Point Spreads: How They Work
A point spread is a handicap that equalizes uneven matchups so a bet is approximately 50/50. The favorite is "laid" points, the underdog "gets" them. Point spreads are the most popular bet type in NFL, NBA, and college football/basketball — and the dominant market in Kansas during football season.
Reading a Point Spread
If the Chiefs are -7.5 vs the Broncos, Kansas City must win by 8 or more for a Chiefs spread bet to cash. Denver must lose by 7 or fewer (or win outright) for a Broncos +7.5 bet to cash. The .5 ("hook") prevents pushes.
Spread Pricing
Spreads are typically priced at -110 / -110 — risk $110 to win $100 on either side. Sometimes books shade the price (e.g., -115 / -105) to balance action. Track-line moves: if the Chiefs open at -7 -110 and move to -7.5 -115, sharp money has hit the favorite.
Half-Point Buying
Some Kansas operators (DraftKings, FanDuel) let you buy half-points to move the spread. Buying off a key NFL number like 3 or 7 can be valuable; buying off non-key numbers is usually -EV.
Covering the Spread
"Covering" means winning the spread bet. The Chiefs winning 27-20 covers a -7 spread (margin 7 = push at -7, win at -6.5). Always check whether your spread number is .5 above or below the actual margin.
Related guides
Point Spreads: How They Work FAQ
What does "covering the spread" mean?
Covering the spread means the favorite wins by more than the spread number, or the underdog loses by less (or wins outright). Example: Chiefs -7.5 covers if KC wins by 8+.
What happens if a team wins by exactly the spread?
That is called a "push." Bets are refunded. Pushes only occur on whole-number spreads (e.g., -7) — half-point spreads (-7.5) cannot push.
Why is the standard spread juice -110?
The -110 / -110 pricing builds in a 4.55% house edge per side (the "vig"). Sportsbooks need this margin to profit even when action splits 50/50.