Since the operator makes an effort to have equal money on both sides of the wager, the sportsbook will move the point spread to attract money on the side that customers are not betting on. If all things are equal over time, this maximizes how much money the sportsbook operator can make overall. When the money is exactly split, the sportsbook operator will see the exact vigorish as their profit margin. Sportsbook operators' goal is to aim to have equal money on both sides of the point spread. You might even hear the small profit margin for the sportsbook called the 'juice' by some sports bettors. The odds that are on a point spread are most commonly known as the vigorish or 'vig' for the sportsbook. So if you see the odds set at -110, it means the bettor must wager $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10).

The odds basically guarantee the sportsbook operator will see a little money over time. This is what you would call the sportsbook operators' 'house edge.' Point spreads are typically placed with -110 odds, but these prices often fluctuated at online sportsbooks. If the spread moves to Colts -1 and they end up winning by exactly one point, the betting result is now considered a 'push,' and bettors for both sides get their wager refunded. On the other side, the Packers need to win the game outright or lose by less than two points to cover the spread. The Colts need to win by two or more points to cover the spread. Looking at the lines above, the Indianapolis Colts opened as the favorite over the Green Bay Packers by 1.5 points. The underdog in a game is listed as being the plus sign the point spread. The bettor wins if this team wins the game outright or loses by an amount smaller than the point spread that is offered. The team that is considered the worst of the two teams playing in the game is called the underdog. The favorite in a game is listed as the minus the point spread.

The better team playing in the game is considered the favorite to win.įor you to make money, they have to win by the point spread offered by the sportsbook. The point spread is essentially giving a reason for bettors even to risk money on both teams in the first place. You can look at this as a way for the point spread to even the field for both teams. The most popular tips for spread betting are as follows:Īll teams are not created equally, so sportsbooks will make a point spread for a game so that each team competing has an 'almost' even chance of winning the game. When creating a strategy, it is wise to fully understand spread betting and the sport you want to bet on. The point spread can be referred to as the equalizer for sportsbook operators.

How to bet point spread basketball