Point spread betting is an incredibly popular way to bet on sports like football and basketball. The spread evens out the odds between favorites and underdogs. It makes winning tougher for the favorite, forcing that side to win by a certain number of points or more. Plus, it gives bets on otherwise overwhelmed underdogs a more realistic chance of winning.
Spreads are set to draw an equal amount of betting to each side. Sportsbooks then build a small profit margin into the almost-even odds. That way, they have no real interest in which side wins.
You pick a team, not necessarily to win but to cover the spread. Favorites cover when they win by more than the spread. Underdogs cover by winning outright or losing by less than the spread.
Here’s a complete guide to point spread betting in North Carolina covering all the spread betting basics. It also outlines how you can place point spread bets inside the state on all kinds of different sports.
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What is a point spread bet?
Point spread bets ask you to pick winners with a specific point spread factored into the score.
The spread has either a plus sign or a minus sign in front of it, but it’s always the same number. The plus sign indicates the underdog and tells you to add that number to that team’s score to determine which side wins the bet. The minus sign indicates the favorite and tells you to deduct that number from that team’s score to determine which side wins the bet.
You don’t do both calculations, just one or the other. The winner on the scoreboard, after you’ve done either calculation, tells you which spread bet is the winner. That means spread bets on the favorite are winners when that favorite wins by more than the spread. It also means spread bets on the underdog are winners when the underdog wins outright or loses by less than the spread.
Let’s say the Carolina Panthers are 6.5-point favorites over the New Orleans Saints. The line would read Panthers -6.5 (-110) and Saints +6.5 (110). If Carolina wins 27-20, point spread bets on Carolina -6.5 (-110) are winners. The Panthers will have covered the 6.5-point spread winning by exactly seven points.
Of course, if the Panthers win 27-21 instead, point spread bets on the Saints +6.5 (-110) are the winners. The Saints will have covered because the Panthers won by just six.
Spreads that are set as whole numbers open up the possibility of a push when the winning margin matches the betting spread exactly. If it’s a push, all bets on both sides are refunded.
What does betting ‘against the spread’ mean?
Betting “against the spread” is betting on the point-spread favorite to cover and laying the points. Betting “with the spread” is betting on the point-spread underdog and taking the points cushion.
What does ‘covering the spread’ mean?
“Covering the spread” means winning the game on the scoreboard once the spread has been factored in. Favorites cover the spread when they win by more than the spread. Underdogs cover the spread by winning the game or losing by less than the spread. Essentially, when a team “covers the spread,” it wins the point spread bet.
Best Point Spread Betting Sites in NC
How do point spread odds work?
The odds on point spread bets tell you how much you’ll get paid if you bet on that side and it wins. The spread either lowers your risks or the amount you have to lay out, evening out the odds. That means the betting odds are typically the same for the favorite and underdog.
However, you may find sportsbooks offering better odds on one side or the other to induce betting on that side. They’ll do that to try and realign the betting. They may also adjust the betting spread to accomplish the same thing and leave the odds as they are.
Points spread odds are typically close to even money with a small profit for sportsbooks built in. You will find most point spread bets at North Carolina sportsbooks at standard -110 odds. At -110 odds, you must bet $110 to win $100. Sportsbooks that draw an equal amount of betting to each side earn a 4.5% profit at these standard odds without having to worry about which side ultimately wins the contest.
Do point spread odds change?
A sportsbook’s goal when setting any point spread is to draw equal betting to each side of the bet. That way, they can earn the profit built into the odds without worrying about which side wins.
Sportsbooks may change the odds on one side to try to get unbalanced betting back to even. They may also change the spread to accomplish the same thing.
Point spread betting outcomes
There are three possible outcomes when you place a point spread bet.
- Spread betting winner: The Carolina Panthers are 6.5-point favorites over the New Orleans Saints. You bet $110 on the Panthers -6.5 (-110) and Carolina wins 27-20. You collect a total of $210 (your initial bet and your winnings) because Carolina covered the 6.5-point spread, winning by seven.
- Spread betting loser: The Carolina Panthers are 6.5-point favorites over the New Orleans Saints. You bet $110 on the Panthers -6.5 (-110) and Carolina wins 27-21. You lose because Carolina failed to cover the 6.5-point spread, winning by only six.
- Spread betting push: Say the Carolina Panthers are six-point favorites over the New Orleans Saints. You bet $110 on the Panthers -6 (-110) and Carolina wins 27-21. It’s a push because Carolina won by exactly six, the same number as the spread. All bets are refunded. Note that pushes are rare because most spreads aren’t set as whole numbers.
Point spread betting by sport
Spread betting in football
Whether it’s NFL betting or a college football game, you pick one of the two teams to win on the scoreboard once the spread is factored into the final score. You give away the points on the favorite or take the points on the underdog. The spread is a handicap of sorts that evens out the odds on both teams.
