A point spread is a handicap. The favorite "gives" points, the underdog "gets" points. It levels the playing field so both sides are roughly equal bets.
How the Spread Works
In any game, one team is usually expected to win. The spread makes the bet more interesting by asking: will they win by enough?
The favorite has a negative spread (like -7) and must win by more than that number. The underdog has a positive spread (like +7) and can lose by less than that number — or win outright.
Final Score: Bengals 27, Browns 23 (Bengals win by 4)
Even though the Bengals won the game, they didn't win by more than 7. So anyone who bet Bengals -7 loses. Browns +7 bettors win because the Browns "covered" — they stayed within 7 points.
What Does "Covering" Mean?
Favorites cover when they win by more than the spread. Bengals -7 covers if they win by 8+.
Underdogs cover when they lose by less than the spread OR win outright. Browns +7 covers if they lose by 6 or less, or if they win.
Push — if the final margin lands exactly on the spread (Bengals win by exactly 7), it's a tie. Your bet is refunded.
What's the -110 About?
You'll see spreads listed like "Bengals -7 (-110)". The -110 is the juice — the sportsbook's commission.
At -110 odds, you bet $110 to win $100. That extra $10 is how the sportsbook makes money. It applies to both sides of the spread.
Why Bet Spreads Instead of Moneylines?
Better payouts on favorites. A -300 moneyline favorite pays poorly. But that same team at -7 (-110) pays much better.
More competitive odds. Spreads are designed to get equal action on both sides, so you're always getting close to even money.
Margin matters. With spreads, you're betting on how the game plays out, not just who wins.
In NFL betting, 3 and 7 are "key numbers" — games often end with those margins (field goal, touchdown). Getting +3.5 instead of +3 is valuable because many games land on exactly 3.
When to Bet the Spread
Bet spreads when: You think a favorite will win comfortably, or when you like an underdog to keep it close (even if they lose).
Bet moneylines when: You just want to pick a winner and don't care about the margin, especially with smaller underdogs.