- Vegas Odds Explained
- Betting Odds Plus Minus
- Betting Odds Plus Minus
- Betting Odds Explained Plus Minus
- Plus Or Minus Betting Odds
- Betting Odds Explained
The decimal odds show the number that you can use to calculate the total amount of money you win: for example, 4.98. Since our focus lies on the meaning of the plus sign and the minus sign, we focus on the American odds. These are also called the moneyline odds, as lots of sports bettors use this odds type for their moneyline bets. If you want to bet on Golovkin to win the fight (8/13 odds), calculate your winnings by multiplying your wager by the quotient of 8 ÷ 13 (0.615). If you bet $10, your winnings would be $6.15 (10 x 0.615).
The big board at any Vegas sports book is a sight to behold. A slick cross between the New York Stock Exchange and a McDonald's walk-up menu, the boards are updated moment to moment and bet to bet, giving a sports gambler all the data he needs to make a smart bet.
These boards are copied and pasted into the newspapers or shrunk to fit computer screens and smartphone apps but nothing measures up to the real thing. Hundreds of games, thousands of bets. All listed above you.
The big boards in Vegas tell us many things. The favorites. The underdogs. The payout. Where the money is. Knowing how to read Vegas Odds is important to every gambler not just to place a bet, obviously, but to place a smart bet. And that's all good gamblers want to do. They want to make smart bets, win 60-70 percent of the time, and move on to the next bet.
But how do the big boards in Vegas work? What are they telling us? And what can we derive from them? It is just as important to know the odds you're gambling with as it is to know the sport you're gambling on. Making a smart bet is the goal. And smart gamblers use all the information available in order to do so.
For a brilliant summary for reading Vegas Odds 101, listen to our Sports and Vegas Odds Podcast episode where Ryan breaks it all down for you:
American Odds
Vegas odds are often referred to as 'American Odds' because Americans always have to be different. We ignore the metric system. We call football, soccer. We drive on the wrong side of the road. Why would sports gambling be any different?
American odds are presented in the form of a $100 bet. They'll indicate the amount you need to wager to win $100 or the amount you'll win if you bet $100. So, for a favorite, the odds will begin with a minus (-) sign. This is the amount you need to bet in order to win $100.
On the other hand, the underdog's odds will begin with a plus (+) sign. This is the amount you will receive if you were to bet $100. This does not mean you have to bet $100. Or mean that you can only bet as much as $100. See, Americans have to be different. Hang in there because we have some examples forthcoming.
These odds will come into play a few ways depending on the type of bet you place. The moneyline, the point spread, and the totals (over/under) are all bets available on the board. Let's look at how to read them in Vegas with the odds.
The Moneyline
Simply put, a bet on the moneyline is an odds bet. It's where 'American odds' can easily be seen. With a moneyline bet you're simply picking the winner and the payout is determined by the odds.
Obviously, a bet on the favorite is going to pay out less than a bet on the underdog. Let's look at an example of a moneyline bet with an NBA game and how it would appear in Vegas. The Pacers/Cavs line.
- Indiana Pacers +350
- Cleveland Cavaliers -440
The Pacers are the underdog on the moneyline at +350. The Cavs are the favorites on the moneyline with -440. This means a $100 bet on the Pacers to win pays $350. And that you would have to wager $440 on the Cavs to win $100. This ratio holds true for a wager of any amount. A $10 bet on the Pacers pays $35 while a $10 bet on the Cavs pays $2.27. So on and so forth.
The Point Spread
The most common and popular of sports bets is the point spread. As simply as we can put it, the point spread is the number the oddsmakers use to handicap the favorites to even-up the final score of the game. This in turn sparks more interest, which leads to more bets, which brings in more money. Again, the Pacers/Cavs line.
