Spread Betting Explained: What Does -2, -3.5, -7 Mean?

Learn how point spreads and Asian handicaps work to make uneven matchups equal betting opportunities.

A point spread is a type of bet ultimately based on the margin of victory of a game or match. It is a function of sports betting used to make every matchup one of nearly (or exactly) equal probability by setting the margin of victory for the favored team.

This guide explains how spread betting works across different sports, what the numbers mean, and when to use spreads instead of moneylines. You can bet spreads on any sports that offer handicap markets—from soccer to basketball to tennis.

What is a Point Spread?

Very rarely do sportsbooks see games as 50-50 coin flips, or as commonly referred to in bettors' language: "pick em's." When the matchup is not one of equal probability, it would not be profitable for sportsbooks to take bets on the predicted winner (favorite) and the predicted loser (underdog) at the same price.

Example: During the 2024-25 Premier League season, when Manchester City (challenging for the title) played Sheffield United (battling relegation), if the sportsbooks had been taking bets on each side to win the game at the same exact odds, it would be a no-brainer for the bettor to place a wager on the vastly superior Manchester City.

Common sense and analytics alike say Manchester City will win that game well over 80% of the time, so it would be an extremely profitable bet if the teams were priced equally.

The solution: Point spreads (or Asian handicaps in soccer) create balance by requiring the favorite to win by a certain margin.

How Does Spread Betting Work?

Spread betting is used when sports bettors are wary of betting on a moneyline, or rather a team to win the game outright.

Say, for example, a team is a huge favorite and the moneyline is below 1.50 odds. That's typically not worth risking, as the payout won't be very large. Instead, betting said favorite to cover the spread, or win by a determined margin, can net you typically around 1.91 odds.

On the contrary, spread betting is very useful when betting on underdogs. Sometimes, an underdog moneyline might be too risky for them to win outright, but if bettors feel the game may be close, the spread is a great option.

What Does -2, -3.5 and -7 Mean in Point Spreads?

First off, any spread that's a minus (-) is a favorite. A plus (+) means that team is the underdog.

-2 Spread (Whole Number)

-2 means that a team must win by more than two points/goals in order to cover the spread.

If they win by exactly two points, the bet would push and the stake would be returned with no winnings.

Examples:

• Barcelona -2 goals: Must win by 3+ goals to win bet, win by exactly 2 = push, win by 1 or draw/lose = loss
• Lakers -2 points: Must win by 3+ points to win bet, win by exactly 2 = push, win by 1 or lose = loss

-3.5 Spread (Half Point)

-3.5 means the team must win by more than four points/goals. When there is a half point, there is no pushing bets—it either wins or loses.

Bettors must pay attention to these spreads based on which sport they're wagering on. For example, -3.5 in soccer means that a team winning by exactly 3 goals would be a loss for the spread bet.

Examples:

• Real Madrid -3.5 goals: Must win by 4+ goals (4-0, 5-1, etc.)
• Warriors -3.5 points: Must win by 4+ points

-7 Spread (Key Number)

-7 is an important line in many sports. Your team winning by exactly seven points means they push, whereas over would be a win and under would be a loss.

In basketball, a team winning by exactly 7 points is common. In soccer, it's less common for teams to win by exactly 7 goals, making -7 less critical than smaller handicaps.

Asian Handicap Explained (Soccer)

Asian handicap is soccer's version of spread betting. It's the most popular spread format in European and Asian betting markets.

Standard Asian Handicaps

-1.5 Asian Handicap (Favorite):

• Team must win by 2+ goals to win the bet
• Win by 1 goal = loss
• Draw or loss = loss

+1.5 Asian Handicap (Underdog):

• Team can lose by 1 goal and you still win the bet
• Draw = win
• Win = win

Quarter-Goal Asian Handicaps

Asian handicaps also use quarter-goal lines like -0.75, -1.25, -1.75. These split your stake between two handicaps:

-0.75 handicap (also written as -0.5, -1):

• Half your stake on -0.5
• Half your stake on -1
• Team wins by 1 goal: -0.5 wins, -1 pushes (you get half stake back)
• Team wins by 2+ goals: both win (full payout)

This reduces variance compared to full-goal handicaps.

Examples of Point Spreads

How to Read Point Spreads

When a point spread is listed on a sportsbook, it is accompanied by a "+" or a "-" sign.

The "-" sign means that the team is the favorite, so Manchester City might be listed as "-2.5 goals."

The underdog (Burnley in our example) is listed at "+2.5 goals."

The logical way to think about this format is to imagine that Manchester City is beginning the game with -2.5 goals. If that were the case, according to the oddsmakers, City and Burnley would have a near-equal win probability.

Understanding the odds:

While the chances of the bet hitting may be about equal in the eyes of the sportsbook, the general odds for a point spread are still 1.91 on both sides of the bet. That built-in margin is called the vig, and is how sportsbooks ensure they make money.

