Generally, bookies do this when there is one clear favorite in terms of skill and performance to give the underdogs an advantage when the game begins.
What is a Point Spread?Ī point spread is a betting line that applies a handicap to a bet, ensuring that one team must win or lose by a certain margin. We also show you how to sign up with an online sportsbook so you can place these bets yourself. So, we created this guide to fill you in on all the necessary details, from how these odds work, what they mean, how to read these odds, and how they apply to different sports. As one of the most common lines offered by online betting sites, it is important to understand how point spreads work and how to bet on them.
We work with some partners on an affiliate basis but this does not affect our listings or ratings.Ī point spread is a margin of victory that sportsbooks apply to two opposing teams, where one team is the favorite by a long shot, to even the playing field and provide a more exciting bet and greater odds. Our team of professional gambling site reviewers conducts independent research on every brand we feature on Business2Community.