In betting, to cover the spread means to win a point spread bet
Fact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugReviewed by Pamela RodriguezFact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugReviewed by Pamela Rodriguez
What Does “Cover the Spread” Mean?
In sports betting, to “cover the spread” means to win a point spread bet. When two teams match up, one is an underdog and one is a favorite. A point spread is dictated by a sportsbook that determines by how many points the favorite is expected to win the game. Bettors can then wager on whether the favorite “covers” that point spread; if they bet on the favorite to win a game, then the favorite must win by more than the point spread.
As such, a bettor’s goal is to cover the spread when they make a point spread bet. Point spread bets are among the most popular methods of sports betting and are particularly common gambling options among fans of both college and professional football and basketball. While a spread is determined for most sports matchups, football and basketball are the most popular among bettors because teams tend to score more points, potentially making betting the spread more competitive.
Key Takeaways
- In sports betting, sportsbooks calculate a point spread between two teams, providing a determination of which is the favorite and which is the underdog.
- To cover the spread, a bettor must either bet on the favorite or the underdog, and to win their wager, the team must cover the point spread—or, win by more than the point spread.
- Betting the point spread is one of the most popular sports betting methods, along with money line bets, and over/under (total) bets.
- Gambling always involves a negative expected return—the house always has the advantage.
Understanding “Cover the Spread”
For bettors to cover the spread, the spread itself needs to be determined. That’s done by the sportsbooks, which are the oddsmakers in the betting sphere—on the street, they’re often referred to as bookies. There are numerous sportsbooks out there, ranging from casinos in Las Vegas to new, digital sportsbooks that are operated in certain states by companies like FanDuel and DraftKings, among many others.
Effectively, the spread evens the playing field a bit for bettors. If one team appears to be vastly better than another, then they’re more likely to win, offering little incentive to do so for bettors trying to score a bigger pot. But a point spread means that the favorite not only needs to win but also needs to be victorious by a certain amount of points (or, cover the spread) for bettors backing the favorite to win their bet.
It’s also important to note that the sportsbooks can change the spread up until game time, depending on certain factors, Logan says. If a star player has an injury, or if adverse weather conditions are anticipated on game day, for example, then it may change the outlook of the game, and the sportsbooks could adjust the line accordingly.
Important
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700, or visit ncpgambling.org/chat to chat with a helpline specialist.
In Action: Betting the Spread
Here’s an example of how a bettor could bet the point spread, and potentially win if they cover the spread.
In this hypothetical situation, the NFL playoffs are in full swing, and the AFC and NFC champions have just been crowned: the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. These two teams will meet in two weeks in the Super Bowl, and now that everyone knows what the matchup is, the sportsbooks get to work creating the line and the spread.
The Seahawks were 15-2 this year—far better than the Broncos, who were 9-8, and had to win a triple-overtime game to reach the Super Bowl. As such, the Seahawks appear to be an easy favorite, so the sportsbooks determine that the Seahawks are a 13-point favorite (-13, as it’s often stylized) to win. In this case, the point spread is 13 points.
If a bettor placed a bet on the Seahawks to cover the spread, Seattle would need to win by 14 or more points. If a bettor instead bets on the Broncos, the Broncos would need to either win the game or lose by less than 13 points.
Say the game is played, and Seattle wins by 21 points. In that case, the Seahawks covered the spread, and a bettor betting on the favorite would have won their bet, while someone betting on the Broncos would have lost.
Note
The term “vigorish” (often called the vig or juice) refers to the fee that a sportsbook charges for taking a wager from a bettor. It’s usually charged as a commission on winning bets and is one of the primary ways that sportsbooks make a profit.
Covering the Spread vs. Push
In spread betting, a ‘push’ occurs when the final score or outcome of an event exactly matches the point spread set by the bookmaker. When this happens, neither the bettor who took the favorite nor the one who took the underdog wins or loses. Instead, the bet is considered a tie, and the original stake is returned to the bettor.
For example, running with the example above, the spread for the game was 13 points. If the Seahawks win by exactly 13 points, it’s a push. This scenario is why many bookmakers often set spreads with half-points (e.g., -7.5) to avoid pushes and ensure there’s a clear winner for each bet. Pushes are more common in sports with lower-scoring games, such as soccer or hockey, where a single point can make a significant difference.
While a push doesn’t result in a loss, it also doesn’t provide any profit. Some bettors view pushes as a missed opportunity, as capital was temporarily suspended without having won any profits.
Buying Down the Spread
Buying down the spread is a strategy where bettors pay extra to adjust the point spread in their favor. This tactic is most commonly used in football and basketball betting where small changes in the spread can significantly impact the outcome of a bet.
When buying points, bettors typically pay an additional “juice” (a.k.a. betting odds) for each half-point adjustment. For example, if a team is favored by 3.5 points at -110 odds, a bettor could buy the spread down to 3 points, but the odds would change to -120. This means the bettor would need to risk $120 to win $100, rather than the standard $110 to win $100.
The main advantage of buying points is that it can help bettors avoid narrow losses or turn pushes into wins. This is particularly valuable when dealing with key numbers in football, such as 3 and 7, which are common margins of victory. For instance, moving a spread from -3.5 to -3 allows a bettor to push (tie) rather than lose if the favored team wins by exactly 3 points.
However, buying points comes with drawbacks. The increased juice means bettors need to win at a higher rate to be profitable in the long run. Additionally, sportsbooks are well aware of the value of key numbers and often charge more to buy points around these spreads. For example, moving from -3.5 to -3 or from -3 to -2.5 might cost more compared to buying down the spread to different, less important increments.
Betting the Spread vs. Betting the Moneyline and the Total
There is a multitude of ways to place a wager on a given sports matchup, and betting the point spread is one of the most common and popular. Two of the other most popular types of wagers are betting the moneyline and betting “the total.”
Betting on the Moneyline
A moneyline bet is as simple as it gets: It’s a wager that one team will win a given game, against given odds. For example, a bettor makes a wager that the Broncos, not the Seahawks, will win the Super Bowl. If the Broncos win, then the bettor wins the wager, but if the Broncos lose, then the bettor loses the wager. The payouts for moneyline bets can be minimal, especially if the bettor wagers that the favorite will win.
Warning
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court gave states permission to legalize sports betting if they wish to do so. It remains illegal in 8 states, including California and Texas.
Betting the Total
Betting “the total” is also known as an over/under wager. This is a bet on the total amount of points that both teams will score in a game, combined. The sportsbooks will determine the over/under figure (say, 55 points), and bettors can wager that the total points scored in the game will be either more or less than that figure.
In Which States Is Sports Betting Legal?
Sports betting is legal in 38 states plus Washington, D.C.
What Is a Sportsbook?
A sportsbook is a company or entity accepting bets from individual sports bettors. Bets are accepted on most major sports, both at the college and professional level.
Is a Sportsbook the Same As a Bookie?
A sportsbook is technically a bookmaker or a bookie. However, those terms tend to refer to individuals and the term “sportsbook” often refers to a company.
The Bottom Line
In sports betting, to cover the spread means that a team has beaten the point spread devised by a sportsbook. Each team has a favorite and an underdog, and if a bettor wagers that the favorite will win by more than the point spread, thereby covering the spread, then they’ll win their bet. A point spread bet is one of three primary betting types and typically offers a bettor the highest possible return on their wager.
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