If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a fan of professional sports betting or someone who’s considering getting into the action. Either way, you’ve probably heard of the terms “point spread” and “over/under”. These are usually used in conjunction with wagers on sports events, but what do they mean, exactly? Are gamblers exploiting a loophole in the rules? Or is there more to it than meets the eye? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is the Point Spread?
The point spread is the amount by which the betting odds on a particular side of a sporting event are deviated from the official line odds. For instance, let’s say there are odds of 3.0 for the home team to win the World Series, and 1.0 for the visitor team to win. If you bet on the home team, your winnings will be 3.0 × (Won – Lost) or 15.0 points. If you bet on the visitor team, you’ll win 1.0 × (Won – Lost) or 2.0 points.
The key to understanding these odds is to know that they’re typically used in conjunction with maximum bets. For instance, if you place a $100 bet on the Cubs to win the Series, you’ll get $100 × 3.0 or $300 back. Now, if you were to bet $100 on the Dodgers to win the Series, you’d get $100 × 1.0 or $100 back. So, in this specific instance, the difference is $200 that you’ll need to cover with a win.
What Is an Over/Under?
An over/under is exactly what it sounds like: a bet on whether a particular score will be achieved by the end of a sporting event. For example, if you bet on the Red Sox to score at least four touchdowns and the over/under is set at 48, you’ll win if the Red Sox score at least four touchdowns and under 48 times. You’ll lose if they score at least four touchdowns and over 48 times.
The over/under is traditionally used in conjunction with point spreads, though it can also be employed with several other betting formats. For instance, you could bet on the number of free throws made in a three-point shot contest, the total yards scored by both teams in a football game, or the total points scored in a basketball game. Using these odds, you can easily check the propensity of the team you’re backing by looking at their historical statistics.
Why Are Gamblers So Interested In The Odds?
It’s important to realize that not all gamblers are created equal, and many sportsbooks will gladly take advantage of this fact. The key is to find a decent bookmaker that is more than willing to put up the necessary odds for you. If you’re looking for someone to take on a simple bet, walk away. You won’t be able to enter into any agreement with them because they’ll never be able to satisfy your demand for odds. It takes a viable bookmaker to be able to set the odds you’re looking for, and it takes a smart betting shop to be able to consistently deliver them. Make sure you stay away from anybookmaker that gets caught up in technicalities and hasn’t been verified by a third party source like BookMaker (formerly STA)
The key to being able to make informed wagers is by keeping up with the latest sporting news. Knowing the general mood of the fans and the analytics of the teams you’re backing can help you form an educated opinion on whether or not to wager. If you want to bet on the biggest games, you’ll need to look for a sportsbook that can put up the odds you’re looking for, otherwise, you’ll find yourself frustrated by the odds being either way.
Odds are what make sports betting so interesting. If you want to get in on some of the action, knowing how to interpret them is key. Just remember: not all bookmakers and betting shops are created equal, so make sure you do your homework before signing any contract with them. And always be sure to stay away from any bookmaker that gets caught up in technicalities and hasn’t been verified by a third party source like BookMaker (formerly STA)