Definition: Used to even the odds of a particular sporting event. Each team has points either added to its final score or subtracted from its final score, to determine if the bet is a winner.

 

Also Known As: Point Spread

 

Example: The sportsbook set the point spread at 7 for the Patriots vs. Eagles in the Super Bowl. The Patriots are favored so they will be listed with a -7. The Eagles will be listed with a +7. In this case, if Leo bets on the Patriots in the Super Bowl, he does not win the bet since after deducting the 7 points from the Patriot's score, the final score would appear as though the Eagles actually won. If the Patriots had won by more than seven points, then Leo would have won his bet.