side. This means that a $110 wager would profit $100.

Example of a Point Spread

Teams	Point Spread (Odds)
Philadelphia	+7.5 -110
New York	-7.5 -110

In this example, New York is favored by 7.5 points. If you wagered on New York to cover the spread, they would need to win the game by 8 points or more for your bet to be a winner.

Conversely, if you bet on Philadelphia to cover the spread, they could either win the game outright or lose by a maximum of 7 points for your bet to be a winner.

How to Place a Point Spread Bet on bet365

On bet365, navigate to the sport or league page that you want to place a bet on, and select the matchup.
Choose the team or person that you think will cover the spread (Point Spread).
Enter the amount of money that you wish to wager on the outcome. bet365 will automatically calculate the payout, and show it to you before the bet is placed.
Confirm your bet, but make sure to review your selection so you don't select the wrong team by accident.
Hit "Place Bet" and wait a second or two for it to be accepted.

When do you Know if Your Point Spread Bet Wins or Loses?

A point spread bet is won or lost at the conclusion of the game or half, once the score is determined.

If you bet the New York spread in the above example, the bet would be settled as soon as the clock hits zero.

There are also point spreads on halves and quarters, and those bets will settle at the end of each respective period.

Pros and Cons of Point Spread Bets

Pros

The outcome is easily determined (either the team covers or doesn't cover the spread). Point spread bets have unmatched simplicity.

Gives the underdog a competitive advantage, offering better odds than betting on a moneyline.

Makes lopsided matchups intriguing and fair on both sides.

Cons

Higher risk for betting on favorites. Lines are set to make it as close to a 50/50 toss-up as possible.

Requires more knowledge; rather than just picking the winner, you're determining if the team can win (or lose) by a certain number of points.

Late-game swings from meaningless plays such as a garbage time free throw or touchdown can flip a winning bet into a losing one.

Point Spread Betting Strategy

While betting point spreads is easy to understand, they still carry fundamental gambling risks.

Target Key Numbers

Know the "typical" final scores of games and leagues. A 7.5 point spread in football is significantly different than a 7.5 point spread in basketball.

In football, its common for teams to win by either three (field goal) or seven points (touchdown). This means that a shift from -2.5 to -3.5 or -6.5 to -7.5 is a big one.

Do Your Research

Before placing a bet, always analyze the teams performances coming into the game.

Does a team cover the spread more often at home than on the road? What is the weather like at the game? These questions and more should be answered before placing a bet.

Identify Trends and Line Movement

Leading up to the game, observe how the line changes. If a team opened as a 6.5 point favorite, and closes as a 8.5 point favorite, that tells you that most of the sharp early money favored that team and the sportsbooks adjusted their price.

Point Spread vs. Other Bet Types

The point spread is similar to a moneyline bet in terms of betting on the outcome of the game, but it just adds a point margin, making it fair on both sides.

Moneylines can sometimes have odds of -300 for a favorite and +250 for an underdog. With point spreads, the odds will always be around a coin flip on each side.

The spread has nothing to do with the amount of points scored in the game (total), but rather the margin of the final score.

Terms Glossary for Point Spreads

Favorite - A favorite is the team or individual deemed most likely to win a game.
Underdog - An underdog is the team or individual that is expected to lose a game.
Cover - When a team wins or loses by a margin that beats the spread.
Push - If the spread is set at a number that ends in ".0" (7.0, 6.0, etc.), and a team wins by that exact number, your bet is a push, meaning you receive your initial wager back without winning or losing any money.
Line movement - Changes to the point spread due to betting action or recent news.

Always Gamble Responsibly with Point Spreads

For more on responsible gambling, bet365 has a dedicated resource page that can be found at https://responsiblegaming.nj.bet365.com/us.

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.

Point Spread Betting FAQs

What does -110 mean?
The typical price associated with a point spread. A $110 bet would win $100..
What is a "push"?
A push happens when a final score lands on the spread's number exactly, resulting in the refund of your bet.
Why do lines move?
Spreads can change based on heavy betting action on one side, recent news such as an injury, and adjustments by sportsbooks to balance their risk.
What is a "middle"?
A very sharp form of betting, middle bets are risk free with massive chances for profit. If you bet New York -5.5 earlier in the week, and it closes at -7.5, you can bet on both sides of the spread risk free with a chance that New York wins by 6 or 7 and both bets win.
Can an underdog lose and still win the bet?
Yes, that is what makes point spreads so great. If you bet on an underdog at +7.5, they can still lose by 1-7 points for your bet to win.

Additional Betting Guides

To learn more about other bet types and sports, take a look at our guides below:

Asher Hyre