How Does Spread Work in Sports Betting

The commercialization of some of the most popular sports around the world has opened up avenues for sports betting.

Sports betting has been a lucrative aspect of sports and has several strategies and terms that should be known by you before you enter the arena.

One such term, which helps in choosing a range of victories for the team that you bet on, and maximizing your profits in the wager is “spread”. So what exactly is Spread betting and how does it work?

On this page, we will guide you through whatever you need to know about how spread betting works.

What is Spread?

Spread is a positive and negative value denoted to a particular team after taking into consideration their chances of winning, and the range of points/goals/runs they will score.

Generally, in a game between two teams, one team is termed as the favourite and contains a negative spread, and the other team is termed as the underdog and has a positive spread. 

Let’s take an example from Football to understand the same.

For instance, in a match between Barcelona FC and Real Madrid FC, the spread for the teams is -1.5 and +1.5 respectively, meaning that Barcelona FC has a better chance of winning.

The values indicate the points by which the teams must win for you to win as well. Let’s say that the final scoreline of the match stands at 2-1 in favour of Barcelona FC.

Here, even though Barcelona FC won the game, the margin of victory was 1, which is lesser than 1.5 (the spread value), so you, who placed their spread in favour of Barcelona FC at -1.5 will not win the bet.

However, if the difference in the victory was 2 or more, then you would win the wager. Similarly, a spread applies to other popular sports like Baseball, Cricket, etc. 

Do Spreads Change During the Game?

Yes, spreads can change during the game. The line for a game can fluctuate either way up to the start of play after bookmakers reveal the spread for that game or match. 

In games, spreads can alter for a variety of reasons. When lopsided activity occurs on one side of a game or match, it is the primary cause of a spread change.

A balanced betting environment, with equal quantities of bets and handles on both sides of a game, is something that online betting sites frequently aim for. This enables them to benefit regardless of the result.

Oddsmakers frequently modify the spread to favour the side with less action when one side in a against-the-spread wager receives excessive activity. 

In cricket, for instance, the dynamics of the game can drastically change if there is a weather-related interruption and the use of the DLS method is done. This can change the spread of the game.

How Does Spread Betting Work?

The predicted result of the game determines the point spread that is given. Home-field advantage influences the point spread significantly. Depending on the team using it, home-field advantage might have varying effects. 

For example, some teams may not be as supportive of an audience or environment as others. Other variables include the player's general skill level, form right now, and injury history. 

Finding value on point spreads requires being up to date with the league's most recent developments. In cricket, for example, India and Australia are two very strong teams in their home conditions and that is why would have the points spread in their favour most of the time.

It's also important to remember that some teams just struggle to cover the spread when they are playing with a lead. For instance, a team with a strong record may not be as strong as the opposition if they have won a lot of tight games.

How to Maximize Your Wins in Spread Betting?

As mentioned, spread betting is a form of betting where you have to be involved in the entirety of the game and ensure that you place the right amount of bets at the most profitable spreads. 

Many a time, the matches give an insight at the halfway, and that is considered to be the best time to place your spread bets. 

At the same time, other research, like depth in the line-up, previous performances of the team, and the form of the players should also be taken into account while wagering.

Hence, spread is one of the more popular forms of sports betting and has emerged as an interesting development to the generic betting of winners and losers. 

The element of importance of the margin of victory or defeat makes the bettors sit on the edge of their seats as the accuracy of their predictions becomes as important as their prediction of the winner.