Keep in mind that as the bet size increases so does the potential profit. However if the Celtics were +3 on the spread at +120 odds then it would mean betters who risk $10 would win $22. For instance, if we use the example of the Lakers being 3 point favorites (-3) at -115 odds then it means you’ll have to bet $10 to win $18.70 on this bet. Whenever there’s a minus (-) in front of the odds it means you'll have to bet more than the initial state in order to win that amount.

To keep the confusion at a minimum we’ll focus solely on American odds. Decimal odds are used in large parts of the world such as Europe and Australia while fraction odds are typically used in the UK and Ireland. There’s also American, decimal and fraction odds. Computer algorithms, advanced mathematics and power rankings are just a few different components that determine who’s going to be the favorite (-) and who’s going to be listed as the underdog (+). Odds are typically formulated by a variety of different factors. Understanding betting odds are an essential part of understanding sports gambling of any kind. A proficient gambler will consider injuries, travel situations, revenge narratives and other factors on both sides before placing a point spread bet on either side.

Point spread betting is best suited for skilled bettors who have profound knowledge of the two teams in the contest. Long term profits are secured by betting the books on standard lines near -110. This gives equal un-juiced lines to the favorite and the underdog in this spot. Most sportsbooks will have each side set odds close to -110 on both sides. One of the reasons point spread wagering is also the most enticing way of betting NBA is because of the odds. The margin, also referred to as the ‘spread’, is the number of points either team has to cover in order to win.Īs mentioned earlier, point spread betting in the NBA is the most popular wager type of NBA bettors. Essentially, you’re predicting the team that’s the favorite will win by the margin set by the bookmakers or the team that’s the underdog to not lose by that same margin.

Betting what does plus and minus mean