Understanding how spreads work in betting can enhance your sports betting strategy. Betting spreads level the playing field between two teams, balancing the odds regardless of their strength. Here’s a quick guide:
- Point Spread: A point spread is the predicted scoring difference between two teams. Bookmakers set a margin, and bettors wager on whether a team will outperform or not meet this spread.
- Favorite vs. Underdog: The favorite has a negative spread (e.g., -3.5) and must win by more than that number. The underdog has a positive spread (e.g., +3.5) and can lose within that margin to win the bet.
- Push: When the game result equals the spread, all bets are refunded. For example, if the spread is -7 and the favorite wins by exactly 7 points.
