Point Spread Tips

Point spreads help bookies "level the playing field" when it comes to betting on sports events. They essentially give the losing team a few free points (or subtract a few points from the winning team, depending on how you look at it) for betting purposes. So, if the final score of a game is 7 to 10, but the point spread was +4 for the losing team, then the score for gamblers would be 11 to 10. People who bet on the losing team would be paid out, even though they officially lost.

  1. Winning Teams

    • Generally speaking, always bet on a team you think is going to win. If you think that they are going to lose, but not by the point spread, you should still avoid betting on them. This is especially true in football, where touchdowns are worth 6 points. If the point spread numbers less than 12, the opposing team should score more than one touchdown fairly easily, especially towards the end of the game, when winning team becomes more aggressive and the losing team may take unnecessary risks. This risks/aggression scenario holds true in other sports too.

    Focus

    • Try to focus on a team. You might feel a temptation to tease the point spread by making multiple bets. These are kind of like betting in bulk--you can bet on a different point spread provided you apply that point spread to two different games.

      Regardless of the circumstances, it increases your risk. To win a standard, single game point spread bet, you only need your team to cover that point spread. To win a teaser bet, you need two teams to cover a point spread. No matter what that point spread is, your odds are still chopped in half.

    Be Patient

    • Point spreads solidify over the course of the week as people place bets on one side or the other. While the point spread will change with supply and demand, it will not change once you've placed your bet. So try to make your bet later in the week. If you do this, the point spread will be more accurate and you can better gauge both the favorite and the underdog.