Synonyms:None
What is a Point Spread?
Point Spread is a type of sports betting format commonly used in high-scoring sports like basketball and American football. It sets a predetermined point difference between two teams to balance the gap in their skill levels, making betting more fair and engaging. The purpose of the point spread is to encourage wagers on both teams—not just on the stronger one—by evening out the perceived advantage.
How Point Spread Betting Works
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Set Point Difference：
- Bookmakers set a point spread based on the strength difference between the two teams. The favored team must win by more than the spread for bets on them to win; the underdog can lose within the spread for bets on them to win.
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Odds：
- Point spread bets are usually accompanied by odds, which represent the payout rate. In most cases, the odds for the favorite and the underdog are kept close to balance the betting risk.
For example,
Example 1: Basketball Game
Suppose there is an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. The bookmaker sets the point spread at Lakers -5.5.
- Lakers -5.5: This means the Lakers are the favorites and must win by 6 points or more for a bet on them to win.
- Warriors +5.5: This means the Warriors are the underdogs and can lose by 5 points or fewer, or win the game, for a bet on them to win.
Match Results and Betting Outcomes:：
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If the Lakers win 110–100 (by 10 points):
- A bet on the Lakers (-5.5) wins, because they covered the spread.
- A bet on the Warriors (+5.5) loses, because they lost by more than 5.5 points.
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If the Lakers win 105–101 (by 4 points):
- A bet on the Lakers (-5.5) loses, because they didn’t cover the spread.
- A bet on the Warriors (+5.5) wins, because they lost by less than 5.5 points.
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If the Warriors win 102–100 (by 2 points):
- A bet on the Lakers (-5.5) loses, because they lost the game.
- A bet on the Warriors (+5.5) wins, because they won the game.
Example 2: American Football Game
Suppose there is an NFL game between the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys. The bookmaker sets the point spread at Patriots -7.
- Patriots -7: This means the Patriots are considered the stronger team. They must win by 8 points or more for a bet on them to win.
- Cowboys +7: This means the Cowboys are considered the underdogs. They can lose by 7 points or fewer, or win the game, for a bet on them to win.
Match Results and Betting Outcomes:：
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If the Patriots win the game with a score of 28–20 (won by 8 points):
- A bet on the Patriots (-7) wins, because they won by more than 7 points.
- A bet on the Cowboys (+7) loses, because they lost by more than 7 points.
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If the Patriots win the game with a score of 24–21 (won by 3 points):
- A bet on the Patriots (-7) loses, because they did not win by more than 7 points.
- A bet on the Cowboys (+7) wins, because they lost by less than 7 points.
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If the Cowboys win the game with a score of 21–17 (won by 4 points):
- A bet on the Patriots (-7) loses, because the Patriots lost the game.
- A bet on the Cowboys (+7) wins, because the Cowboys won the game.
Advantages of Point Spread Betting
- Balances Strength Differences: The point spread helps level the playing field between teams of differing strengths, making the bet more challenging and fair.
- Increases Betting Interest: Even in matches with obvious favorites, the point spread introduces uncertainty, making the outcome more exciting and appealing to bettors.
- Diverse Options: Point spreads offer more choices for bettors — you can bet on the favorite, the underdog, or even a draw (in some variations).
Differences Between Point Spread and Asian Handicap Betting
Point Spread
Concept：
- Mainly used in North American sports betting, especially in basketball and American football.
- The purpose is to make the game fairer by giving a point advantage to the weaker team.
Features：
- Set Point Difference：The bookmaker establishes a point difference, where the strong team must win by more than this margin for bets on them to win; the weaker team can lose within this margin for bets on them to win.
- Example：If a game has a point spread of -5.5, the favored team (the team giving points) must win by 6 points or more for the bet to win. The underdog team (the team receiving points) can lose by 5 points or less, or win the game outright, for the bet to be successful.
Asian Handicap
Concept：
- Primarily used in football betting, it balances the strength disparity between two teams by setting a handicap in terms of goals.
- Excludes the possibility of a draw, making betting more engaging and competitive.
Features：
- Setting the Handicap：The bookmaker sets a handicap, where the favored team must win by more than this handicap for bets on them to win; the underdog can lose within this handicap for bets on them to be successful.
- Example：For example: If a match has a handicap of -1.5 goals, the favored team (the team giving the handicap) must win by 2 goals or more for the bet to win. The underdog (the team receiving the handicap) can lose by 1 goal or less, or win the match outright, for the bet to be successful.
Main Differences
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Applicable Sports：
- Point Spread: Primarily used in high-scoring sports such as basketball and American football.
- Asian Handicap: Primarily used in lower-scoring sports such as football.
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Handling of Draws：
- Point Spread: If the match result exactly matches the point spread, it is referred to as a "push," and the bet amount is refunded.
- Asian Handicap: Uses different handicap values such as 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 to eliminate the possibility of a draw.
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Setting Method：
- Point Spread: Typically set as whole numbers or half points (0.5).
- Asian Handicap: Set as whole numbers, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and other variations for more precise differentiation.
For example,
Point Spread：
- In an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, the point spread is set at Lakers -5.5. If you bet on the Lakers, they must win by 6 points or more for your bet to win. If you bet on the Warriors, they can lose by 5 points or less, or win the game outright, for your bet to be successful.
Asian Handicap：
- In a football match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Asian Handicap is set at Barcelona -1.5. If you bet on Barcelona, they must win by 2 goals or more for your bet to win. If you bet on Real Madrid, they can lose by 1 goal or less, or win the match outright, for your bet to be successful.
Summary：
Point Spread is a type of sports betting method that balances the difference in strength between two competing teams by setting a point margin. It not only increases the fairness and challenge of betting, but also makes the outcome of the match more unpredictable. Understanding the rules and calculation of point spread helps bettors make more informed betting decisions.
Further Reading: