Best Betting Sites » Betting School » Understanding Picks Against The Spread 2025

Understanding Picks Against The Spread 2025: How They Work

Last Updated on 10.02.2025

In sports betting, particularly with the NFL, NHL, and NBA, the “points spread” is used to even up a contest by giving points to the underdog and deducting them from the favourite.

How do picks against the spread work, you ask? It’s actually pretty simple. When you pick a team, rather than them winning outright, they need to win “against the spread” (ATS) for your wager to pay out. For example, if you wagered on the Rams at -3.5, they would need to win by a margin of four points or greater.

BetMGM
4.6/5
BetMGM Review
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now
DraftKings
4.6/5
DraftKings Review
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now
FanDuel
4.5/5
FanDuel Review
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet now

What are picks against the spread? The basics

In sports betting, the points spread advantages to the underdog (the team deemed to have the least chance of winning) while handicapping the favourite (the team deemed to have the best chance of winning). This evens up the contest, and thus the odds, of a contest that would otherwise be heavily unbalanced in favour of one team.

In our latest betting guide, we’ll explain exactly how the spread works, when to bet it and why it is popular. Additionally, we’ll also take a look at the sports for which it is most commonly used.

Picks against the spread explained - Pros and cons

Before we go into more detail, here is a look at the main pros and cons of betting against the spread:

Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
  • Evens up an unbalanced contest
  • Offers more value than an outweighed moneyline
  • Get better odds on the favourite
  • Get better implied probability for the underdog
  • Available on most team sports
  • Your team can win but the bet can still lose

How do picks against the spread work? An example

As we briefly explained at the top of this article, to win at spread betting, you need to beat the points margin, rather than just picking the best team to win. To show you how it works, let’s use this hypothetical points spread for an NFL games:

TeamsSpreadOdds
Detroit Lions:+3.5-110
Los Angeles Rams:-3.5-110

If you were to wager on the Rams against the spread at -3.5, they would need to win by a margin of 4 points or more for your bet to pay out. On the other hand, an underdog bet on the Lions could still pay out if they lost, so long as they stayed within 3 points of the Rams’ score.

Here are a couple of visual examples:

TeamsScoresSpread betting outcome
Lions:23Rams win but fail to beat the spread.
Rams:24A bet on the Lions +3.5 would pay out.

Rams win by five points

TeamsScoresSpread betting outcome
Lions:25Rams win and beat the spread
Rams:30A bet on the Rams -3.5 would pay out.

Lions win by any margin

TeamsScoresSpread betting outcome
Lions:25Lions win and beat the spread.
Rams:22A bet on the Lions -3.5 would pay out.

The half point in picks against the spread explained

You have probably noticed that the examples above have a half point (0.5), but scoring a half point in the NFL, and most leagues is impossible. So why is it used?

Avoiding the “push”

The use of a half point in the spread eliminates the possibility of a “push” outcome, as one side is guaranteed to win. If the spread above were 3.0 instead of 3.5 and the Rams were to win by three points (like the third example), this would be a “push”.

Neither team would beat the spread, meaning that the bookmaker would have to refund all bets with no winners. Though not always the case, most bookies prefer to avoid a “push” result where possible.

Premium Sports Betting Sites We Recommend

BetMGM
1.
4.6/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
PayNearMe
Skrill
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs apply, 21+
DraftKings
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs apply, 21+
FanDuel
3.
4.5/5
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs apply, 21+
Caesars
4.
4.5/5
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
E-Check
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
5.
4.5/5
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+

When should you bet against the spread?

Now that you know what picks against the spread are, let’s take a look at when you should bet ATS. The short answer is that you can bet against the spread anytime, however, there are a couple of instances where it can be particularly advantageous:

If the match is uneven, the moneyline odds on the favourite will be so short that it’s hardly worth your while. Meanwhile, the underdog will be at odds so long you might as well play the lottery  (see our moneyline betting explained guide for more info here).

The spread evens up the contest and the odds, to provide more value in both bets:

  1. If you really fancy the favourite and the spread is reasonable, but on them to win ATS.7
  2. If you think the underdog will still lose, or has a chance of sneaking the win, bet on them to at least bet the spread.

What sports is the spread offered on?

The points spread is available in some shape or form on most team sports. However, it is most popular in North American sports, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL (it’s known as the “Puck Line”)
  • MLB (it’s known as the “Run Line”)

Points spread vs handicap betting

In football (or “soccer” depending on your disposition), handicap betting is more popular. It is similar to the spread, but with more flexibility, and with various points margins available. In the US and Canada, some sportsbooks refer to this as the “flexible spread” or “pick your own spread”.

The odds for picks against the spread explained

The purpose of the points spread is to even up an uneven sports match, and as such, it evens up the odds. When a spread line opens, the implied probability is 50% for each team to win against the spread.

This would give you real odds of -/+100. However, sportsbooks will usually open at -110 (as in the examples above). This is the real odds with a -10 margin added by the sportsbook to protect their profits, which is known as the “vig”.

Can the spread odds move? 

Although the odds for the spread always open at -110, they can drift or shorten. This happens based on a number of factors, such as team form, weather conditions, injuries, and the money that the bookies are taking on each outcome.

Spread betting - Conclusion

In conclusion, spread betting gives points to the underdog and takes them from the favourite to give balance to an unweighted match. By betting against the spread, you are wagering on the favourite to win by the proposed margin or greater, or for the underdog to at least stay within the points spread. The ideal time to bet the spread is when the moneyline offers poor value.

Explore Our favorite sports betting bonuses for 2025

BetMGM
1.
4.6/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to BetMGM
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
DraftKings
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: 5
Go to DraftKings
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
FanDuel
3.
4.5/5
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to FanDuel
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
Caesars
4.
4.5/5
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit
Copy
Get bonus now
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
5.
4.5/5
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to Bet365
Get bonus now
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+

Picks against the spread explained FAQ

🤔 How do picks against the spread work?

Picks against the spread work by betting on a team to beat a stated points handicap or advantage, known as the spread. For example, if you were to bet on the Nets -7.5, they would need to win by a margin of eight or more for you bet to win against the spread (ATS).

🤔 How do picks against the spread work?

To pick against the spread, you are effectively beating on a team to beat the “points spread”, rather than win the match outright. You can find the difference between points spreads and straight betting explained here at SportsGamber.com.

📊 What does +7.5 mean in spread betting?

+7.5 would mean that the underdog in a match has a 7.5-point head start on the opposition. For example, if you bet on the Knicks at +7.5, your bet could still payout if they lost but finished within 7 points of their opponent.

Read Also
Quarter Bet Guide 2025: Understanding How Quarter Bets Work
So how do quarter bets work? It’s actually pretty simple - instead ...
Parlay Betting Explained 2025: Understanding How Parlay Bets Work
Ready to dive into the world of sports betting? Then let’s talk ...
Stake.us Promo
Moneyline Betting Explained 2025: Understanding How Moneyline Bets Work
If you're new to the world of sports betting and find yourself ...
Comprehensive Guide to Spread Betting 2025
Ready to uncover the hidden world of spread betting? This spread betting ...
Understanding Fixed Odds in 2025: What Are Fixed Odds?
What are fixed odds? Ah, a question I hear all too often ...
Best Sportsbook Promo
BetMGM - Go to BetMGM Go to BetMGM
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site