If you’re a fan of sports betting, then you’ll undoubtedly have seen many different point spreads and odds displayed on betting sites and apps. Maybe you’ve even made a few wagers based on the betting lines you’ve seen.
Although the numbers may seem straightforward, determining exactly what they mean can be a bit tricky. If you’re new to sports betting, then this article is for you. It will teach you how to interpret and use point spreads so you can make the right wagers. Let’s get into it.
What Are Point Spreads?
Point spreads are the differences in points between two teams in a specific sport. For example, the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals are competing in the 2018 MLB season. The Nats are a -110 favourite (111 points) in the over/under (O/U) bet markets while the Braves are +100 favourite (100 points) in both the moneylines (MO/MU) and prop bets (PRP).
If you’re new to sports betting, then these are simply the odds the bookmaker is offering for each team to win the game. Point spreads are usually used in association with a specific formula called the over under, which combines multiple wagers into a single bet. It’s one of the most popular and simplest forms of betting. If you’ve ever played the game Trivial Pursuit, then you’ll be familiar with the concept behind the over under. The object is to score the most points. Players bid on teams or concepts and the winner is determined by how many points they total.
To wit, if a player bets $100 on the Seattle Seahawks and wins, then the bookmaker will pay out $110, minus the player’s $100 stake. Similarly, if they bet $100 on the New England Patriots and win, then they will receive $200, plus their $100 initial stake. Of course, there’s no guarantee that the Patriots will win, so this is more of a risk than most forms of gambling.
Odd-Even-Ness Is King (or Queen)
Although not always the case, the vast majority of sports betting options on a given website or app will be of the over/under variety. This is mainly due to the fact that these betting options are the simplest to understand and most games feature only two teams. So if you want to place a wager, then all you need to do is select your favourite team in the appropriate section and move on to the next step.
As mentioned above, the numbers don’t lie. These are the odds the bookmaker is offering in favour of each team. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the total number of points scored by both teams is not always going to be the same. This is mainly due to the fact that some games are more closely contested than others. So there’s always the potential for a push or a flurry of goals late in the game. And in some instances, one team can score a clutch, game-winning goal just when it seems like their chances of winning are dwindling.
What Is The Over Under?
Perhaps the most important concept to grasp regarding point spreads is the over under. This is an abbreviation for “over/under”, which simply means that the bettor is wagering either on the over or under the number of points scored by each team in a given game. So if you’ve ever played the game Powerball, then you’ll know what the over under is. The object is to choose a team that is stronger than the one on which you’ve betted. In most instances, it’s simple enough to work out whether or not your bet will win. If the number of points scored by both teams is within ten points of each other, then you’ll often see the over/under selectors choose the under. However, if there’s a significant difference in favour of one team, then the over will win. It’s as simple as that.
Why Are Bookmakers In Favor Of The Over Under?
As mentioned above, the vast majority of sports betting options on a given website or app will be of the over/under variety. This is mainly due to the fact that these betting options are the simplest and most games feature only two teams. So if you want to place a wager, then all you need to do is select your favourite team in the appropriate section and move on to the next step.
Bookmakers have probably heard and felt the pain of placing an over/under wager only to see the numbers they’ve been given rapidly deviate from the outcome of the game. For example, if the Atlanta Braves are listed as -110 favourites (111 points) and the Washington Nationals are +100 favourites (100 points) in an over/under wager, then the bookie will experience an influx of wagers as the game approaches. Suddenly, one team may have a one-point lead with two quarters to go. The entire premise behind the over/under is that, due to the nature of the game, the numbers will change. This is highly undesirable if you’re trying to make a profit from wagering. To prevent this, most bookmakers will usually choose to list the under on games with a high number of wagering options.
The Over Under Signifies A Game Beyond The Mat
If you watched the 2018 MLS Cup between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Red Bulls, then you may have noticed that both teams struggled to put the ball in the back of the net for the first 45+ minutes of the game. There were no goals scored before the 70th minute, which is when the Red Bulls pulled off one of the greatest upsets in league history. This is mainly due to the fact that the over under signified a game where the underdogs (Red Bulls) would triumph. The number of people backing the under in this instance was so great that the over/under win probability was at 26% (as of 14:05 EDT on 12 December 2018).
How To Use Point Spreads
As with any type of betting, knowing how to use point spreads correctly is essential in order to maximize one’s winnings and minimize one’s losses. The following are a few tips that come in handy when wagering on sports:
Look At History
One of the first things you should do is look at the history of the sports you’re interested in. This is important for two reasons. First of all, you want to know if or when the sport has been won or lost by the relevant team. Secondly, you want to be sure that the team you’re backing is capable of winning.
Sports history can be a bit complicated due to fluctuations in rules and regulations over the years. For example, if you’re looking at NFL betting odds, then you’ll want to check whether or not the point spread applies to postseason games as well.
Take Advantage Of Season Trends
One of the primary ways of making money off football is to bet on which team will be performing well at a certain time of year. During the season, sportsbooks will release weekly trends that indicate which teams are gaining or losing ground in the contest for the division title, conference championship or even the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.
These trends can be a bit difficult to interpret, especially if you’re not familiar with them. If you’re looking for an easy way to find out which teams are hot and which ones are not, then you can track recent form by looking at their past results. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They’re 6-2 ATS (against the spread) in their last eight games and their season win total is now projected at 7.5. The team’s over/under record this year is 7.5 wins, and they’ve beaten the spread in six of their eight games this season.
Know The Current Scenario
One of the most important things you need to do before placing a wager is to make sure you know what the current scenario is. In the example above, knowing that the Falcons had just won their fourth game in a row would have made it a lot easier for the Red Bulls to win. Similarly, if you’re thinking of betting the Los Angeles Lakers, then you’ll want to check whether or not they’re currently winning or losing games.