Understanding the Point Spread in Sports Betting

Spread betting drives NFL and NBA wagering by requiring the favorite to win by more than the listed number. The underdog, represented by a positive number, can lose by less than that amount or win outright to cover.

For example, a team at -6.5 must win by 7 points to cover, while a team at +6.5 wins if they lose by 6 or fewer. The juice, or vig, usually sits at -110, meaning bettors must risk $110 to win $100 regardless of the outcome. newssport.cv