Point spread: how a -3.5 or a +7 is settled
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.
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- 4 FAQ
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
| 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 has no margin. In hockey the spread is usually set at 1.5 goals and is called the puck line. A total bets on combined points, not on a side.
For football context see CFL and NFL betting in 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.
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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.