- Indiana Pacers +8 -110
- Cleveland Cavaliers -8 -110
First the -8. As noted, the Cavs are the favorites so they are giving points (8) to even up the final score. In order for the Cavs to win the bet and cover the point spread, they'd have to win by nine or more. If the Pacers stay within seven points, the Cavs fail to cover the eight points and lose the bet. If the Cavs win by eight points, it's a 'push' or a tie and all bets are returned.
Now the (-110). This number is the odds a bet on the point spread will pay out. Just like on the moneyline, since the Cavs are the favorites, you'll have to bet $110 to win $100. You'll notice a favorite covering the spread pays out much better than a favorite on the moneyline. You'll also notice the favorite and the underdog have the same payouts with the point spread. This is what makes playing the point spread so popular.
Some teams are evenly matched and there isn't a point spread at all. This would be a 'pick'em' or 'pk' on the big board. And the odds on the moneyline would match as well. These are 'EVEN' odds. When playing the point spread the payout number will vary. -110 is about industry standard but you'll notice -105's, -115's, and even as high as -125's on point spread bets at times. More on this later but it is important to note these variations.
Totals
The totals is a bet on the total number of points (or runs or goals) scored in the game. The oddsmakers will set the number and bets are placed on whether or not the total score is OVER or UNDER that number. The number appears on the big board next to the underdog like so:
- Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 212.5 -110
The number set for this game is 212.5. Since the .5 has eliminated the chance of a push, an OVER bet will win if the total score is 213 or higher. An UNDER bet pays if the total score is 212 or lower. And, again, the payout for a win is -110.
Vegas Odds Explained
Totals bets are seen as something of a sucker's bet. Despite your opinion on the matter, we have to admit they are a little strange. You are wagering on what the total score will be. Not picking a winner. Picking a score.
So, it's different than a normal who's-going-to-win-the-game-and-by
-how-much kind of bet. However, this number is providing the gambler more information about how the oddsmakers feel about the game and that is important when making a smart bet.
Placing a Wager
The other set of numbers you will see on the big board are the rotation numbers. These are numbers assigned to teams so the sports book can easily distinguish one for the other. They appear to the left of the teams in a game on the big board as such:
Betting Odds Plus Minus
- 101 Indiana Pacers +350 212.5
- 102 Cleveland Cavaliers -440 -8(-110)
These numbers simply help the sports book as well as the gambler keep track of the bet. Listed on the big board are dozens of sports, hundreds of teams and thousands of bets that can be played. It's a good idea to keep them as organized as possible. There are at least six professional teams in New York by itself after all. Like the horses' numbers at the track, rotation numbers just cut down on the confusion when placing a bet.
'Give me New York -220 on the moneyline for $50.'
'Which New York, dumb-dumb…'
'Sorry, 303. I'm an idiot'
'Yes, you are.'
Don't be that guy. This is the proper way to lay a bet in Vegas. Rotation Number, Type of Bet, Amount of Wager. Everyone appreciates a well placed bet and no one likes that guy…
Reading the Big Board
Now that we know how to read Vegas Odds, we need to learn what the Vegas odds mean… That is, what are these numbers telling us in the context of the game we want to wager on. We have studied the teams, we know the rosters. What can the lines tell us to make our bet a smart bet?
Once a game is scheduled and it's odds are posted, the bets are going to start coming in. Now, it's in the sports book's best interest to keep the bets as even as possible. This is why oddsmakers give you a pay out at -110.
Understanding the Vig or Juice
That's a $110 dollar bet to win $100. Take the favorite and give the points. You're paid out at -110. Take the underdog and get the points. You're paid out at -110. OVER or UNDER the same. -110. This is the industry standard and goes back to the mob-only days of oddsmaking.
Where does that $10 bucks go you ask? Well, that $10 bucks on a $100 bet is the 'vig' or 'juice.' It's the price for laying a bet. A little bit extra the oddsmaker gets to keep for fronting the wager.
Keeping the bets as even as they can on either side insures their money. Collect from the losers and short change the winners. It's a brilliant business model only the mob could come up with and only Vegas would still employ.
