Let’s be honest, sports betting is one of the most popular activities in the world. Whether you love sports or hate them, it’s hard to avoid the fascination of betting on sporting events. There are many different ways to bet on sports, but perhaps none is more popular or exciting than spread betting.
What is spread betting? It’s when you place a bet on the game, and the bookmaker allows you to spread the odds of the game across multiple teams. In other words, you’re not betting on the team you think will win. You’re betting on which team will win by the most amount of points. In most cases, spread betting also implies making smaller bets on each team’s behalf. For example, you might bet $100 on Team A and put $50 on Team B. The bookmaker takes care of the rest. Sometimes spread betting is simply known as ‘scheduling’ or ‘parlay betting’.
Why Play Against The Spread In Sports?
Now that we’ve covered the general concept of spread betting, it’s time to dive into the exciting world of sports and explore the many ways you can make the most of this exciting betting style.
Why do people enjoy playing against the spread in sports? Let’s examine some of the top reasons.
Raises The Excitement Level
One of the main reasons people enjoy betting against the spread is that it adds another dimension to their sport. Instead of just checking the results of each game, they get to analyze the spread and pick the winners of each game. While this may not seem like a big deal, the thrill of picking the right teams to win can be incredibly exciting. Especially if you frequently get it right.
Did you know that in the 2017 World Series of Poker, more than 80% of the entries were played on a spread betting basis? That’s nearly everyone entered the tournament playing against the spread. This style of wagering allows for more strategic thinking and a greater variety of hands to be played. What’s more, because you’re not absolutely sure which team will win, you have to remain vigilant and focused throughout the entire game. You never know when that moment of truth will arrive and you will either win or lose. This is why many sportsbooks prefer to handle large numbers of regular and repeat customers rather than take on new players every week or every other week.
Diversifies Your Stake
One of the significant advantages of betting against the spread in sports is that it can be used to diversify your risk. For example, if you bet $100 on the Seattle Seahawks and they win, you win $100. However, if they lose, you lose $200. On the other hand, if you bet $100 on the Dallas Cowboys and they win, you win $200. However, if they lose, you lose $100. In most cases, you’re only risking 50% of your total investment ($100 for the Seahawks, $100 for the Cowboys).
With spread betting, you’re not only risking your money on one side of the bet, but you’re risking your money on multiple sides of the bet. For example, you could stake $100 on the Seahawks, but if they lose you could also stake $100 on the Miami Dolphins. In both cases, you win $200. This is significantly better than placing a single, larger bet on one team and hoping for the best. In many cases, spread betting allows the average person to participate in low-risk betting rather than just high-risk betting. Many people feel that this is where the excitement is nowadays, and it’s easy to see why.
More Money For The Losers
The other significant advantage of betting against the spread in sports is that it allows the loser to win more money than they would in a straight bet. For example, if you put $100 on the Seattle Seahawks and they win, you win $100. However, if they lose, you lose your $100. In a traditional straight bet, the other team would win or lose the entire amount. With spread betting, it is possible for the underdog to win, and this is why it is such a popular option amongst bookmakers. This is not always the case, but it’s a common enough occurrence that most people know what it means when they see it on a betting slip.
What’s more, because the spread is a point-spread, it is possible for the underdogs to win by large amounts. For example, did you know that in the 2016 NFL playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers, with a 5-2 record, had the largest point-spread against the Detroit Lions? They won that game 60-49, with the point-spread ending up at 16 points. In most cases, a 16-point spread is considered to be extremely generous, bordering on impossible. In other words, the San Francisco 49ers were extremely underdogs in that game, and they used their point-spread to prove it.
More Options For The Win
Another significant advantage of betting against the spread in sports is that it provides the user with more options for the win. In a traditional straight bet, you win or lose your entire stake. However, with spread betting, you can win some money and increase your stake. In most cases, this is what makes it exciting for the user. Instead of just choosing one option, they have the chance to win more money and try again. In some cases, spread betting provides the possibility of creating a snowball effect and winning a significant amount of money. For example, let’s say you bet $100 on the Miami Dolphins and they win. You now have $200 to play with. Did you know that in the 2017 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles played a game against the Minnesota Vikings where they won 24-21? In that game, they won the first half 9-0, but the second half was closer with the final score ending up at 24-21. In that case, the Dolphins became huge underdogs and used their point-spread to their advantage.
It Is A Game Of Mental Acuity
Perhaps the biggest advantage of betting against the spread in sports is that it’s a game of mental acuity. Did you know that many top chess players use their brain rather than their hands to play the game? In most cases, it is considered to be a game of superior intellect. In other words, you have to use your head rather than your gut to figure out which teams will win and lose. Traditional sports such as football and baseball have been around for a very long time, and perhaps, it’s time to give it a try, you will see why this style of wagering is extremely popular.