However, sometimes the book doesn't view the spread as exactly equal so will have the prices at something like 1.87/1.95. The total implied probability across both sides generally adds up to around 104-105%. If not, that probably means the book is taking more or less vig than is standard.

How are Point Spreads Made and Calculated?

Sportsbooks calculate point spreads using a combination of data-driven computer formulas and human input.

Factors that influence spreads:

• Statistical power ratings: Team strength models and algorithms
• Injuries and suspensions: Key players out or doubtful
• Form and momentum: Recent results and performance trends
• Matchup history: Head-to-head records
• Home advantage: Generally worth 0.25-0.5 goals in soccer, 2-3 points in basketball
• Travel and schedule: Fatigue from fixtures, away trips
• Motivation: Must-win games, dead rubbers, etc.

Soccer home advantage example: If Liverpool and Manchester United were playing on neutral ground, the spread might be Liverpool -0.5. At Anfield, it becomes Liverpool -1 or -1.5 due to home advantage.

Why Do Spread Lines Move?

Like all betting odds, point spreads can and will move based upon a number of different factors.

Betting action: If a substantial amount of money comes in on one side of the line (called a steam move), the sportsbooks will have to adjust the line to entice bettors to take the other side. Sportsbooks always want to have as close to equal amounts of money being bet on each side as possible so they are not at risk of taking a huge loss.

Sharp bettors: If one sharp bettor is well known for winning consistently and bets a large sum on one side, that alone could compel the sportsbook to move the line. See our guide on reverse line movement for more details.

New information:

• Injury news (key player ruled out)
• Weather changes (rain, wind affecting play)
• Lineup announcements (rotation, starting XI changes)
• Motivation shifts (other results affecting standings)

Since point spreads are volatile, the timing of a bet can be crucial. If a bettor sees an opening line that they predict will move significantly, they want to get in early before it shifts.

Once it changes in the predicted direction, not only does that bettor have a positive EV bet, but it also opens up opportunities to middle the bet or place an arbitrage bet.

When to Bet Point Spreads

A bettor should bet the point spread when they think that the team will cover the spread.

Bet the favorite spread when:

• The moneyline is 1.50 or lower (too expensive)
• You think the favorite will dominate by multiple goals/points
• The spread offers better value than the moneyline
• You want consistent 1.91 odds instead of volatile moneyline prices

Bet the underdog spread when:

• You think the game will be close but aren't confident in an outright upset
• The underdog has shown they can compete recently
• You want to back the dog without needing them to win
• The spread is large enough to provide cushion (e.g., +3.5 in soccer)

If someone was thinking about betting on Manchester City but thought it would be a close one-goal game, it would not be advisable to place a bet on City -2.5. However, if the person thought City would really dominate Burnley, betting the -2.5 goal spread at 1.91 odds would make a lot more sense than taking a risky moneyline at 1.20 odds or lower.

How to Bet the Spread

When betting a point spread, it's always a good idea to look around at various books to try and get the highest value bet possible.

Example: DraftKings may have the line at Real Madrid -2, while FanDuel has -2.5 and Caesars at -3.

• Betting the favorite (Real Madrid): DraftKings at -2 is best (easiest to cover)
• Betting the underdog: Caesars at +3 is best (most cushion)

As always, be aware of the price of the wager as well. One book might offer -2 at 1.87 odds, while another offers -2 at 1.91 odds. The 1.91 price is better value.

Point Spreads vs Asian Handicaps

Different regions use different terminology, but the concept is identical:

American-style (Point Spread):

• Used primarily in US markets
• Typically -110 odds on both sides
• Half-point spreads eliminate pushes

European/Asian-style (Asian Handicap):

• Used globally, especially in soccer
• Odds vary more widely (1.80-2.10 typical range)
• Quarter-goal handicaps (0.25, 0.75) for reduced variance
• Eliminates the draw in soccer markets

Both achieve the same goal: making uneven matchups equal betting opportunities.

Custom Spreads and Alternate Lines

Bettors can typically also bet custom spreads. For example, if the spread is set at -2, but a bettor feels the favorite team is going to win by much more than that, they can bet -4 or -5 for increased odds.

Example:

• Standard line: Bayern Munich -1.5 at 1.91 odds
• Alternate line: Bayern Munich -2.5 at 2.40 odds (better payout, harder to cover)
• Alternate line: Bayern Munich -0.5 at 1.57 odds (easier to cover, worse payout)

This gives bettors flexibility to match their confidence level with their risk/reward preference.

Common Spread Betting Mistakes

• Not line shopping: Accepting -2.5 at one book when another offers -2
• Ignoring the vig: Betting -120 odds when -110 is available elsewhere
• Betting heavy favorites: Laying -10 goals in soccer is extremely risky
• Not accounting for garbage time: See our backdoor cover guide
• Chasing losses with alternate spreads: Betting Bayern -4.5 at high odds to recover losses

Ready to find the best spread bets? FairOdds Terminal compares point spreads and Asian handicaps across 60+ sportsbooks to find +EV opportunities with the best lines.

Spread Betting FAQ