Now, most betting lines will just give it to you straight. The favorite pays this much, you get this many points, the total is this. What we are looking for are the variations. We can ascertain plenty of valuable intel from these variations.
Why is the payout on this game -115? And why is the payout on this game EVEN? Why is the moneyline different from yesterday? And why is the point spread moving up? The devil is in the details.
Watch As The Point Spreads Move
The most obvious variation is the movement of the point spread. As the bets start coming in, the oddsmakers track which team is receiving most of the betting action. The point spread will move because the oddsmakers will change the line to try to even up the sides. Remember, they want just as many people on one side of a bet as on the other.
More people are taking the Cavs giving the eight points? Raise the point spread to nine. All of a sudden, more bets will come in for the Pacers getting the nine points. Oddsmakers can do the same with the moneyline as well as the total line. And for the same reasons.
But what does this information tell us? The line has moved up even more and now the Cavs are -10 point favorites. This means, despite the oddsmakers best efforts, more wagers have been placed on the Cavs than on the Pacers.
Smart Bettors Know Where The Action Is
Knowing where the money is can help you make a smart bet. One theory is the The-House-Always-Wins-Rule. Basically, this theory suggests you bet against everyone else and with the house because the house always wins. If more people take the favorite, the points they are giving went up and you should take the underdog.
If more people are picking the underdog, the points they are receiving have gone down and you take the favorite. It makes sense in theory but maybe not in practice. Remember, the oddsmakers want the sides to be even.
They aren't in the business of placing their own opposing bets. What is important is knowing how everyone else is betting and the knowledge that a large segment of the gambling population shares your opinion.
Or if you think the gambling population is foolish, well, you know what to do. However you feel, keep an eye on how the line moves. It may help you make a bet you wouldn't have or avoid a bet you were going to make.
A Close Look at the Payouts
The payouts on the point spread can vary as well. That standard -110 will turn into -105's or EVEN's. Or go the other way to -115's, -120's, or -125's. What is the reason for these variations? It's a lot like moving the point spread.
The oddsmakers want to even up the bet. There's only so many points a bookie is going to give. Offering a little more here or a little less there on the payout may be enough to influence the betting action. However, you can tell where the oddsmakers are hedging with these numbers.
If the payout gets better than -110, the oddsmakers have the sides even up, love the point spread and want you to bet it and lose. If the payout gets worse than -110, the oddsmakers know they have a bad number and want to cut their losses.
Vegas Wants You To Gamble – Be Smart
Making smart bets is the name of the game. The only way to make smart bets is to gather as much information as possible and master how to read Vegas Odds. Get to know every bet as well as you know every team. Get to know all the odds as well as you know every player.
Otherwise, you're just playing the lotto. Remember, Vegas wants you to gamble. It's going to give you all the information it can in order to gamble. It's up to you to use it.
Test your knowledge on some small starter bets. We'd recommend any of the following for players outside Las Vegas but there are plenty of good options for US players (just make sure it's not illegal in your state):
Ever want to bet on an event and find yourself questioning what it means to bet the point spread? Here's what you need to know about point spread betting.
The large majority of wagers involve bettors are picking a side in a game between two teams or individuals. Not all sides are created equal, though. A point spread is used by oddsmakers to even out a matchup from a betting perspective, assigning more or fewer points to a team's final score. In order to win a point spread wager, a bettor must 'beat the spread.' As a result of a more even matchup, point spread betting offers flatter payouts that are often even on both sides.
- Use Promo Code: SHARPSIDE
- Available In 31 States!
- Fun, Fast Prop Picks
What is a point spread?
This is one of the most common questions in sports betting, especially to new sports bettors. The point spread is how teams or sides of varying skill levels are handicapped against one another. It's the number of points one side is giving or receiving as compared to the other.
Although each team may roster the same number of players, play by the same rules, or even run some of the same plays, the two sides are almost never equal in skill. To account for that inequality between the two teams, a point spread is used to handicap the two sides of a matchup.
