BETTING AGAINST THE SPREAD

Returning to our example, let’s look at the middle option on the betting menu.

On the middle line, you see two + and - numbers. The number right next to the team name is what is called “the spread.” The numbers next to that in parentheses is the rate being offered.

MONEYLINE: 49ERS (+120) | EAGLES (-143) SPREAD: 49ERS +2.5 (-110) | EAGLES -2.5 (-110) TOTAL: 46.5 OVER (-110) | UNDER (-110)

According to this menu, I can also take the 49ers against the spread (ATS) at +2.5 for the rate of -110.

So, what exactly what does “the spread” mean? Quite simply, the spread is a handicap that puts the two teams on an even playing field. In this case, you can add 2.5 points to the 49ers’ final score to determine who wins.

For example: If the final score of the game is Eagles 30, 49ers 28, as far as the sportsbook is concerned, San Francisco actually scored 30.5 (28+2.5) to Philadelphia’s 30, and San Francisco wins this game ATS.

Got it? Easy, right?

So, in that final score example, if you had bet $110 on the 49ers ATS, you would have made a $100 profit for a $210 total payout.

However, if you had bet the 49ers on the ML, you could not add the 2.5 handicap, and you would have lost your entire $100 investment.

Now you can see why ML bets are offered at far different rates than ATS spread bets (and O/U bets — see right). If an underdog wins on the ML, the payout is more significant because the outcome was considered less likely. When you bet ATS, there is no real underdog, as the teams are both handicapped to be even. The house profits by pocketing “the vig” and hopes to take an even amount of money on both sides of this bet.

So what does “the vig” mean? That’s the term for the 10 percent “fee” that the sportsbooks charge. It’s also sometimes called “the juice.” Essentially, this is the commission the sportsbook charges to ensure their business makes some money. If bettors on either side of a bet each have to wager $110, then the sportsbook takes in $220 per pair but only has to pay out the winning side at $210. This ensures them a $10 profit per pair of opposing bets.