By
Eric Pauly
Feb 6, 2026
0 min read
What Is Spread Betting?
Spread betting, also called point spread betting or betting against the spread (ATS), is one of the most popular ways to wager on sports. Instead of simply picking which team will win, you're betting on whether a team will win or lose by a certain margin. The point spread creates a more balanced betting market by giving the underdog a virtual head start and forcing the favorite to win by more than a specified number of points.
If the Buffalo Bills are -7 against the Miami Dolphins, the Bills need to win by more than 7 points for a spread bet on them to cash. If the Dolphins keep it close or win outright, a bet on Miami +7 wins. This system exists because straight moneyline bets on heavy favorites offer poor odds, and sportsbooks want balanced action on both sides. After placing thousands of spread bets across NFL and NBA seasons, I've learned that the spread is where most of the sharp money plays because it's the most efficient market. Understanding how spreads work, why they move, and where edges exist is foundational to serious sports betting. This guide covers everything you need to know.
article Summary
Point spread betting levels the playing field between favorites and underdogs by requiring the favorite to win by more than a set margin. Spreads are set by sportsbooks to attract balanced betting on both sides. Lines move based on betting action and new information. Shopping for the best number across sportsbooks is one of the simplest ways to improve your spread betting results.
How Point Spreads Work
The Basics of Spread Betting
A point spread assigns a positive number to the underdog and a negative number to the favorite. If you see Chiefs -6.5, the Chiefs are favored by 6.5 points. They must win by 7 or more for a Chiefs spread bet to win. The other side would be listed as Broncos +6.5, meaning the Broncos can lose by up to 6 points and still cover the spread. If they lose by exactly 6 or win outright, a Broncos +6.5 bet wins.
Standard Odds and the Vig
Most spread bets are listed at -110 odds on both sides. This means you risk $110 to win $100 (or any proportional amount). The 10% premium above your potential winnings is the vig, also called the juice, which is the sportsbook's commission. Some books offer reduced juice (-105) as a promotional feature. Over time, the difference between -110 and -105 adds up significantly. Understanding how vig works is essential for evaluating whether a spread bet offers value.
Whole Numbers, Half Points, and Pushes
When a spread lands on a whole number like -7, the game can end exactly on that margin. If the favorite wins by exactly 7, the bet is a push, and your stake is returned. Sportsbooks often set spreads at half-point numbers (-6.5, -7.5) to eliminate the possibility of a push. The difference between -7 and -7.5 is significant because it removes one outcome. This is why "buying" or "selling" half points is a strategic consideration for experienced bettors.
How Sportsbooks Set Spreads
Opening Lines and Market Makers
Spreads originate from market-making sportsbooks that set opening lines based on their internal models and power ratings. These opening lines are often available at sharp-friendly books like Pinnacle or Circa before the recreational sportsbooks post their numbers. The opening line represents the market maker's best estimate of the true point difference between teams, plus any adjustments based on anticipated betting patterns.
Line Movement and Sharp Action
Once lines are posted, they move based on betting action. If most of the money comes in on one side, sportsbooks adjust the spread to balance their exposure. Sharp bettors (professionals with a track record of winning) tend to bet early and move lines. Recreational bettors typically bet closer to game time and often follow public perception. Tracking line movement from open to close can reveal where the sharp money landed. Tools with real time odds tracking show this movement across multiple sportsbooks.
Key Numbers in Football
In NFL and college football, certain margins occur more frequently due to the scoring system. Games most commonly end with margins of 3 (field goal) and 7 (touchdown). A spread of -3 or -7 is considered a "key number" because landing on it results in a push more often than other numbers. Sharp bettors pay close attention to these thresholds. Moving from -2.5 to -3 or from -3 to -3.5 has a larger impact on expected outcomes than moving from -4 to -4.5.
Spread Betting Strategies
Line Shopping Is Essential
The same game can have different spreads at different sportsbooks. One book might offer Patriots -3 while another has Patriots -3.5. That half-point difference can be the difference between a win and a push or a push and a loss. I've tracked my results over multiple seasons, and the games where I got the best number performed measurably better than those where I took suboptimal lines. Line shopping apps let you compare spreads across 40+ sportsbooks in seconds. This is one of the simplest, highest-impact improvements any bettor can make.
Buying and Selling Points
Some sportsbooks let you "buy" points by paying extra juice for a more favorable spread. Moving from -7 to -6.5 might cost you -120 instead of -110. Whether this is worth it depends on the key numbers involved. In football, buying off of 3 or 7 is often valuable because those margins occur frequently. In basketball, where scores are higher and margins more variable, buying points is rarely worth the extra cost. Calculate the break-even point before paying for extra points.
Fading the Public
Public bettors tend to favor favorites, overs, and popular teams. When heavy public action pushes a line in one direction, betting the other side can offer value. This "fade the public" approach isn't always correct, but it's a useful heuristic when combined with other research. If 80% of bets are on the favorite but the line isn't moving, that can indicate sharp money on the underdog. Understanding these dynamics requires tracking public betting percentages alongside line movement.
Tools for Spread Betting
Odds Comparison Platforms
Having access to real-time spreads across multiple sportsbooks is non-negotiable for serious spread bettors. OddsJam offers one of the most comprehensive odds comparison tools available, scanning lines across 40+ books. Pick The Odds provides low-latency odds screens favored by professional bettors. These platforms pay for themselves quickly by helping you find better numbers on every bet.
Line Movement Trackers
Tracking how a spread moves from open to close gives you insight into where sharp money is landing. Unabated offers professional-grade odds screens with line movement history and steam move alerts. Understanding reverse line movement (when the line moves opposite to the public betting percentages) is one of the more reliable signals that sharps are on a side.
Projections and Models
Some bettors build their own power ratings and project spreads independent of the market. Comparing your projected spread to the market line reveals potential edges. If you project a game at -3 and the market is -6, that discrepancy might indicate value on the underdog. Tools with projection models, like those reviewed in our best betting tools guide, help you develop these frameworks without building spreadsheets from scratch.
Final Thoughts
Spread betting is the backbone of sports wagering. It's where the most money flows, where the lines are sharpest, and where most bettors start their journey. Understanding how spreads work, how they're set, and why they move gives you the foundation to approach betting strategically rather than gambling on instinct.
The path to profitable spread betting runs through discipline and process. Shop every line. Track your results. Understand the key numbers in the sports you bet. Pay attention to line movement and learn what it signals. None of this guarantees wins, but it puts you in a better position than bettors who take whatever number is in front of them. For a deeper look at the math behind finding edges, check out our guide on betting edge and how to identify it in spread markets.
Spread Betting FAQ
Additional Resources
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