The point spread is the most common way for mobile players to bet on NFL, NCAAF, NBA, and NCAAB games. This article helps you understand what the point spread is, how to bet on it, and why it is important to shop around for the best lines.
How Do You Bet on the Spread?
The mobile sports betting operators will assign a point spread on every single football and basketball game. You also get spreads on sports like baseball, hockey, and soccer – known as run lines, puck lines, and handicaps respectively – but it is most common on high-scoring sports.
The spread is a points handicap given to the team that the mobile sportsbooks decide is the strongest. They will weigh up the strengths of each team’s rosters, and focus on head-to-heads, recent results, motivation, injuries and so on, before assigning a point spread.
Spread Betting Example
For example, you might find that the Cleveland Browns are the 3.5-point favorites against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with odds -110 on either team covering.
The spread allows the mobile betting sites to offer identical or similar odds on both teams.
In this example, you have two choices – bet on the Browns 3.5, whereby they must win by 4 points or more, or bet on the Steelers +3.5, which means they can win or lose by no more than 3 points.
Finding the Best Spread Betting Lines
Rival mobile betting sites offer different lines on the spread. For example, Sportsbook A might have -110 on the Kansas City Chiefs -5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and -110 on the Bengals +5, whereas Sportsbook B might have -105 on the Chiefs covering and -115 on the Bengals.
In that case Sportsbook A is the better option for the Bengals and Sportsbook B is the better option for the Chiefs. Another site might offer -110 on the Chiefs -4.5 and -110 on the Bengals +4.5, making it a better option for anyone betting on the Chiefs.