If you look at the odds board and see a team's or individual's name followed by a minus sign and a number, that reflects that side is favored by that number of points. In the case that you see a plus sign and a number, that side is the underdog in the matchup. The minus sign means that the final score will have the spread number subtracted from it. The plus sign means that the team's final score will have the spread number added to it.
In summary, the point spread is a calculated prediction of how much a team will win or lose by.
Why do sportsbooks use point spreads?
As we said before, not all teams are created equal. Sportsbooks use point spreads to handicap a matchup in an attempt to attract equal betting on both sides and even out the competition. Without a point spread, it would be too easy for bettors to simply take the favorite in every matchup. That's similar as to why you see moneyline betting odds priced accordingly.
In a perfect world, sportsbooks and oddsmakers would draw perfectly balanced 50-50 betting action on both sides of a point spread. This alleviates a sportsbook's or oddsmaker's need for one side to win. The large majority of point spread bets come with a juice applied to the payout odds. The juice is another term for the 'vig' or 'rake,' and it is the money a sportsbook or sports betting operator takes on a wager.
Perfectly balanced betting on both sides would allow sportsbooks and oddsmakers to collect the juice free of liability.
How to know if a point spread bet won or lost?
In order for a point spread bet to be declared a winner, the side wagered on must 'cover' the point spread. The favorite, which is the side with the minus number as the point spread, must win by more than the point spread dictates. The underdog, which is the plus number as the point spread, cannot lose by more than the point spread dictates.
Are ties allowed?
Yes, ties can happen when point spread betting. If the point spread is an even number and the difference in the competition's result falls directly on that number such that the teams are then evenly scored, it is a tie. In point spread betting, a tie is called a 'push.'
In the case of a push, all bets are returned to the bettor. If you wagered $100, you would receive your $100 back.
In many cases, point spreads will not be an even number. Rather, point spreads will display a half of a number, .5, and that is called the 'hook.' When there is a hook involved, the bet cannot be a push because there are no half points in sports scoring. More information regarding the hook can be found below, in the section about key numbers.
Totals bets are seen as something of a sucker's bet. Despite your opinion on the matter, we have to admit they are a little strange. You are wagering on what the total score will be. Not picking a winner. Picking a score.
So, it's different than a normal who's-going-to-win-the-game-and-by
-how-much kind of bet. However, this number is providing the gambler more information about how the oddsmakers feel about the game and that is important when making a smart bet.
Placing a Wager
The other set of numbers you will see on the big board are the rotation numbers. These are numbers assigned to teams so the sports book can easily distinguish one for the other. They appear to the left of the teams in a game on the big board as such:
Betting Odds Plus Minus
- 101 Indiana Pacers +350 212.5
- 102 Cleveland Cavaliers -440 -8(-110)
These numbers simply help the sports book as well as the gambler keep track of the bet. Listed on the big board are dozens of sports, hundreds of teams and thousands of bets that can be played. It's a good idea to keep them as organized as possible. There are at least six professional teams in New York by itself after all. Like the horses' numbers at the track, rotation numbers just cut down on the confusion when placing a bet.
'Give me New York -220 on the moneyline for $50.'
'Which New York, dumb-dumb…'
'Sorry, 303. I'm an idiot'
'Yes, you are.'
Don't be that guy. This is the proper way to lay a bet in Vegas. Rotation Number, Type of Bet, Amount of Wager. Everyone appreciates a well placed bet and no one likes that guy…
Reading the Big Board
Now that we know how to read Vegas Odds, we need to learn what the Vegas odds mean… That is, what are these numbers telling us in the context of the game we want to wager on. We have studied the teams, we know the rosters. What can the lines tell us to make our bet a smart bet?
Once a game is scheduled and it's odds are posted, the bets are going to start coming in. Now, it's in the sports book's best interest to keep the bets as even as possible. This is why oddsmakers give you a pay out at -110.
