The point spread is one of the most popular forms of wagering on basketball games. It is a form of betting in which the difference between the expected outcome of a game and the actual outcome determines the amount of money that is won and lost. The point spread is used to make the betting more even and to give each team a better chance of winning. In this article, we will discuss the basics of point spread betting, the types of point spreads, and how the point spread works in basketball.
What is Point Spread Betting?
Point spread betting, also known as spread betting, is a form of sports betting that is based on the difference between the expected result of a game and the actual result. The point spread is the difference between one team’s expected score and the other team’s actual score. The point spread is used to even out the betting and to give each team a better chance of winning. This means that if one team is expected to win by a large margin, the point spread will be set so that the other team has a chance of winning.
Types of Point Spreads
There are two types of point spreads in basketball betting: the moneyline point spread and the total points spread. The moneyline point spread is the most common type of point spread betting. This type of spread works by setting a line that determines the amount of money that will be won or lost based on the difference between the expected result and the actual result. For example, if one team is favored to win by 10 points, the moneyline point spread might be set at -10. This means that if the favored team wins by 10 points or more, the bettor will win the moneyline bet.
The total points spread is a less common type of point spread. With this type of spread, the bettor bets on the total number of points that will be scored in the game. The total points spread will be set at a certain amount, and the bettor will win or lose depending on how close the total points scored matches the total points spread. For example, if the total points spread is set at 150 and the actual total points scored is 149, the bettor will lose the bet.
How Does the Point Spread Work in Basketball?
To understand how the point spread works in basketball, it is important to understand the basics of sports betting. When it comes to sports betting, the point spread is used to even out the odds and give each team a better chance of winning. The point spread is set by the sportsbook and is based on the expected result of the game. If one team is expected to win by a large margin, the point spread will be set so that the other team has a better chance of winning.
The point spread is also used to determine the amount of money that will be won or lost based on the difference between the expected result and the actual result. If the point spread is set at -10 and the favored team wins by 10 points or more, the bettor will win the moneyline bet. If the point spread is set at +10 and the underdog team wins by 10 points or more, the bettor will win the moneyline bet.
In addition to the point spread, sportsbooks may also use other factors to determine the amount of money that will be won or lost. These factors can include the total points scored in the game, the total number of turnovers, and the total number of fouls. The sportsbook will use these factors to determine the amount of money that will be won or lost based on the difference between the expected result and the actual result.
Conclusion
The point spread is one of the most popular forms of wagering on basketball games. It is a form of betting in which the difference between the expected outcome of a game and the actual outcome determines the amount of money that is won and lost. The point spread is used to make the betting more even and to give each team a better chance of winning. There are two types of point spreads in basketball betting: the moneyline point spread and the total points spread. Understanding how the point spread works in basketball is essential for successful betting.