Many people who bet on sports don’t even understand the point spread, which is understandable—betting on sports can be complex if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re new to betting on sports, this article will explain the basics of Point spreads including why it exists and how it works. Once you understand that, you can use it to your advantage in order to make more informed decisions about which games to bet on and which teams are worth wagering on with your hard-earned money!
1) Understand what bet types are available
There are three common types of bets: the moneyline, the point spread, and the total. The moneyline is the simplest type of bet, where you just pick who you think will win. The point spread is a bet on the margin of victory, and the total is a bet on the combined score of both teams.
2) Know how the odds work
The first step to using point spreads to your advantage is understanding how they work. Oddsmakers create lines based on public perception of the two teams playing, as well as which team is more likely to win. The favorite is always given a negative number (e.g. -7), while the underdog is given a positive number (e.g. +7). This means that if you bet on the favorite, they must win by more than seven points for you to win your bet; if you bet on the underdog, they can lose by up to six points and you will still win your bet.
3) Don’t be afraid to play favorites
If you’re looking at a point spread and you see that your favorite team is favored by 7 points, don’t be afraid to bet on them. Just because they’re favored doesn’t mean they can’t win. If you see a point spread that looks too good to be true, it probably is. Use the point spread to your advantage by betting on the underdog. They may not be favored, but they could still pull off the upset. Sometimes the point spread isn’t as important as we make it out to be.
4) Bets can be used year round
Point spreads are a type of bet used in many sports, including football, basketball, and hockey. In football and basketball, the point spread is the number of points given or taken away from the favorite team. The favorite team is the team that is expected to win by a certain number of points. The underdog is the team that is expected to lose by a certain number of points.
5) Don’t stick with just one bookie
Betting with multiple bookies has a few advantages. First, you can shop around for the best lines. Second, you can hedge your bets by taking the opposite side of the same bet at different bookies. Third, you can take advantage of promotional offers from different bookies. Lastly, you can bet on more than one game at a time.
Closing Thought
If you’re not using point spreads to your advantage, you’re missing out on a key tool that can help you win big. Keep these five tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to becoming a point spread pro.