Point Spreads Explained
Bet on the margin of victory. The favorite must win by more than the spread; the underdog can lose by less (or win outright).
A point spread is a margin of victory set by the sportsbook. It’s the most popular way to bet on the NFL, NBA, and college sports — including the Chiefs and the Missouri Tigers.
How point spreads work
When the Chiefs are favored over the Broncos by 6.5 points, you’ll see:
- Chiefs −6.5 (−110)
- Broncos +6.5 (−110)
If you bet the Chiefs at −6.5, they must win by 7 or more points for your bet to cash. If you bet the Broncos at +6.5, they can lose by 6 points or fewer — or win outright — and you win.
The −110 is the price (or “vig” / “juice”). It means you risk $110 to win $100. That’s the sportsbook’s built-in edge.
Why the half-point matters
A spread of −6.5 (rather than −6) eliminates the possibility of a push — a tie where you get your money back. With −6, a 6-point Chiefs win pushes; with −6.5, the same outcome is a clear loss for spread bettors. Half-points are bookmaker tools to remove ambiguity.
Reading and shopping spreads
- A moving line (e.g., Chiefs went from −6.5 to −7 during the week) reflects where the betting public is putting money. Sharp bettors often bet against late movement.
- Buying the half-point: some sportsbooks let you pay extra juice to get a more favorable spread. It’s rarely worth it unless the half-point sits on a key number (3 in NFL, 7 in NFL, 1 in baseball runline).
- Line shopping matters more on spreads than moneylines. A point or half-point difference can swing a season’s worth of bets.
Spread sport coverage in Missouri
| Sport | Standard spread |
|---|---|
| NFL | 1–14 points typical, sometimes higher |
| NBA | 1–12 points typical |
| College football | Can run 30+ for mismatches |
| College basketball | Similar to NBA, occasional 20+ |
| MLB | ”Runline” — almost always ±1.5 |
| NHL | ”Puck line” — almost always ±1.5 |
Three quick tips
- Buy on key numbers cautiously. In the NFL, 3 and 7 are the most common margins of victory. Crossing those numbers (e.g., from +3 to +3.5) is worth more than crossing arbitrary numbers like +5 to +5.5.
- Be wary of large favorites. −14 or worse means a team has to dominate. Backdoor covers happen often when underdogs score late.
- Live spreads update fast. If a favorite falls behind early, the spread shrinks rapidly — sometimes giving sharper bettors strong opening spots.