In baseball, the spread is called the run line, and in hockey, it is called the puck line. It’s most often used in NFL and college football betting, as well as NBA and NCAA basketball. The point spread is quickly becoming part of the mainstream sports conversation, used in sports betting as the great equalizer when it comes to comparing teams. Because not all teams are equal in skill, oddsmakers use spread betting to level the playing field. What is a point spread?Ī point spread, or simply “the spread”, is a sports betting number made by oddsmakers at sportsbooks that serves as a handicap between two opponents. For sports bettors, that's where the point spread comes in. Not all teams and competitions are evenly matched.
