Point Spread Betting Basics

When the Lakers play a bottom-tier team, a moneyline might be -800 (risk $800 to win $100). That's not appealing for most bettors. Point spreads fix this by asking: can the favorite win by more than a certain margin?

How Spreads Work

The spread is a handicap. The favorite has to win by more than the spread. The underdog can lose by less than the spread (or win outright) and you still win your bet.

Example:

• Celtics -6.5
• Bulls +6.5

If the Celtics win 108-100 (8-point margin), the Celtics cover and win. If they win 105-100 (5-point margin), the Bulls cover even though they lost the game.

The .5 matters. It eliminates pushes (ties). If the spread was -6 and the Celtics won by exactly 6, nobody wins—your bet gets refunded.

Standard Odds: -110

Most spreads are offered at -110 on both sides. That means:

• Bet $110 to win $100
• The extra $10 is the vig (the sportsbook's cut)

Sometimes you'll see -105 or -115 depending on where the money is going, but -110 is standard.

Why Sportsbooks Use Spreads

Sportsbooks aren't trying to predict the exact outcome—they're trying to get equal money on both sides. If $100,000 comes in on each side at -110, the book collects $220,000 in bets, pays out $210,000 to the winners, and keeps $10,000 risk-free.

When one side gets too much action, the book adjusts the spread to encourage betting on the other side. That's why you see lines move throughout the day.

Key Numbers in Basketball

Certain point margins are more common than others. In the NBA:

• 3 points: One team hits a late three
• 5-7 points: Common winning margins
• 10+ points: Blowout territory

If you can get an extra half-point around these numbers (like +6.5 instead of +6), take it. The difference between losing by 6 and losing by 7 happens more often than you'd think.

Covering vs. Winning

A team can win the game but lose against the spread (ATS). This is important.

Example: The Warriors are -12.5 against the Wizards. They win 115-105 (10-point margin). Warriors won the game, but they didn't cover the spread. Wizards bettors win.

Some teams are good at winning games but bad at covering spreads because they play tight in the fourth quarter. Some teams lose a lot but cover spreads because they keep it close. Track this—it matters.

Pushes (When There's No .5)

If the spread is a whole number (Lakers -6) and they win by exactly 6, it's a push. Your bet is refunded. No win, no loss.

Most spreads include a half-point to avoid this. But when they don't, pay attention. If you're betting a favorite at -3 and you think they'll win by exactly 3, you might want to pass.

What to Watch For

Line movement: If the spread opens at -5.5 and moves to -7, money is coming in on the favorite. Sometimes that's sharp money (pros who know something). Sometimes it's just the public betting a popular team. Learning the difference takes time.

Home court advantage: In the NBA, home court is worth about 2-3 points. A team that's +1.5 at home is basically a pick'em. A team that's -1.5 on the road is really just a slight favorite.

Injuries: If a star player sits out, the spread should move significantly. If it doesn't, either the market hasn't reacted yet or they don't think it matters as much as you do.

Common Mistakes

Betting favorites because they're "locks to win." Winning isn't enough—they have to cover. A 15-point favorite that wins by 12 still loses you money.

Chasing losses. You lost on the early game so you double your bet on the night game to "make it back." This is how you blow up your bankroll.

Ignoring line value. Getting Celtics -5.5 at one book vs -6.5 at another is a full point. Over time, that's the difference between winning and losing seasons.