Most sportsbooks would rather you not ask this question. However, you might be wondering the same thing. After all, you spent hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars on your wager. So, what do you get for your investment?
Well, luckily for you, we’ve been through this same scenario. So, we know exactly what to tell you. Despite the fact that you wagered on a shutout, you actually walk away with a profit. Yes, the sportsbooks don’t like it when you ask this question because they don’t want you to leave with your profit. However, as long as you keep it to yourself, they have no choice but to give you your money back. With that being said, let’s dive into the question.
How Do I Calculate My Profit?
Before we begin, let’s make one thing clear. No, we don’t recommend betting on football games. Putting down money on a game that you think will end in a tie is an example of a bad investment. However, for the sake of this article, we’ll use it as an illustration of how to find your profit regardless of the score. So, with that being said, let’s get into the good stuff.
In a nutshell, your profit for a bet involving a football game is determined by two things:
- The point spread (the amount of points you’ll win or lose based on the outcome of the game)
- The amount of money you wagered (wagering simply means you put down money on a given event)
If you’re looking for a quick way to find your profit, simply take the point spread and multiply it by the amount of money you wagered (i.e., your profit is the point spread times the money you wagered). However, this is only one method of calculating your profit (and, yes, it’s the method used by nearly all betting sites).
For example, if you bet $100 on a game with a point spread of -3 and the game ends in a 27-0 win, then your profit would be $3,000 (i.e., $3,000 x -3).
What Is The Difference Between The Point Spread And The Over/Under/Winner-Take-All (WTA) Odds?
This is a common question and, no, they are not the same thing. The point spread is the amount of points you’ll win or lose based on the outcome of the game. For example, if you bet $100 on a game with a point spread of -3 and the game ends in a 27-0 win, then your point spread would be -3 (i.e., $100 x -3).
The over/under/winner-take-all (WTA) odds are simply the amount of money you’ll win or lose based on whether the team you selected (the “favorite”) wins, losses, or ties the game. For example, if you bet $100 on a game with an over/under of 42.5, then, regardless of whether the game ends in a win, loss, or tie, you’d win $42.50 (i.e., $100 x ($100 / 2.5)).
You’ll usually see the point spread and the over/under/WTA odds next to each other. However, they are two separate things. One of the reasons why people ask this question is because they think that the point spread and the over/under/WTA odds are synonymous. This is not the case at all. The point spread is the amount of points you’ll win or lose based on the outcome of the game; it has nothing to do with the over/under/WTA odds. If you want to calculate your profit, you must use the point spread to determine your outcome (win or lose) and then use the over/under/WTA odds to determine how much money you’ll win or lose by using those points.
How Is The Point Spread Set?
The point spread is set by the football odds makers at the sportsbooks. For instance, let’s say you’ve got a game on the schedule tomorrow and you’ve heard that the point spread is -3. This means you’ll win $3 on every $100 you bet. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Naturally, this is an extremely simplified explanation, but, essentially, in the case of a home game, the team you support is favored (usually by 3 or more points). In the case of an away game, the team you support is underdog (usually by 3 or more points).
In general, if you support a team that is relatively new to the gridiron (they’ve never won a playoff game or taken down a favorite in the Super Bowl), then it is advisable to take the under. This is because, in most cases, the point spread is adjusted over time (usually in the offseason) to set the odds in favor of the favorite.
In the case of a game with an even point spread (i.e., both teams are level-headed enough not to give each other the edge by insulting their supporters, trading barbs, or throwing dirt on the field before the game), then it’s simply a case of both teams being level-headed enough to not anger their fans. When this happens, people who back the underdog usually win because there is no indication who will win when the game ends in a tie.
So, as you can see, there are several ways you can lose money if you’re not careful. We strongly advise against betting on football games unless you’re willing to lose a little (or a lot) of money. Why? Well, for one thing, they aren’t that much fun to watch when you think about it. For another, betting on football is a slippery slope. Before you know it, you’re losing hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars and you have no idea why. It’s better to stick to sports that you know about; if you don’t, then you’ll just be creating problems for yourself. Do you really want to take the chance of losing money because you didn’t know any better? We think not.
Where Can I Find The Point Spread And Over/Under/WTA Odds For The Game That’s On Tomorrow?
The point spread and the over/under/WTA odds for tomorrow’s games will be displayed on the website (usually within the “Odds” section) of the sportsbook you’ll be betting with. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go to the site and search for them. They’ll be there for you. Plus, most sportsbooks (especially the big ones) make it easy for you to keep up with your bets by providing odds on all of the games throughout the year (including those that are not shown on the main site). So, as long as you’ve got your phone with you, you can bet on whatever you want – whenever you want – from the comfort of your home. No more wasting time searching for games that are far away or on television channels that you don’t get. The information you need is just a few clicks away.
What If I Don’t Want To Calculate My Profit?
If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like doing math or figures in general, then it’s best to avoid betting on football games. Why? Well, most likely you’ll end up having to do a little bit of math and it’ll be pretty taxing. You’ll also have to keep track of your wins and losses which can be quite the chore. However, the upside is that you can simply walk away with your profit in cash (no wagering for you). So, if you feel like cheating at gambling, then betting on football games is the way to go. Just keep in mind that this is a slippery slope and can lead you down a path of destruction – financially speaking. Still want to do it? Sorry, but you’re on your own. You’ll have to find the money to pay back your friends and family (assuming they want their money back). If not, then you’ll have to find a way to make it work for you.
To give you an idea of what it’s like to bet on a football game, here’s a short video review of how bets work at a sportsbook:
Hopefully, this article has helped answer some of your questions regarding betting on football. If you have more, feel free to leave us a comment below! Good luck out there.