Understanding the Vig or Juice
That's a $110 dollar bet to win $100. Take the favorite and give the points. You're paid out at -110. Take the underdog and get the points. You're paid out at -110. OVER or UNDER the same. -110. This is the industry standard and goes back to the mob-only days of oddsmaking.
Where does that $10 bucks go you ask? Well, that $10 bucks on a $100 bet is the 'vig' or 'juice.' It's the price for laying a bet. A little bit extra the oddsmaker gets to keep for fronting the wager.
Keeping the bets as even as they can on either side insures their money. Collect from the losers and short change the winners. It's a brilliant business model only the mob could come up with and only Vegas would still employ.
Now, most betting lines will just give it to you straight. The favorite pays this much, you get this many points, the total is this. What we are looking for are the variations. We can ascertain plenty of valuable intel from these variations.
Why is the payout on this game -115? And why is the payout on this game EVEN? Why is the moneyline different from yesterday? And why is the point spread moving up? The devil is in the details.
Watch As The Point Spreads Move
The most obvious variation is the movement of the point spread. As the bets start coming in, the oddsmakers track which team is receiving most of the betting action. The point spread will move because the oddsmakers will change the line to try to even up the sides. Remember, they want just as many people on one side of a bet as on the other.
More people are taking the Cavs giving the eight points? Raise the point spread to nine. All of a sudden, more bets will come in for the Pacers getting the nine points. Oddsmakers can do the same with the moneyline as well as the total line. And for the same reasons.
But what does this information tell us? The line has moved up even more and now the Cavs are -10 point favorites. This means, despite the oddsmakers best efforts, more wagers have been placed on the Cavs than on the Pacers.
Smart Bettors Know Where The Action Is
Knowing where the money is can help you make a smart bet. One theory is the The-House-Always-Wins-Rule. Basically, this theory suggests you bet against everyone else and with the house because the house always wins. If more people take the favorite, the points they are giving went up and you should take the underdog.
If more people are picking the underdog, the points they are receiving have gone down and you take the favorite. It makes sense in theory but maybe not in practice. Remember, the oddsmakers want the sides to be even.
They aren't in the business of placing their own opposing bets. What is important is knowing how everyone else is betting and the knowledge that a large segment of the gambling population shares your opinion.
Or if you think the gambling population is foolish, well, you know what to do. However you feel, keep an eye on how the line moves. It may help you make a bet you wouldn't have or avoid a bet you were going to make.
A Close Look at the Payouts
The payouts on the point spread can vary as well. That standard -110 will turn into -105's or EVEN's. Or go the other way to -115's, -120's, or -125's. What is the reason for these variations? It's a lot like moving the point spread.
The oddsmakers want to even up the bet. There's only so many points a bookie is going to give. Offering a little more here or a little less there on the payout may be enough to influence the betting action. However, you can tell where the oddsmakers are hedging with these numbers.
If the payout gets better than -110, the oddsmakers have the sides even up, love the point spread and want you to bet it and lose. If the payout gets worse than -110, the oddsmakers know they have a bad number and want to cut their losses.
Vegas Wants You To Gamble – Be Smart
Making smart bets is the name of the game. The only way to make smart bets is to gather as much information as possible and master how to read Vegas Odds. Get to know every bet as well as you know every team. Get to know all the odds as well as you know every player.
Otherwise, you're just playing the lotto. Remember, Vegas wants you to gamble. It's going to give you all the information it can in order to gamble. It's up to you to use it.
Test your knowledge on some small starter bets. We'd recommend any of the following for players outside Las Vegas but there are plenty of good options for US players (just make sure it's not illegal in your state):
Ever want to bet on an event and find yourself questioning what it means to bet the point spread? Here's what you need to know about point spread betting.
The large majority of wagers involve bettors are picking a side in a game between two teams or individuals. Not all sides are created equal, though. A point spread is used by oddsmakers to even out a matchup from a betting perspective, assigning more or fewer points to a team's final score. In order to win a point spread wager, a bettor must 'beat the spread.' As a result of a more even matchup, point spread betting offers flatter payouts that are often even on both sides.
