If they happen to win the game, we win our wager, but for this contest, the Browns only need to lose by less than 5.5 points. The requirement of the underdog in point spread betting markets is not to win the game outright, but to cover the spread. If they win the game but by less than 5.5 points, our bet would be graded as a loss. The Steelers are favored by -5.5 points, so if we have a bet on Pittsburgh, they need to win the game by 5.5 or more points for us to win our wager. Winning or losing isn’t relevant when grading point spreads, the only thing that matters is the margin of victory. Instead of winning or losing, teams must either cover the spread. The point spread, while simple to understand, can seem daunting to people who have never bet on sports. The attached (-110) is the betting odds one must lay to bet each side.įor our example, these odds are both the standard -110, which is the default vig charged by sportsbooks on straight wagers. The Browns are a +5.5 underdog and the Steelers are a -5.5 favorite. In our above example, the visiting Cleveland Browns are facing the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. At US-facing sportsbooks, the home team is also always listed at the bottom of the market.

The favorite is designated with a minus (-) value and the underdog with a (+) value.

In NFL football games, there is a favorite and an underdog. The example is one we might see listed at sportsbooks when we view the NFL odds market. For further information, read our Privacy Policy By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from Safest Betting Sites.

Betting nfl games 20 point spreads