Team Betting
NFL football odds and football betting lines updated multiple times daily. Includes updated point spreads, money lines, and totals lines.
Point spread betting is the most popular form of sports betting. The vast majority of sports wagers use a point spread thanks to the popularity of football and basketball. Even though this type of betting is so popular, it may take awhile to understand.
The point spread is sometimes known as an equalizer for sportsbook operators. All teams aren’t created equally, so sportsbooks can create a point spread for a game so that each team playing has an almost even chance of winning the game. In a way, the point spread will even the field for both teams.
The point spread gives a reason for bettors to risk money on both teams. The better team playing in the game is considered favorite. They have to win by the point spread offered by the sportsbook. The favorite in a game is listed as being minus (-) the point spread.
- 2020 Cincinnati Reds Odds Sportsbook Win NL Central Win NL Pennant World Series BetOnline +275 +1600 +3300 5Dimes +365 +1300 +2800 Bovada +265 +1300 +2500 Over/Under Season Win Total: 84.5.
- Offered on all major pro and college sports, a two-team combo is the most basic parlay. While the risk rises, with each added leg, bettors can include upwards of 15 teams on a single wager.
- 1 day ago The underdogs are 13-6 ATS over the last 18 years, and the higher-seeded team (Kansas City is the AFC’s No. 1 seed) is just 2-14-2 ATS recently, and the team with the better record is 1-10 in.
The worse of the teams playing in the game is called the underdog. The bettor wins if this team wins the game outright or loses by an amount smaller than the point spread. The underdog in a game is listed as being plus (+) the point spread.
Let’s use the upcoming Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an example.
Using this example, the Chiefs opened as 3-point favorites over the Buccaneers (currently Chiefs ). The Chiefs need to win by 4 or more points to cover the spread.
Likewise, the Buccaneers opened as 3-point underdogs. That means the Buccaneers would need to win the game outright or not lose the contest by 4 points or more. If the line is Chiefs -3 and they win by exactly 3 points, the betting result is a “push” and bettors for both sides would get their wagers refunded.
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ALSO READ: 5 Fun Super Bowl prop bets to consider
Point spread betting odds
Point spreads are usually set with -110 odds, but pricing often fluctuates at online sportsbooks. This is the sportsbook operators’ house edge. The odds guarantee the sportsbook operator will see a little money over time. When the odds are set at -110, the bettor must wager $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10).
The odds on a point spread are most commonly known as the vigorish or “vig” for the sportsbook. You might hear this small profit margin for the sportsbook called the “juice” by some sports bettors.
Point spread FAQs
What does ‘pick em’ or ‘pick’ mean in NFL betting?
A “pick em” (sometimes seen as “pick”) is when the teams have a point spread of zero, meaning neither team is favored. In this instance, you’re essentially picking moneyline and your bet will be determined on the winner alone.
What does -7 and +7 mean in NFL betting?
A spread of minus-seven (-7) means that a is favored to win the game by a touchdown (technically, a touchdown and the extra point). A team favored by -7 must win the game by eight or more points to win the bet. If the team wins by seven, the result is a “push” and the bet is refunded.
A spread of +7 means the team must win the game or lose by fewer than seven points to win the bet. A loss by seven would result in a push.
What does -3 and +3 mean in NFL betting?
A -3 spread means that the favorite must win by more than a field goal to win the wager. A three-point win would result in a push and the sportsbook would refund the wager.
A spread of +3 means the team listed as the underdog must win the game or lose by fewer than three points to cash the bet. A three-point loss would be graded as a push by the sportsbook and the bet would be refunded.
Why are point spreads in the NFL so much lower than in college?
In 2019, the Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in point differential per game at +13.7 points; the Miami Dolphins ranked last in the NFL in point differential per game at -11.7. Even Kansas City– known for their explosive offense– had an average point differential in 2019 of just 9.7 points. The net point differential in the NFL is -14.1, or -0.9 points per game. Basically, the talent differential in the NFL is so minute that even mismatched teams often draw games within a score of each other.
NFL spreads are most commonly between one point and four, with six being a heavy favorite and extremes coming out around 15-20 point favors. (For those wondering, the 1941 Chicago Bears hold the NFL record of point differential at +15.7 points per game. Conversely, Ohio State had a +33.1 average point differential in 2019.)
