Point spread explained
A point spread is a head start measured in points. The favorite (minus number) has to win by more than the spread. The underdog (plus number) can lose by less than the spread, or win outright.
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Worked example
To start, the box below is filled in with LAL -4.5 -110. In this starting line the Lakers (LAL) are 4.5-point favorites at a price of -110, and the scenarios show which final scores win and which lose. The box is editable: type any line, or tap one under the card, and the explanation updates.
LAL −4.5: LAL must win by 5 points or more.
What it means
4.5 points are taken off LAL's final score (the favorite gives up points). The other side of this bet is the opponent at +4.5, which wins on any result other than a 5+ point win for LAL.
Scenarios
| If… | LAL −4.5 | Opponent +4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| LAL win by 8 points | Win | Loss |
| LAL win by 3 points | Loss | Win |
| LAL lose by 2 points | Loss | Win |
The numbers
LAL −4.5 −110
- Implied probability
- 52.38%
- Decimal
- 1.91
- American
- −110
- Per 100 staked
- returns 190.91 (profit 90.91)
Watch out for
The spread isn't the price. In LAL −4.5 −110, −4.5 is the points and −110 is the odds. A minus spread means that team is the favorite.
Learn more: Point spread guide
Common lines to try
How a spread is settled
Take the team’s final score and add the spread to it. Then compare it with the other team’s score. If the adjusted score is higher, the bet on that team wins.
With LAL -4.5 against the Celtics:
- Lakers win 110–104. Lakers 110 − 4.5 = 105.5, which beats 104. Lakers −4.5 wins.
- Lakers win 108–105. Lakers 108 − 4.5 = 103.5, which is less than 105. Lakers −4.5 loses, and Celtics +4.5 wins.
- Lakers lose 100–102. The Lakers didn’t win at all, so −4.5 loses and +4.5 wins.
A quicker way to say it: −4.5 means win by 5 or more. +4.5 means win, or lose by 4 or fewer.
Favorite and underdog
- A minus number marks the favorite. That team gives up points.
- A plus number marks the underdog. That team gets points.
- The two sides are the same number with opposite signs.
LAL -4.5andBOS +4.5are the two sides of one bet. - A spread of 0 is called a pick’em (
pk). There is no head start: whoever wins, wins. If the game ends level, the bet is a push.
Half points and pushes
A spread ending in .5 can’t land exactly, because teams can’t score half a point. A whole-number spread can, and when it does the bet is a push: the stake is returned.
| Line | Lakers win by 5 | Lakers win by 4 | Lakers win by 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAL −4.5 | Win | Loss | Loss |
| LAL −4 | Win | Push | Loss |
| LAL −3.5 | Win | Win | Loss |
The price on a spread
Most spreads come with a price, often -110 on both sides. At -110 you stake 110 to win 100.
Per 100 staked, that’s a profit of 90.91 and a total return of 190.91.
The price is read exactly the same way as a moneyline price. The moneyline guide explains minus and plus prices. The odds converter shows the same price as decimal or fractional odds.
If you see -110 on both sides, the two implied probabilities add up to more than 100%.
That extra is the bookmaker’s margin, explained in the glossary.
The same idea under other names
- Run line (baseball) and puck line (hockey) are point spreads, usually set at 1.5.
- Handicap is the usual name in soccer and in the UK.
- Asian handicap adds quarter lines like −0.25 and −0.75, which split the stake
across two lines. The translator handles those too: try
AH -0.75 1.90.
Whether overtime or extra innings count toward the spread is set by each sportsbook’s house rules. In most US sports they do. Check the rules for the market you’re reading.
Common misreadings
- The favorite just needs to win the game.
- Not on a spread. On -4.5 the favorite has to win by 5 or more. A win by 1 to 4 points still loses the bet.
- +3 means the underdog has to win by 3.
- The plus number is added to the underdog's score. +3 wins if that team wins, or loses by 1 or 2. Losing by exactly 3 is a push.
- -110 is the spread.
- -110 is the price, which sets the payout. The spread is the -4.5. A full line often shows both: LAL -4.5 -110.
- A push means you lost.
- A push returns your stake. Nothing is won or lost.