You get paid at the odds as posted when you placed your bet if the team you bet on covers the spread. If the spread is a whole number and it matches the final score exactly, it’s a push and your bet is returned to you.
| Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints |
| Spread: -2.5 | Spread: +2.5 |
| Final Score: 10 | Final Score: 7 |
| The Panthers won the game by three and covered the 2.5-point spread. | The Saints lost the game by three and failed to cover the 2.5-point spread. |
Spread betting in basketball
Whether it’s betting on the NBA or college basketball game, you pick a team to win on the scoreboard once the spread is factored into the final score. You take the points on the underdog or give them away by backing the favorite.
The spread works like a handicap and evens out the odds between the favorite and the underdog. You get paid (assuming you win) at the odds as they were posted when you placed your bet. If the spread is a whole number and it matches the final score exactly, it’s a push and your bet is refunded.
| Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Charlotte Hornets | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Spread: -1.5 | Moneyline: +1.5 |
| Final Score: 112 | Final Score: 124 |
| The Hornets lost by 12 and failed to cover the 1.5-point spread. | The Pelicans won the game by 12 and easily covered the 1.5-point spread. |
Spread betting in baseball
Whether it’s betting an MLB game or a game featuring one of the two Triple-A teams in North Carolina, you pick a team to win once the run line (baseball’s point spread) is factored into the final score.
You take the runs betting on the underdog or lay the runs betting on the favorite. MLB games feature a standard 1.5 run line with alternatives available at various different odds. If you win, you get paid at the odds as posted when you placed your bet. There are no whole-number run lines, which means no push.
| Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | Washington Nationals |
| Run line: -1.5 | Run line: +1.5 |
| Final Score: 5 | Final Score: 4 |
| The Braves won the game by just one thereby failing to cover the 1.5 run line. | The Nationals lost the game but only by one run, covering the 1.5-run line. |
Spread betting in hockey
Whether it’s a Carolina Hurricanes matchup or another NHL game, you pick a team to win on the scoreboard once the puck line (hockey’s variation on the point spread) is factored into the final score. You take the goals betting on the puck line underdog or lay the goals betting on the puck line favorite.
NHL games feature a standard 1.5 puck line with alternatives available at various different odds. If you win, you get paid at the odds as posted when you placed your bet. There are no whole-number puck lines, and that means no push.
| Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | Florida Panthers |
| Puck line: -1.5 | Puck line: +1.5 |
| Final Score: 3 | Final Score: 2 |
| The Hurricanes won the game by just one thereby failing to cover the 1.5-goal puck line. | The Panthers lost the game but only by one goal, covering the 1.5-run line. |
Spread betting in soccer
Whether it’s a Charlotte FC match or another MLS game, you pick a team to win on the scoreboard once the spread is factored into the final score. You take the goals betting on the underdog or lay the goals betting on the favorite.
MLS games are low scoring, so spreads typically range from 0.5 goals to 2.5 goals with alternatives available at various different odds. You get paid at the odds as posted when you placed your MLS bet. Whole-number soccer spreads are rare, so there’s rarely a push.
Spread betting in MMA/UFC
UFC and other MMA point spread bets are bets on the margin of victory on the three judges’ scorecards (assuming the fight goes the distance). You pick a fighter to lead on total points after the spread is factored into the final scorecard numbers.
These spreads are typically +/- 3.5 for three-round fights and +/- 5.5 for five-round fights. The favorite gives away the points and the underdog takes them in determining the betting winner. The odds vary based on how much of a favorite the best fighter is perceived to be. If the fighter you bet on wins by knockout or submission instead, you still win.
Spread betting in tennis
Two types of spread betting are available for tennis matches. A game spread bet is on how many games a player will win. A set spread bet is on how many sets. Ultimately, you are picking one player or the other to win on the total game or set scoreboard once the spread is factored in. Tennis game spreads typically range from 1.5 to 3.5 for three-set matches and 3.5 to 5.5 for five-set matches. The lines and odds vary based on seeding.
Point spread betting FAQ
Spreads are set by sportsbooks to even the odds between two sides of a bet. You pick a side to end up the winner on the scoreboard once the spread is factored into the final score. You either deduct the points from the favorite or add them to the underdog’s score to determine which side wins a spread bet.
The minus sign in front of a point spread tells you you’re looking at the favorite. You must deduct those points from the favorite’s final score to determine the spread betting winner.
The plus sign in front of a point spread tells you you’re looking at the underdog. You’ll add those points to the underdog’s final score to determine the betting winner.
Spread bets are live in the event of any game finishing in a tie. You still deduct the points from the favorite’s score or add them to the underdog’s score to determine which side wins. However, if the spread is a whole number and the scoreboard shows a tie once the spread is factored into the final score, it’s a push. In this case, all bets are returned.
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