The line between winning and losing tends to get blurred when it comes to sports bets. What exactly does an over 4.5 point spread mean? Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different bets that are available and the key points you need to keep in mind when putting your hard-earned money on the line.
Over 4.5 Point Spreads
An over 4.5 point spread (sometimes referred to as an “over/under”) is when the listed score of one team is more than 4.5 points higher than that of the opposing team. For example, if you bet on the Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl and they score 24 points, you’d win your bet since the over/under is 48.0. If the Atlanta Braves win the game by exactly 7 runs, the payout would be just over 4.5 but since there’s no way for you to know the exact score, you would not get your full refund.
Handicapped
In most sports books, there is an option for handicapped sports. If you are handicapped and want to place a handicapped bet, you will need to contact the specific book you are using to place the bet with and ask them if they take handicapped bets. Most betting sites will allow you to place a certain percentage of your total bet or wager, whichever is lower, on a handicapped basis. For example, if you place a $100 bet on a game between the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs, you can bet 20% (or $20) of that wager on the handicapped option.
Full Time Running Backs
Some baseball betting sites, mainly those that offer NASCAR betting, will take full time running backs as their starting running backs. If you bet on a team with a full-time running back and they score 10 points, you’d win your bet. If the opposing team’s running back gets injured or is ineffective, you’ll win your bet regardless of the final score.
Quarter Turns
Some race track betting sites will take quarter turns as a way of doing business. If you bet on a horse that has at least 10% of the total field to walk before the start of the race, you can expect the operator of the book you’re using to make good on their promise to pay out in cash if the horse they bet on finishes in first or second place. If the horse they bet on does not finish in the top two, they will typically give you a refund of the amount you are owed.
Double Doubles
A double double is when a tennis player wins two singles matches in a row against two different opponents. If the player wins both matches against two different opponents with the same score, that is considered a double double. Since tennis is a point-win-based game, the player would win two sets of four points rather than two sets of zero points. Due to the importance of doubles in tennis, some tennis betting sites will pay out as soon as the first match is completed and will not postpone the payout to the next game. If you bet on a doubles game and one player wins both their matches with the same score, you’ll win your bet. In cases where the opponents’ scores are higher than the doubles score, you’ll win your bet as long as one player wins the second match.
Under 4.5 Point Spreads
An under 4.5 point spread is when the listed score of one team is less than 4.5 points lower than that of the opposing team. For example, if you bet on the Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl and they score 24 points, you’d lose your bet since the under/over is 48.0. If the Atlanta Braves win the game by exactly 7 runs, the payout would be just over 4.5 but since there’s no way for you to know the exact score, you would not get your full refund.
Exact Score Betting
Many sporting leagues, including the NFL, NCAAF, and NBA, allow for exact score betting. With exact score betting, you are not supposed to predict the outcome of the entire game; you are simply looking for the final score. If the opposing team scores exactly the same number of points as the team you are betting on, you would win your bet. If not, you would lose your bet. If you bet on the Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl and they score 24 points, you’d win your bet since the under/over is 48.0. If the Atlanta Braves win the game by exactly 7 runs, the payout would be just over 4.5 but since there’s no way for you to know the exact score, you would not get your full refund.
Expectancy Betting
In most sports books, there is also an option for expectancy bets. If you are using an online sports betting site and want to place an expectancy bet, you will likely need to contact the specific site you are using to place the bet with and ask them if they take expectancies. Most betting sites will allow you to place a certain percentage of your total wager on an expectancy basis. If you have a specific sporting event you are following and want to place a straight up or an expectancy wager on the outcome, you’ll need to contact the specific website and place the wager there. When placing an expectancy bet, you are simply predicting the outcome of a certain event and you are risking no more than you would if you went to the game and actually watched it. Since watching sporting events is so much more fun when you are betting on them, expectancy betting is a popular option for recreational gamblers.
Prediction Markets
One of the most exciting developments in sports betting over the last several years is the advent of the “prediction market.” Just like a sports book, a prediction market allows you to take a side in an on-going sporting event, either on a straight up basis or against the betting odds. The predictions themselves are usually done by amateur statisticians and analysts who use stats and objective criteria to come up with their predictions. The interesting thing about prediction markets is that they allow users to place bets on events that have not yet happened. If someone builds an app that allows you to place bets on Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, and NHL games, you will find the vast majority of those bets will be on pre-game plays since that is when the value is typically the highest. If you are looking for an app that lets you take a side in an on-going sporting event and offers a secure and reliable place to do so, try out BetOnTheLight.com’s app today!
Props
Some casinos and racetracks will pay you money to take a side in the form of “props.” When you are at your local casino, you might see people placing bets with small slips of paper with “props” on them. You are not supposed to use these, as they are invalidated as soon as the person receives them. These are simply there to help people keep track of their bets since the process is often done verbally. If you are interested in taking a side in an event and don’t want to use paper props, you can instead use an app on your phone to do the betting. Since props are only valid at certain places and times, you will need to make sure you are at the right venue to use them or that they are valid where you are.
Acclaim
Finally, some sports books will pay out in the form of “acclaim” when certain conditions are met. Most notably, if the Patriots win the Super Bowl, they will be paid out in acclaim since it is generally accepted that betting on the Patriots is very difficult to win. If you are wondering what acclaim is, it’s basically a bonus money that is given to the winning bettor. Some books will also give you acclaim for finishing in the top three of your fantasy football league. One of the unique things about acclaim is that it can be carried over from game to game. If you place a $500 wager on the Saints to win the Super Bowl and they score 42 points, you’ll win your $500 plus $350 in acclaim. Since you won’t get your full $500 if the Saints win the game but lose, you’ll get your $350 in cash or in-game credit.