- Use Promo Code: SHARPSIDE
- Available In 31 States!
- Fun, Fast Prop Picks
What is a point spread?
This is one of the most common questions in sports betting, especially to new sports bettors. The point spread is how teams or sides of varying skill levels are handicapped against one another. It's the number of points one side is giving or receiving as compared to the other.
Although each team may roster the same number of players, play by the same rules, or even run some of the same plays, the two sides are almost never equal in skill. To account for that inequality between the two teams, a point spread is used to handicap the two sides of a matchup.
If you look at the odds board and see a team's or individual's name followed by a minus sign and a number, that reflects that side is favored by that number of points. In the case that you see a plus sign and a number, that side is the underdog in the matchup. The minus sign means that the final score will have the spread number subtracted from it. The plus sign means that the team's final score will have the spread number added to it.
In summary, the point spread is a calculated prediction of how much a team will win or lose by.
Why do sportsbooks use point spreads?
As we said before, not all teams are created equal. Sportsbooks use point spreads to handicap a matchup in an attempt to attract equal betting on both sides and even out the competition. Without a point spread, it would be too easy for bettors to simply take the favorite in every matchup. That's similar as to why you see moneyline betting odds priced accordingly.
In a perfect world, sportsbooks and oddsmakers would draw perfectly balanced 50-50 betting action on both sides of a point spread. This alleviates a sportsbook's or oddsmaker's need for one side to win. The large majority of point spread bets come with a juice applied to the payout odds. The juice is another term for the 'vig' or 'rake,' and it is the money a sportsbook or sports betting operator takes on a wager.
Perfectly balanced betting on both sides would allow sportsbooks and oddsmakers to collect the juice free of liability.
How to know if a point spread bet won or lost?
In order for a point spread bet to be declared a winner, the side wagered on must 'cover' the point spread. The favorite, which is the side with the minus number as the point spread, must win by more than the point spread dictates. The underdog, which is the plus number as the point spread, cannot lose by more than the point spread dictates.
Are ties allowed?
Yes, ties can happen when point spread betting. If the point spread is an even number and the difference in the competition's result falls directly on that number such that the teams are then evenly scored, it is a tie. In point spread betting, a tie is called a 'push.'
In the case of a push, all bets are returned to the bettor. If you wagered $100, you would receive your $100 back.
In many cases, point spreads will not be an even number. Rather, point spreads will display a half of a number, .5, and that is called the 'hook.' When there is a hook involved, the bet cannot be a push because there are no half points in sports scoring. More information regarding the hook can be found below, in the section about key numbers.
Example of point spread betting
Point spreads are most commonly used and referred to in football betting. Using an example, let's say the Buffalo Bills are facing off against the New England Patriots and that the game is in New England. When reviewing the oddsboard with the list of games, you see a number of -8 next to the Patriots team name and a number of +8 next to the Bills team name. This means that New England is favored by 8 points and that Buffalo is the underdog by 8 points.
What you're seeing might be displayed something like the following:
- Buffalo Bills +8 (-110)
- New England Patriots -8 (-110)
Using another example of the Pittsburgh Steelers as -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys, let's say the game results in a score of Pittsburgh 20 and Dallas 17. This final score would result in a push, as it fell on the exact 3-point spread that was being applied.
Do note that when it comes to point spreads, the underdog number isn't always shown. Rather, a sportsbook will most likely only display the favorite's spread and it's assumed the underdog's spread is simply the opposite.
Whatever the final score of the game turns out to be, New England will have 8 points subtracted from its total if that's the side you bet on. If you bet on Buffalo's side, the final score for the Bills will have 8 points added. If the final score results as 30-20 in favor of New England, bettors holding a Patriots -8 ticket would win the bet because the Patriots won by 10. Bettors who wagered on the Bills +8 would lose because the Bills lost by 10.
