Sports betting can be a confusing endeavor for those who are new to it. One of the most common questions newcomers have is, “What is a point spread?” A point spread is essentially a handicap placed on one team in order to even the playing field between them and their opponent. You can explore placing bets at fun78 fun888asia.
How Point Spreads Work
Let’s say that the New England Patriots are playing the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. The Patriots are favored to win by 3 points. This means that, in order for someone who bets on the Patriots to win their bet, the Patriots must win by more than 3 points.
Likewise, someone who bets on the Rams will win their bet if the Rams either win the game outright or lose by less than 3 points.
If the final score of the game is Patriots 28, Rams 24, then those who bet on the Patriots will lose their bets because although the Patriots won, they only won by 4 points instead of the necessary 5. However, those who bet on the Rams will win their bets because even though they lost, they only lost by 3 points instead of 4.
Utilizing Point Spreads
Now that you understand how point spreads work, you can start utilizing them to your advantage.
- One way to do this is by shopping around for lines at different sportsbooks before placing your bets. Because each sportsbook may have slightly different lines for each game, you may be able to find a better line for the team you are betting on at one sportsbook than another. This is why it pays to shop around!
- Another way to utilize point spreads to your advantage is by finding value bets. A value bet is a bet where the odds are in your favor such that you are expected to win more money than you risk. So, in this case, as long as there is some chance that the Patriots will win by 5 or more points, your bet offers value and is worth making.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, understanding and utilizing point spreads can give you a leg up in sports betting. Make sure you understand how they work before placing any bets, and shop around for lines at different sportsbooks so that you can get the best possible deal. Always look for value bets! If done correctly, betting with point spreads can be extremely profitable.