Product
Point Spread
Last reviewed 24 September 2026
What is Point Spread?
A handicap applied to level a mismatch, requiring the favourite to win by more than a set margin for the bet to pay. The dominant US betting market.
Key takeaways
- A point spread handicaps the favourite, which must win by more than the line, while the underdog covers by losing by less or winning.
- Spreads are usually priced around -110 on each side in American odds, which is where the sportsbook margin sits.
- Key numbers such as three and seven in American football make some line moves far more significant than others.
Why it matters
A point spread turns a lopsided contest into a roughly even proposition. If a favourite is listed at -6.5, a bet on them pays only if they win by seven or more; the underdog at +6.5 pays if they lose by six or fewer, or win outright. Half-point lines exist to eliminate ties, and where whole numbers are used a result landing exactly on the number is a push, with stakes returned.
Because both sides are designed to be near even-money, spreads are usually priced around -110 on each side in American odds, which is where the sportsbook margin sits. The line itself is the primary signal in US sports betting: it moves in response to money and information, and key numbers matter enormously in sports with common margins, such as three and seven in American football. Moving a line across a key number changes the true probability far more than the same movement elsewhere, which is why trading desks defend those numbers carefully.
Frequently asked questions
What is a point spread?
A point spread is a handicap applied to level a mismatch. If a favourite is listed at -6.5, a bet on them pays only if they win by seven or more; the underdog at +6.5 pays if they lose by six or fewer or win outright. It is the dominant betting market in US sports.
What does -110 mean on a point spread?
Because the spread is designed to make both sides close to even, each side is usually priced around -110 in American odds, meaning a bettor stakes 110 to win 100. The gap between that price and a true even-money bet is where the sportsbook's margin sits.
What happens if the result lands exactly on the spread?
Where a spread is a whole number, a result that lands exactly on it is a push: neither side wins and stakes are returned. Half-point lines such as -6.5 exist to rule that out and force a winner. Key numbers matter too, because moving a line across three or seven in American football changes the true probability more than other moves.