# Point spread: how a -3.5 or a +7 is settled

> A point spread gives one side a handicap. See what -3.5 and +7 mean, when a whole-number spread is a push, and how a spread differs from a moneyline.

Source: https://reviewstandings.com/what-is-a-point-spread/
Updated: 2026-11-13

A point spread is a bet with a handicap: the favourite must win by more than the stated margin, and the underdog can lose by less than it. A -3.5 means the favourite needs to win by four or more; a +7 means the underdog can lose by six or fewer. A tie with the spread is a push.

## What a spread is

The sportsbook subtracts points from the favourite and adds them to the underdog, then asks who is ahead. The number is a margin, not a score.

A +7 does not mean the underdog scores seven; it means seven points are added to its final score when the bet is settled.

The favourite's -3.5 works the other way: 3.5 points are taken off.

A half-point spread such as 3.5 cannot tie, because football scores are whole numbers. A whole-number spread such as 7 can.

**Bottom line:** the spread turns a question about who wins into a question about by how much.

## Two settled examples

**Spread settlement · hypothetical results · Example (not an offer)**

| Bet | Final score | Margin | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favourite -3.5 | 27 to 24 | Won by 3 | Bet loses |
| Favourite -3.5 | 27 to 23 | Won by 4 | Bet wins |
| Underdog +7 | 17 to 24 | Lost by 7 | Push |
| Underdog +7 | 17 to 23 | Lost by 6 | Bet wins |

The scores are invented for the example and refer to no game. The arithmetic is derived by us; the push treatment of a whole-number spread is the usual convention, and the operator's own terms decide.

## Spread, moneyline and puck line

A [moneyline](https://reviewstandings.com/what-is-a-moneyline/) has no margin. In hockey the spread is usually set at 1.5 goals and is called [the puck line](https://reviewstandings.com/what-is-a-puck-line/). A [total](https://reviewstandings.com/what-is-an-over-under-total/) bets on combined points, not on a side.

For football context see [CFL and NFL betting in Canada](https://reviewstandings.com/cfl-nfl-betting-canada/).

## How we checked

The definition and examples are our own derivation. We have not yet quoted an operator's definition or its push rule; when we do, each will carry a URL, a date and at most 15 words. More on prices: [bet types, odds and margins](https://reviewstandings.com/bets-odds-and-margins/).

19+ in Ontario and British Columbia; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly.

## FAQ

**What does -3.5 mean on a point spread?**

The side marked -3.5 is the favourite and must win by four points or more for the bet to win. A win by three points or fewer, or a loss, makes the bet lose.

**What does +7 mean on a point spread?**

The side marked +7 is the underdog and receives seven points. The bet wins if that side wins or loses by six or fewer. A loss by exactly seven is a push.

**What is a push?**

A push is a tie between the result and the spread. Operators normally return the stake, but the settlement rule is in each operator's own terms, which we have not yet quoted here.

**How is a spread different from a moneyline?**

A moneyline asks who wins. A spread asks whether a side wins or loses by more or less than a stated margin.