What is a point spread?

A point spread is a handicap sportsbooks assign to level a game between unequal teams. The favorite is marked with a minus number (say −6.5) and must win by more than that to “cover”; the underdog gets a plus number (+6.5) and covers by winning outright or losing by less. Spreads let two mismatched teams be bet near 50/50, and the half-point “hook” exists to avoid ties, called pushes, on whole-number spreads.

If you bet a −6.5 favorite, they must win by 7+ for your bet to cash. Take the +6.5 underdog and you win if they lose by 6 or fewer, or win the game outright. On a whole-number spread like −7, a 7-point win is a push — your stake is returned. The half-point hook (−6.5 vs −7) can flip a win to a loss, which is why line shopping for the best number matters so much.

Spreads and moneylines describe the same game two ways: a bigger spread implies a larger favorite and a higher win probability. Standard spread pricing is −110 each side, so you still need to clear the vig (about 52.4%) to profit. Our football models project a margin and a win probability that we compare directly to the posted spread — see the CFB Power Ratings.

What is a point spread?A point spread is a handicap that levels a game. The favorite (minus number) must win by more than the spread to cover; the underdog (plus number) covers by winning outright or losing by less than the spread.

What does covering the spread mean?Covering means beating the spread: a −6.5 favorite covers by winning by 7 or more, and a +6.5 underdog covers by losing by 6 or fewer or winning the game.

What is a push on a spread?A push happens when the result lands exactly on a whole-number spread — a 7-point win against a −7 line. The bet is a tie and your stake is refunded. Half-point spreads exist to prevent pushes.