What is a +7 and -7 Spread in Betting?

Spread Betting Explained

Unlike simply predicting the outcome of a game with a moneyline bet, spread betting focuses on the point difference between two teams, thus allowing you to bet on whether the actual result will be above or below the predicted line. Let’s take a closer look at how spread betting works with an example from a football game.

In the upcoming NFL game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, DraftKings has set the spread at -7 for the Jaguars.

This means that JAX Jaguars are the favorite, as indicated by the negative spread, and they are expected to win by at least 7 points. On the other hand, the Houston Texans have a spread of +7, indicating they are the underdogs, as shown by the positive spread, and they can lose by up to 7 points or win the game completely.

Now, as a bettor, you have two options: you can either place bets on the JAX Jaguars to cover the spread or on the Houston Texans to beat the spread.

If you choose to place wagers on JAX Jaguars, they must win by more than 7 points for your bet to be successful. Conversely, if you decide to bet on the Houston Texans, they can either win the entire game or lose by less than 7 points for your bet to win.

Super Bowl Point Spread Betting Example

Point spread betting is a popular option among Super Bowl sports bettors, and this FanDuel bet on the Super Bowl LVII match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles perfectly captures this.

In addition to tipping the Eagles to score over 26 points, this bettor placed wagers on the Eagles to win with a point spread of -1.5, which means they had to win the match by a margin of 2 or more points.

Although the Eagles did manage to score 26+ points – with a total of 35 points scored in that game – they lost the match with a 3-point margin, thus resulting in the spread bet and the parlay being lost.

What Does the + and – Mean in Sports Betting Spread?

Newbies to the sports betting world may initially find it difficult to understand the concept of the plus (+) and minus (-) signs associated with spread bets. However, once you grasp the meaning of these signs, it becomes much easier to navigate the world of sports betting.

Simply put, the plus sign (+) is associated with the underdog in a betting matchup. For instance, if you see a team labeled as +7 on a sportsbook, it means they are getting a head start of 7 points before the game even begins.

Betting on the underdog with the plus sign means that they can either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the selected spread for your bet to be successful.

On the other hand, the minus sign (-) is associated with the favorite team. If you see a team listed as -7, it means they are expected to win by at least 7 points.

Betting on the favorite with the minus sign requires that the team wins by more than the indicated spread for your bet to be a winner. In other words, they need to win convincingly to cover the spread.

Do Points Spread Odds Change?

Initially, sportsbooks set -7 and +7 spread betting lines based on various factors such as team performance, injuries, and public perception. However, as more users place bets on a particular side of the spread, sportsbooks may either increase or decrease the betting odds for balance and to minimize potential losses. This adjustment is commonly known as line movement.

Line movement can occur due to factors such as bettors placing significant wagers, public betting trends, or the emergence of new information that can affect the outcome of the game. And to stay ahead in the dynamic world of point spread betting, it is crucial to stay updated on the latest odds and line movements and find value in the market.

Platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings provide convenient access to updated betting odds for money lines, prop bets and point spreads, with a user-friendly experience making it easier for bettors to navigate and capitalize on favorable betting opportunities.

Positive Spread Explained

When a team has a positive spread, it signifies that they are the underdogs in the matchup. The plus sign indicates the number of points that the team is given as a head start before the game even begins.

Wagering on a team with a positive spread means you believe they can either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the spread indicates, and we’ll take a look at an example of a positive spread option below:

What does +7 Spread Mean?

In sports betting, the +7 spread refers to a point spread where the underdog team is given a 7-point advantage before the game begins.

Let’s illustrate this concept using the lines from the NBA Finals match between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.

For bettors who believe that the Heats will keep the game close or even win outright, the DraftKings sportsbook provides a +7 alternate spread option that is priced at -225 odds for the Heats.

With the +7 spread, the Heats are given a 7-point head start. So, if you bet on the Heats with the +7 spread, they either have to win the game outrightly or lose by 6 points or fewer for your bet to be successful.

What Does Negative Spread Mean?

Contrary to the positive spread, when a team is assigned a negative spread, it indicates that they are the favorites in the matchup, with the number behind the negative sign representing the minimum amount of points that the team is expected to win by.

Consequently, putting money on a team with a negative spread means you believe that not only will they win a game, but they will do so by a margin greater than what the specific spread indicates.

What does Negative 7 Spread Mean?

In sports betting, the -7 spread refers to a betting line where the favored team is expected to win by over 7 points. And we’ll illustrate this using the NBA betting example provided earlier.

For bettors who believe that the Denver Nuggets will outperform expectations and win by more than 7 points, there is an alternative option: the -7 spread, which is priced at +165 odds.

With the -7 spread, the Nuggets are required to win the game by more than 7 points for a bet on them to be successful. In other words, if you lock in a bet on the Nuggets with the -7 spread for this match, they must win by 8 points or more for your bet to win.

-2.5 Spread Example

Similar to the -7 spread option, the -2.5 spread is a specific type of betting market that assigns team winning margins of over 3 points to the favorites in a matchup. However, unlike the -7 spread, the -2.5 spread is commonly seen in sports such as soccer or hockey, where the scores are generally lower.

In the MLS match between Toronto FC and Nashville SC, Toronto is assigned a regular time spread of -2.5 that is priced at +1100 betting odds. And a wager on this option would be successful, only if Toronto FC won the match with a margin of 3 or more goals.

Why Do Sportsbooks Use Half Points in Spread Bets?

If you’ve followed us up to this point, then you’re probably wondering why the -2.5 spread bet option that we just discussed includes a half point. Well, the reason for this is straightforward – half points in spread bets eliminate the possibility of a tie or push.

A tie occurs when the final score exactly matches the chosen point spread, which results in a refund of the bet on most sportsbooks.

For instance, if a wager is placed on a -7 spread for the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA game involving the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, and the Lakers end up winning the match by a margin of exactly 7 points, such a bet will be settled as a tie.

However, by introducing a half-point, sportsbooks ensure that there will always be a definitive outcome for spread bets, either resulting in an outright win or a loss.

So, if a -7.5 spread bet is placed on San Antonio Spurs in our previous example, only an 8-goal (or more) margin in favor of the Lakers would lead to such a wager being counted as a winning bet. If the Lakers win the match with less than an 8-point lead, the -7.5 spread bet would be settled as a loss.