Vincent: Created page with "'''Against the Spread''' is a betting term used to describe a wager placed on a point spread. It can also be used to refer to an individual team's record throughout the se..."

2019-12-16T19:28:26Z

Created page with "'''Against the Spread''' is a betting term used to describe a wager placed on a point spread. It can also be used to refer to an individual team's record throughout the se..."

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'''Against the Spread''' is a betting term used to describe a wager placed on a [[point spread]]. It can also be used to refer to an individual team's record throughout the season when factoring their respective [[spread]] for each game. The term ''against the spread'' is often abbreviated as [[ATS]].

== Betting against the spread ==

Placing a bet ''against the spread'' implies wagering on a team's point spread. [[Oddsmaker]]s set spreads in order to counter the perceived skill difference between competing teams. This provides bettors with balanced odds that will yield closer to an even return on their money. Betting against the spread is popular in American [[football]] and [[basketball]] but is normally available for all team sports.

=== Favorite ===

The team that is perceived to be better is known as the [[favorite]]. Oddsmakers assign this team a negative point spread. In order to win a bet against the spread the favorite needs to win by more points than the set number.

In the NFL match below the San Francisco 49ers are favored to win. Their point spread is set at -10 (with -110 [[American odds]]). In order to win a bet on the 49ers against the spread they would need to beat their opponent by 11 or more points. Winning by exactly 10 points would result in a [[push]], and the bet is refunded to the customer.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: auto;"
|- style="background-color:#eaecf0;"
|colspan="2"|'''Team'''
|'''Spread'''
|'''Total'''
|'''Moneyline'''
|-
|[[File:Falcons.png|25px]]
|Atlanta Falcons
| +10 (-110)
| Over 49.0 (-110)
| +380
|-
|[[File:Niners.png|25px]]
|San Francisco 49ers
|style="background-color:#f2d6ff"| -10 (-110)
| Under 49.0 (-110)
| -475
|}

=== Underdog ===

The team that is perceived to be worse is referred to as the [[underdog]]. Their point spread will be the same number as that of the favorite except positive. In order to win a bet against the spread the underdog needs to either win straight-up, or lose by a margin that is smaller than the set number.

Using the same example as before the Atlanta Falcons are underdogs with +10 (with -110 odds). To win a bet on the Falcons against the spread they need to win the game straight-up or lose by 1-9 points. Losing by exactly 10 points would result in a push and the bet refunded.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: auto;"
|- style="background-color:#eaecf0;"
|colspan="2"|'''Team'''
|'''Spread'''
|'''Total'''
|'''Moneyline'''
|-
|[[File:Falcons.png|25px]]
|Atlanta Falcons
|style="background-color:#f2d6ff"| +10 (-110)
| Over 49.0 (-110)
| +380
|-
|[[File:Niners.png|25px]]
|San Francisco 49ers
| -10 (-110)
| Under 49.0 (-110)
| -475
|}

== Against the spread records ==

The term ''against the spread'' can also refer to a team's record when factoring their point spread for each respective game. Through Week 11 of the 2019-20 NFL season the Arizona Cardinals had a 3-7-1 ''straight-up'' record (SU). However they managed a more impressive 7-3-1 record ''against the spread'' (ATS).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: auto;"
|- style="background-color:#eaecf0;"
|colspan="2"|'''Home'''
|colspan="2"|'''Away'''
|'''Spread'''
|'''Final'''
|'''SU Record'''
|'''ATS Record'''
|-
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
|[[File:Lions.png|25px]]
|Detroit Lions
| +2.5
|27-27 Tie
|style="background-color:#ffffcc"|0-0-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|1-0-0
|-
|[[File:Ravens.png|25px]]
|Baltimore Ravens
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +13
|23-17 Baltimore
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|0-1-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|2-0-0
|-
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
|[[File:Panthers.png|25px]]
|Carolina Panthers
| -2
|38-20 Carolina
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|0-2-1
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|2-1-0
|-
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
|[[File:Seahawks.png|25px]]
|Seattle Seahawks
| +5.5
|27-10 Seattle
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|0-3-1
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|2-2-0
|-
|[[File:Bengals.png|25px]]
|Cincinnati Bengals
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +3
|26-23 Arizona
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|1-3-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|3-2-0
|-
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
|[[File:Falcons.png|25px]]
|Atlanta Falcons
| +3
|34-33 Arizona
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|2-3-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|4-2-0
|-
|[[File:Giants.png|25px]]
|New York Giants
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +3.5
|27-21 Arizona
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|3-3-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|5-2-0
|-
|[[File:Saints.png|25px]]
|New Orleans Saints
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +12.5
|31-9 New Orleans
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|3-4-1
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|5-3-0
|-
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
|[[File:Niners.png|25px]]
|San Francisco 49ers
| +10
|28-25 San Francisco
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|3-5-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|6-3-0
|-
|[[File:Bucs.png|25px]]
|Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +5.5
|30-27 Tampa Bay
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|3-6-1
|style="background-color:#E2FFD3"|7-3-0
|-
|[[File:Niners.png|25px]]
|San Francisco 49ers
|[[File:AzCardinals.png|25px]]
|Arizona Cardinals
| +10
|36-26 San Francisco
|style="background-color:#FFBDBE"|3-7-1
|style="background-color:#ffffcc"|7-3-1
|}

Against the spread - Revision history

Vincent: Created page with "'''Against the Spread''' is a betting term used to describe a wager placed on a point spread. It can also be used to refer to an individual team's record throughout the se..."