Point Spread Betting Explained: What -7 and +3.5 Mean

Point spread betting means wagering on a team's scoring margin after applying a handicap, not simply picking who wins. A team at -7 must win by more than seven points to cover, while a team at +3.5 can win outright or lose by up to three points.

This guide explains the difference between the handicap and the price you pay to bet it. They are separate numbers. Picking the winner correctly doesn't necessarily mean your spread bet wins.

All scores, stakes, and prices below are hypothetical.

Point spread betting explained: how does the spread work?

A spread gives the favorite a negative handicap and the underdog a positive one. Add your selected team's spread to its final score, then compare that adjusted score with its opponent's score.

• Higher adjusted score: Your spread bet wins.
• Equal adjusted score: Your bet pushes, meaning your stake is returned on a standard straight bet.
• Lower adjusted score: Your spread bet loses.

For example, a matchup could list Team A -7 and Team B +7. Those are opposite sides of the same handicap. Team B +3.5 would be a different line, not the other side of Team A -7.

Against the spread, often shortened to ATS, describes performance relative to that handicap. Covering the spread means winning the spread bet. It doesn't necessarily mean winning the game.

What does -7 mean in betting?

A -7 spread means seven points are subtracted from your team's score to determine the bet's result. Because scoring uses whole points in football and basketball, the favorite needs to win by at least eight points to cover.

Say you back a hypothetical football team at -7 and it wins 28-20:

1. Start with your team's score: 28.
2. Apply the spread: 28 - 7 = 21.
3. Compare adjusted scores: 21 beats 20.
4. Your -7 bet wins.

Now change the final score to 27-20. The adjusted score is 27 - 7 = 20, producing a tie and a push.

If the team wins 26-20, the adjusted score is 19-20. Your team won the game, but your spread bet lost. Backing the favorite doesn't mean any victory is enough.

What does +3.5 mean in betting?

A +3.5 spread gives your chosen team a three-and-a-half-point head start for betting purposes. It covers by winning outright, finishing tied if the market permits a final tie, or losing by three points or fewer.

Say your hypothetical underdog loses 24-21:

1. Start with its score: 21.
2. Add the handicap: 21 + 3.5 = 24.5.
3. Compare adjusted scores: 24.5 beats 24.
4. Your +3.5 bet wins despite the team's loss.

If it loses 24-20 instead, 20 + 3.5 = 23.5. That falls short of 24, so the bet loses.

The half-point is often called the hook. Since a whole-number scoring margin can't equal 3.5, that spread can't produce a scoring push. Check the applicable rules for any circumstances that could void a bet.

How much does a winning spread bet pay?

The spread determines whether you win. The odds determine your profit.

A hypothetical listing of Team A -7 (-110) contains both pieces of information: -7 is the handicap, and -110 is the price. Don't confuse the two.

Say you stake $110 at -110:

1. At this price, you risk $110 to profit $100.
2. If the team covers, your profit is $100.
3. Your total return is $110 + $100 = $210.
4. If it pushes, you get your $110 stake back.
5. If it loses against the spread, you lose the $110 stake.

Spread prices aren't always -110, and opposite sides needn't carry identical prices. Don't assume a +3.5 underdog has positive payout odds just because its handicap has a plus sign.

Is spread betting different from moneyline betting?

Yes. A moneyline generally asks which team wins, while a spread asks whether the scoring margin beats a specified handicap. Tie treatment depends on the market.

A favorite can win outright and fail to cover. An underdog can lose outright and still cover. The two bets ask different questions.

Also check the period covered by your ticket. A full-game spread and a first-half spread cover different portions of the game. Check the sport and market rules to see whether overtime counts rather than assuming every spread works alike.

Why does the spread move before a game?

A posted spread can change as information arrives and betting activity affects the market. The price can move too, even while the handicap stays the same.

Use the line on your accepted ticket when working out the result, not a later number. Say you take +3.5 and the line later becomes +3. If your team loses by three, your +3.5 ticket wins; a standard straight bet accepted at +3 pushes.

Compare the handicap and price together. Getting an extra half-point can change the result of your bet, but paying more for it can reduce your potential profit for the same stake. A more favorable spread isn't automatically the better-value bet at any price.

Common mistakes to avoid before placing a spread bet

Picking the winner instead of the margin. Write down what must happen for your exact ticket to win. For -7, “win the game” isn't enough.

Ignoring the price. The same spread at different odds offers different potential profit for the same stake. Check both numbers on the confirmation screen.

Treating recent ATS results as a prediction. A team's past covers don't establish that today's handicap is favorable. You're assessing a new opponent, line, and price.

Following picks without checking the listed line. Compare the lines in our NFL picks or today's picks with the number available to you. A selection at +3.5 isn't interchangeable with +3.

Judge betting advice by documented results, not confident wording. When reviewing our track record, look for the odds and lines behind the results. Keep your stake within a preset budget rather than increasing it to recover losses.

Only bet what you can afford to lose.

Frequently asked questions

Does -7 mean a team has to win by seven?

No. At -7, winning by exactly seven produces a push on a standard straight spread bet, with your stake returned. In football or basketball, the team must win by at least eight points to cover.

Can a team lose and still cover the spread?

Yes, an underdog can lose by less than its positive handicap and still cover. For example, a team at +3.5 covers if it loses by three points, but not if it loses by four.

What happens if the score lands exactly on the spread?

A standard straight spread bet pushes when the adjusted scores are equal, so your stake is returned. Check the applicable rules for how pushes are treated in parlays and other multi-leg wagers.

Does overtime count in point spread betting?

Check the sport and the specific market's settlement rules. Before placing the bet, confirm whether your ticket includes overtime or covers regulation, a half, or another defined period.