How much can I win on a point spread wager?
It's most common in point spread betting to have odds of -110 on both sides. This means that if you bet $110, you'd win $100. There is where the juice comes into play. If sportsbooks were able to attract perfectly even betting action on both sides, they'd be keeping $10 of every $110 wager placed.
Sometimes, you may see a point spread bet listed with odds of -105, -115, or even -120. In those cases, you would need to bet $105, $115, or $120, respectively, to win $100. Then there are also times in point spread betting when a wager has even odds, listed as Even or +100, so whatever you bet you'll get back.
Because oddsmakers will adjust point spreads as they see fit, another way to alter the handicap is by changing the odds slightly.
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- Available In 31 States!
- Fun, Fast Prop Picks
Wait, point spreads can change?
Yes. Sportsbooks and oddsmakers may very well change a point spread to keep the handicap even. Injuries, starting lineups, weather, and volume of bets on one side or the other are a handful of the reasons for a point spread to change. Don't let the thought of a changing point spread scare you, because these changes can work to your advantage. Of course, they can also work to your disadvantage.
Sticking with the previous example, here's how the betting line for the Bills and Patriots looked to start.
- Buffalo Bills +8 (-110)
- New England Patriots -8 (-110)
That's where the line opened, but then later in the week, much closer to game time, the line changed to the following.
Betting Odds Plus Minus
- Buffalo Bills +7 (-110)
- New England Patriots -7 (-110)
This shift signifies that New England moved to become less of a favorite than at the opening line. If you're a bettor who placed a wager on the Bills at +8, this is good news for you, as you're now getting an extra point that isn't available anymore. If you placed a wager on the Patriots -8, you now need to overcome an additional point to win.
Many sharp bettors make a practice of watching and predicting line movements. This is done in an attempt to get the best number possible.
Just as points spreads move, they aren't uniform from venue to venue, so be sure to shop around at various sportsbooks to get the best line that you can.
Understanding key numbers
Betting Odds Explained Plus Minus
When it comes to a point spread, it's important to understand the key numbers. This is especially true for bettors wagering on football, because football point spreads are where the key numbers tend to have the most significance.
Due to how the scoring is structured in football, with field goals being worth 3 points and touchdowns being worth 7 points when you include the 1-point extra point, the most common margins of victory are 3 and 7 points. Knowing and understanding the importance of these key numbers can allow a bettor to make better wagers.
In point spread betting, you'll often hear bettors reference the 'hook.' The hook is the extra half point attached to the spread, very commonly seen in football betting. When betting on a favorite and understanding the importance of key numbers and the hook, it's beneficial for a bettor to lay fewer than 7 points or fewer than 3 points. Similarly, it's better to lay 7 points with a favorite than have to cover 7.5 points. The same can be said for 3.5, 3, and 2.5 – having to lay 3 points is much better than having to lay 3.5, and having to lay 2.5 is far greater than having to lay 3.
This also works for the other side of a point spread, the underdog. Any time a bettor can, he or she will want the benefit of having the hook in his or her favor. It's much better to have an underdog if you're getting 3 points than just 2.5, or 3.5 points instead of 3. Understanding the importance of key numbers and the hook can be the differences between winning a bet or not.
Although more attention is given to key numbers in football, they are worth paying attention to in basketball, too. Key numbers in basketball come into play less often than in football, but they're still worth knowing what they are. In basketball, the most common margins of victory are between 5 points and 8 points, followed by 3 points and 4 points.
Plus Or Minus Betting Odds
Puck line and run line
Point spreads are used mainly in football and basketball. In hockey, the point spread is referred to as the 'puck line.' In baseball, a point spread is called the 'run line.' In hockey and baseball, the puck line or run line are commonly -1.5 or +1.5 and the lines themselves don't change but the odds might.
Betting Odds Explained
For more definitions of common sports betting terms, check out SharpSide's dedicated glossary page.
