Question 1

What is the difference between a point spread and a moneyline?

Accepted Answer

A moneyline bet is simply picking the winner of the game. A point spread bet requires the favorite to win by more than a certain number of points, or the underdog to lose by fewer than that number (or win outright). Spreads offer closer to even odds on both sides, while moneylines reflect each team's raw win probability.

Question 2

What does -110 mean on a spread bet?

Accepted Answer

Odds of -110 mean you must risk $110 to win $100. This is the standard price for spread bets, with the extra $10 being the sportsbook's commission (vig/juice). The implied probability of -110 is 52.38%, meaning you need to win more than 52.4% of your bets to be profitable at these odds.

Question 3

What are key numbers in NFL spread betting?

Accepted Answer

Key numbers are the most common final margins of victory. In NFL football, 3 and 7 are the most important key numbers because games frequently end with a 3-point or 7-point margin (due to field goals and touchdowns). Other notable key numbers are 1, 4, 6, 10, and 14. Spreads that cross these numbers have significantly different win probabilities.

Question 4

Can I bet the moneyline on a heavy favorite?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but the risk-to-reward ratio is poor. For example, at -400, you risk $400 to win $100. While the favorite wins most of the time, one upset wipes out multiple winning bets. Many sharp bettors prefer the spread for heavy favorites because it offers better value and more balanced risk.

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