The point spread, e.g. NFL point spread, also goes by the names of the spread and the line. It is used by books to handicap the favorite team. The person setting the initial odds (the opening line) predicts that a team will win by a certain number of points. The corresponding number of points is the point spread of the opening line.
The favorite team is denoted by a minus sign (e.g. -3.5). Conversely the underdog is denoted by a plus sign (e.g. +3.5).
In order to win when you bet on the favorite team, that team has to win and it has to do so by more points than the point spread. Should you decide to bet on the underdog, the way you win is if the underdog wins, ties or loses by less points than the point spread.
Even if you don’t bet, knowing how to read NFL odds and spreads is useful during and leading up to the season, especially when picking your players for fantasy football.
Fun Fact: When the Jets acquired Bret Favre, their super bowl odds went from 80/1 to 40/1!
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