Everyone loves an old-fashioned Super Bowl spread!
The spread will forever remain a favorite in online sports betting among expert and novice bettors. That’s why we’ve provided this walkthrough to Super Bowl Point Spreads at FanDuel.
What is a Point Spread?
The point spread refers to the oddsmakers’ and betting vendors’ guesses of numerical differences between competitors. In some sports, it’s known as the handicap.
How Does the Point Spread Work?
The point spread is the projected margin of winning by the favorite team. Therefore, if a wager is placed on a favorite team to cover the spread, the team must not only win but win by more than the margin point spread to win the bet. So, if the team wins but not more than the point spread, the bet is lost.
Let’s consider the playoff matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and LA Rams with a spread of +3.5 and -3.5, respectively. To win this bet, either of these has to happen:
- The 49ers have to win straight or not lose with more than 3.5 points (4 points or more).
- The LA Rams have to win with 4 points or more.
In this contest, LA Rams are considered the favorite while the San Francisco 49ers are the underdogs.
So here’s the thrill: winning the game doesn’t mean the bet is won. Covering the spread is the major play in point spread wager.
Take a look at the Chiefs vs. Buccaneers matchup from the Super Bowl 2020, where the Chiefs won 27-24. Assuming the game had a spread of -3.5 to the Chiefs and +3.5 to the Buccaneers, the Chiefs are the favorite to win.
The Chiefs did win the game 27-24, but they would have had to win with more than 3.5 points to win the bet. Covering the bet meant that if 3.5 were subtracted from the Chiefs’ final point, they should still have more points than the Bucs. Likewise, if 3.5 was added to the Bucs point, the Bucs had to lead in points to win the bet.
What is the Vig or Juice in a Point Spread?
Juice or vig, written in full as vigorish, is the other number associated with the point spread when looking at a game market. Alongside the +7, you see something like a -110. This fee or rate enables the sportsbook to profit from your wager. A vig of -110 means you’re waging $11 for every $10 you want to win.
How to Handle a Point Spread Change
A point spread change can affect your betting experience if not understood. A bet had a +7.5, but after some days, you find it at +6.5? Here’s what happened:
As games draw closer, a lot of information drops in the pool of probability, and as we all know, information shapes knowledge. Information like the availability of star players, change of grounds, and injuries usually form speculations. These pieces of information put together over time sharpen the line towards a closing.
These speculations make sportsbooks more confident in numbers causing them to move the lines. Other times, sharp bettors placing large wagers on big odds could necessitate the move to monitor house risk.
At this point, you need to consider if you still want to back the team with a +6.5. You should consider a pause and rethink because a .5 margin can mean a whole lot to your bet.
Is a Point Spread Bet a Good Idea?
As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, a point spread bet is exciting for most bettors. It’s valid for different reasons:
- The vigorish — rate that allows sportsbooks to profit — from a spread is one of the lowest amongst other types of bets or markets. That means bettors get more for what they wager than other markets.
- The limits are usually higher than other markets. If you like to go big, here’s your best chance.
- The point spread gets you to watch uninteresting games for a compelling reason.
Final Words
Do your proper homework before placing a point spread bet, as you can encounter some frustrating situations. One situation that could happen but rarely does is a canceled game. A game can be canceled for numerous reasons like game time rescheduled, illegal offshore sportsbook, and so on. Therefore ensure you use one of the best betting providers like FanDuel.
