Spread betting is a type of wagering where bettors attempt to predict the outcome of an event and then place a wager accordingly. This is often used in NBA and NFL, but may still be offered in other sports. Most sportsbooks in Arizona offer this market due to their simplicity and popularity with bettors.
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What is Spread Betting in Sports?
In point spread betting, the goal is to correctly guess whether the team you are betting on will win by more or less than the number of points that has been set by the sportsbook. These bets aim to even out the possibilities of either team winning. The favorites will have a negative spread while the underdog will have a positive spread.
While the spread will not affect the actual outcome of the game, it can change the winning bet.
How does Spread Betting Work?
This may be explained better through an example. Consider the table shown below:
| Team | Spread |
| Phoenix Suns | -4 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +4 |
As you can see, the Phoenix Suns have a -4 point spread, which means that they must win by more than 4 points for bettors to win their wager. Conversely, if the Brooklyn Nets are given a +4 point spread, then they can lose by 2 points or less and still have their wagers payout.
| Winning Team | Final score | Winning Bet |
| Suns | 115-103 | Suns |
| Suns | 115-114 | Celtics |
| Celtics | 120-115 | Celtics |
Based on the instances provided, we can see that it is not just about the winning team. The team that you picked to win must also cover the spread for your bet to win. Suns securing a 115-114 will improve their record but your point spread bet lost because they do not cover the 4-point spread.
In rare instances, some sportsbooks do not include overtime plays in their markets, including spread betting. However, for this to happen, the sportsbook must specifically include it in the terms and conditions. When both teams ended with the same score at the end of the final quarter, it will result in a push and no bet will win. The wagers are refunded to players.
Overall, spread betting in sports is a fun and exciting way to wager on your favorite teams and games!
Factors That Affect Point Spread Odds?
One of the most important factors that can affect the point spread is the strength of the two teams. If one team is significantly stronger than the other, then they will be more likely to win by a larger margin. This means that the point spread will be higher for this team.
Similarly, if two teams are evenly matched, the point spread will be lower. Therefore, it’s important to consider the relative strengths of the two teams before placing a bet.
Another factor that can affect the point spread is the game’s location. Home teams tend to have an advantage over away teams, as they are more familiar with their home court or stadium. This means that they are more likely to win by a larger margin.
Additionally, certain types of courts or stadiums can give one team an advantage over another. For example, a team that is used to playing on artificial turf may have an advantage over a team that is not used to playing on this surface. Therefore, it’s important to consider where the game will be played before placing a bet.
Finally, weather conditions can also affect the point spread, especially in football. If there is expected to be bad weather on game day, then this may work in favor of the home team.
Conversely, if sunny conditions are forecasted, this may work against the home team. As a result, it’s important to keep an eye on the forecast before placing a bet on a particular game.
By considering all of these factors, you’ll be in a better position to predict how the point spread will move and choose bets accordingly.
Explain “Juice” in Spread Betting
In point spread betting, “juice” is the commission that the sportsbook collects on each bet. For example, let’s say that the New England Patriots are playing the Arizona Cardinals.
The Patriots are listed as 7-point favorites, so if you bet on them to win, you would need them to win by more than 7 points for your bet to pay off. In this case, the sportsbook might set the juice at -110, which means that you would need to bet $110 to win $100.
In this way, juice ensures that the sportsbook will be sustainable in the long run, regardless of which team wins. The higher the juice, the more expensive it is to place a bet. Therefore, bettors should always try to find sportsbooks with low juice to save money.
Tips Before Placing a Point Spead Wager
If you are interested in getting started
- Start by researching the teams or athletes involved, and familiarize yourself with the odds and spreads that are offered by different sportsbooks.
- To improve your chances of winning, you may also want to consider using various betting strategies. For example, you can try to predict a “cover,” which means your wager will win if the team you bet on wins or only loses by less than the total spread points.
- Remember to be patient and gamble responsibly, while betting only what you can afford to lose, as it is always possible to lose when betting on sports!
And that’s our guide to the basics of spread betting in sports. Whether you are a seasoned bettor or just starting, we hope this information has been.
