Pointspread (general terms)
The pointspread - also called "the line" - is used
as a margin to handicap the favorite team. The oddsmaker - also
called the handicapper - "gives" points (or goals)
to the underdog - for betting purposes only. The bettor must
take either the favorite or the underdog. The favorite is always
indicated by a minus sign (e.g. - 8.5) and the underdog by a
plus sign (e.g.+8.5). For betting purposes, the outcome of the
game is determined by taking the actual game score and finding
the difference between the scores of the two teams playing (called
the pointspread or just the "spread"). For example - The Green Bay Packers are 8 point favorites over the Miami
Dolphins (an 8 point spread shown as - 8 beside Green Bay on
our "lines" page). If the final score is Green Bay
20 Miami 13, then the actual game score "spread" is
7 points (20 minus 13). In our example if you took Miami (called
the "dog"), you would win the bet since Green Bay
had to win by 9 points or more to "cover the spread."
Green Bay needed 2 more points to "cover" since if
the game landed right on the "spread" of 8 points
it would be called a "push" (similar in concept to
a tie in Moneyline wagering, which is also called a push) and
it would be "no action" (no bet and money held in
your account to cover the wager is released back into your available
balance). If the "spread" is put in at a half point
(eg. - 8.5 for the favorite Green Bay) by the Sportsbook handicappers
then there can be no "push." In this case, there is
"action" at any final game score pointspread. In a
pointspread, you must wager $11 to win $10 ($21 is returned
to the winner). 10/11 is the standard for pointspread bets on
most sports.