Point spread and odds movement
Sportsbook operators often aim to have equal money on both sides of a point spread. When the money is exactly split the sportsbook operator will see the exact vigorish as their profit margin. If all things are equal over time this will maximize how much money the sportsbook operator can make.
In an effort to have equal money on both sides of a wager, the sportsbook operator will move the point spread to attract money on the side that customers aren’t betting on. The odds for a point spread might change before the actual point spread. There are certain point spread numbers, like 3 and 7 in football, the sportsbook operators would like to avoid moving away from since the final score margin falls on these two numbers most often.
For example, if a lot more money is wagered on the New England Patriots -3, the vig may shift from -112 to -115 and -120 before the line moves to -3.5.
Run and puck lines
Football and basketball games are mostly bet using a point spread. The less popular major sports, baseball and hockey, are mostly bet using a moneyline. In an effort to make baseball and hockey more appealing to point spread bettors, the sportsbook operators offer run and puck lines, respectively.
These alternative lines give point spread bettors a chance to wager on other sports using a more familiar method of betting. Since points (runs and goals) aren’t as easy to come by in baseball and hockey, the odds with the lines may have a wider spread than a football or basketball game.
Sports betting proposals have been shot down in Arizona for various reasons over the past few years, but 2021 could be different.
That’s because of two important factors.
First, Gov. Doug Ducey stated he wants legal AZ sports betting in his State of the State address. Second, Ducey told legislators he renegotiated compacts with Arizona’s gaming tribes, which were set to expire in 2022. That allows for another expansion of gaming in the addition of keno, and could indicate broader appetite for compromise.
Team Betting Index
A joint proposal in HB 2772 and SB 1797would legalize sports betting as well as daily fantasy sports and keno.
Both have been read twice and will get committee hearings next week. Sports betting wouldn’t be allowed until those renegotiated compacts are signed and approved at the federal level.
Proposed Arizona sports betting details
The proposed legislation – called event wagering in the actual bills – states sports betting can be operated by gaming tribes on their land and by professional sports teams, NASCAR and the PGA Tour off-reservation.
There would be 20 total licenses, half for the pro sports operators and half for tribal operators. That could get some pushback considering there are 16 tribes that operate 24 casinos throughout the state.
There are also fewer than 10 professional sports operators that would qualify as an event wagering operator:
- MLB’s Diamondbacks
- NBA’s Suns and WNBA’s Mercury (both owned by Robert Sarver)
- NFL’s Cardinals
- NHL’s Coyotes
- Phoenix Raceway
- TPC Scottsdale
Kiosks in play as well
The stadiums, arenas, and courses associated with the above teams and leagues could also offer betting kiosks. They could also partner with one horse racing track to offer betting there as well. Their apps would be geofenced so they couldn’t operate on tribal land, however.
The bills suggest each licensee could have more than one online sports betting skin with no maximum listed. The event wagering operators could be licensed for five years while sportsbook operators would get two-year licenses.
No fees or tax rates were defined in the bills.
What kind of betting would be allowed?
The proposal specifically legalizes betting on both esports and Olympic contests. Those can sometimes be overlooked or not explicitly be allowed, causing confusion for regulators.
Betting on the outcome of college sports is allowed under the proposal, but prop betting on collegiate events is prohibited. Bettors would be allowed to wager on in-state schools.
The Arizona Department of Gaming gets the power to authorize what kind of props and parlays can be offered on pro sports.
Professional sports leagues could make out pretty well in the bill. They can request real-time betting data from operators and can also enter into agreements with licenses for n integrity fee.
Official league data would also be required if a league requested.
Other states could benefit from AZ sports betting
Team Betting App
Arizona has five border states, three of which – Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico – all have some form of legal sports betting. It’s hopeful bettors in those other two border states of California and Utah could benefit.
Sports betting in California is a tricky issue that involves tribal gaming operators wanting sports betting for themselves. And you might have a better chance of meeting a unicorn than passing sports betting in Utah.
Csgo Team Betting
The fact that there’s no in-person registration mentioned in the legislation means bettors in either state would only need to cross into Arizona to legally place a bet.