A point spread is a scoring handicap based on the sportsbook’s projected margin of victory. Suppose Kansas City is -7.5 (-110) against Las Vegas at +7.5 (-110). The minus sign identifies the favorite, while the plus sign identifies the underdog.

For grading purposes, 7.5 points are subtracted from Kansas City’s score or added to Las Vegas’s score:

This is the key distinction behind how favorites cover the spread: winning the game is not enough when the favorite must clear a specified margin. Likewise, an underdog can lose and still cover by keeping the final margin inside the spread. A deeper explanation of what +7.5 means on a betting line shows how those added points affect settlement.

The spread and odds serve different roles. The 7.5-point number sets the handicap; -110 sets the wager’s price. At -110, a $110 winning bet returns $210 total: the original $110 stake plus $100 in profit.

Suppose Team A is a -3 favorite over Team B, which is +3. The sportsbook effectively subtracts three points from Team A’s final score—or adds three to Team B’s—when grading the wager.

A favorite must win by more than the spread to cover. The underdog covers by winning outright or losing by fewer than three points. If the favorite wins by exactly three, neither side wins the bet.

That exact-margin result is graded as a push. On a straight wager, the sportsbook returns the original stake and pays no profit; bettors should still check house rules for unusual markets or promotions.

Half points and pick’em lines

A spread of -3.5 eliminates the possibility of a tie because a game cannot end with a half-point margin. The favorite must win by four or more, while the +3.5 underdog can lose by three and still cover. This is why sportsbooks use half-point spreads so often.

At pick’em, shown as PK or PICK, no points are added or subtracted. The selected team simply must win the game, although the odds may still include vig. A pick’em wager works much like a moneyline, so the listed price should be compared before betting.

A line such as Chiefs -3 (-110) contains two separate numbers. -3 is the handicap used to grade the bet, while -110 is the price charged on the wager. The reason spreads commonly carry -110 odds is tied to the sportsbook’s built-in margin.

At -110, common stake calculations look like this:

• Risk $110 to win $100: $100 profit; $210 total return.
• Risk $100 at -110: $90.91 profit; $190.91 total return.

The second example is often misunderstood because “return” includes the original stake. A closer look at the payout on a $100 spread wager helps separate net profit from the amount credited after a win.

The vig, also called juice, is the sportsbook’s margin embedded in the odds. Reduced juice—such as -105 instead of -110—can lower long-term betting costs, but price should not be compared alone. When considering whether reduced-juice spreads justify another sportsbook, bettors should also compare the actual point spread, limits, house rules, market availability, and withdrawal reliability.

The usual baseline is a full-game pregame spread. It is posted before play begins and is graded using the final score, generally including overtime unless the sportsbook’s rules say otherwise.

• Alternate spreads let bettors choose a different handicap. A safer line carries shorter odds, while a more demanding line offers a larger potential payout. Assessing whether an alternate spread justifies its price means comparing both the points and the juice.
• Live spreads move during the game as the score, time remaining, possession and player availability change. Sportsbooks may offer a full-game line or a rest-of-game market, so confirm whether the current score is included.
• First-half spreads count only scoring before halftime. Overtime and second-half points do not apply; sportsbook rules explain how first-half wagers are graded when the period ends.

Before placing any variation, check the market name, grading period, posted odds and settlement rules.

Point spreads, moneylines, and totals grade different outcomes:

• Point spread: Does a team cover the betting line after the handicap is applied?
• Moneyline: Which team wins the game outright?
• Total: Does the combined score finish over or under the sportsbook’s number?

A team’s ATS record tracks how often it covered, not how often it won. The meaning of ATS in betting records becomes clear when a +4 underdog loses 24-21: it records a straight-up loss but an ATS win.

That distinction makes straight-up and ATS records useful for different purposes. Straight-up performance shows wins and losses; ATS performance shows results relative to sportsbook expectations. Neither record predicts the next result by itself.

A spread is also a betting market, while a parlay is a wager format that combines multiple selections, potentially including spreads, moneylines, totals, or props. Props focus on specific events—such as a player’s passing yards or the first team to score—rather than simply which side covers.