• How Does Point Spread Work
• What Does Alternative Point Spread Mean

Oddsmakers are great at their jobs. They are uncannily amazing at predicting close to the exact combined total or setting a point spread within 0.5 points of where most bettors land in a key NFL matchup.

That’s why sometimes it can pay to sacrifice odds for an alternate point spread when betting on the NFL.

What is Against the Spread (ATS)? One of the most popular types of sports betting is betting against the point spread also known as ATS.The point spread is a number aka the “betting line” set by bookmakers at the sportsbook which is intended to even the playing field between two teams and give a reason for bettors to bet on either side of the game.

In preparation for Super Bowl LIV, we break down the basics and strategies on betting alternate spreads.

1. The sportsbook does their best to set the line as close to accurate based on what they think will happen. If they are setting a point spread bet, they’ll attempt to achieve the same thing by setting the point spread line as close as they can to what they think will actually happen. Let’s go back to.
2. Alternate lines allow you to give away runs or points (on the spread) in order to receive a better payout. For example, in baseball, the team that is favored will always be -1.5 on the runline.

What are point spreads and totals?

Beginning with the basics, a point spread is a way for sportsbooks to handicap teams to encourage betting action on both sides of NFL games. Often in the NFL, the home team will be favored by 3 or 7 points, since those are the most common increments of scoring.

For example, the Chiefs could be listed as -7 with -110 odds. That means a bet on the Chiefs would be successful if they win by 8-plus points, and would pay out approximately $90 on a $100 wager.

With totals betting, the line is set at the combined projected point total between the two teams. Two high-scoring offense would produce a higher total than two top defensive teams.

What is an alternate line?

Say you believe that the Chiefs will win a game in which they’re listed as 7.5-point favorites, but aren’t sure if they’ll cover that spread.

Many sportsbooks offer alternate lines with diminished odds as other ways to wager. The Chiefs could have -110 odds with a 7.5-point spread, but could also be listed with -200 odds to cover a 3.5-point spread. Their odds would drop to -315 with a 1.5-point spread, and return to the same odds as a moneyline — which is a way to bet on the outcome without a spread — at around -385.

Alternate lines can go in the other direction as well. The Chiefs could be given +115 odds at a spread of -9.5 points, which means a $100 bet would pay out $115. Books will often offer lines up to three times the listed spread, with corresponding odds.

The same rules apply to underdogs. A 7.5-point underdog will have improved betting odds on an alternate line of 3.5 or even 1.5 points. And taking a 7.5-point underdog to cover a 14-point spread would create diminished betting odds.

Pairing alternate lines into a parlay is known as a teaser. A parlay is only successful when two wagers are correct, and a teaser often offers alternate lines, giving those bets a better chance to succeed, at diminished odds.

For example, in the 2020 Conference Championships, the Titans (+7.5) were underdogs and the 49ers (-7.5) were favored by more than a touchdown. A typical teaser would award six points to each side of the line, so that Titans (+1.5) and 49ers (-1.5) would become the new odds for the bettor. Instead of getting negative odds (-180 for example) on each alternate spread, a teaser gives bettors positive odds (+150 for example) since both bets must be successful to cash.

Where can I find alternate lines?

Most online sportsbooks will have a tab next to the game lines that is called “Alternate Point Spread.” Simply click on the tab to see a variety of alternate lines. There is also often a tab for Alternate Total Points where bettors can get different numbers on the Over/Under at varying odds.

Alternate line betting strategies

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into how alternate lines can give you a betting edge. As mentioned above, spreads usually open around 3 or 7 points. These are known as the key numbers because NFL games are often decided by a single touchdown or field goal and final point margins land on those two numbers more than any others.

Books will often list favorites as 7.5- or 3.5-point favorites rather than at the even number. This is known as a “hook” and it’s devised to elicit more action on the underdog.

Using an alternate line can help bettors get off the hook and move below a key number by turning a 3.5-point spread into a more favorable 2.5-point spread with different odds.

Usually, it makes sense to use alternate lines to get a lower number when betting the favorite. With the exception of the Chiefs’ insane comeback to beat the Texans by 20 points in the 2020 Divisional Round, favorites rarely overcome a slow start to cover a large spread (Chiefs were 9.5-point favorites on most books). Therefore, using an alternate line to get below a key number would help your bet remain successful if the favorite comes from behind to win by a single score, or if the underdog covers the spread with a late score.

While it’s a safer play to buy points for an underdog, that isn’t always the most effective means of using alternate lines. Especially in the NFL playoffs, when every team is competitive, underdogs routinely exceed expectations. If you see a 7-point underdog in a game that you believe is closer to a coin flip, it may make sense to take that team as 3-point underdogs with much better odds.

How Does Point Spread Work

Feeling even bolder? If you predict a potential upset and want even better odds than taking the underdog on the moneyline (at +165 for example), an alternate spread in which the underdog is favored by a few points would offer payouts of up to +400 depending on the number.

As a recent example, bettors willing to take the Titans to not only cover the 10-point spread at Baltimore in the Divisional Round, but to cover a 3-point spread, cashed handsomely. Bettors bold enough to take the Titans on the moneyline or to cover a 10-point spread on their side of the line (extremely rare in this case) would profit considerably.

Alternate lines can also help bettors get to key numbers in closer games. The Packers-Seahawks matchup in the Divisional Round was another prime example of oddsmakers setting a competitive line with the Packers favored by 4 or 4.5 on most books. The Seahawks scored late, but failed on a 2-point conversion, resulting in a 5-point loss. Bettors that backed the Seahawks were out of luck, unless they sacrificed betting odds to raise the line to 5 or more points.

Best alternate lines betting sites

As a fan, you don’t care if your team wins by a point or 100. A win is a win, though that 100-point win would be a little easier on the nerves.

In sports betting, how much a team wins by is usually all that matters.

The most popular way to bet for the two most popular sports, basketball and football, is with the point spread, also known as the “side.” Most baseball, hockey and soccer bets are on the moneyline, which is betting on a team to win straight up with adjusted odds. Football and basketball have moneyline bets available too, but most people will take the point spread.

The concept can be a bit confusing if you’ve never dabbled in sports betting before.

Why bet with the point spread?

The point spread was created to attract more action on a game. When the San Francisco 49ers are expected to blow out the Arizona Cardinals, it’s not enticing to lay $300 to win $100 on a moneyline. But when the 49ers are 11-point favorites and each side is -110 odds? That’s much easier.

In that example, the 49ers are spotting the Cardinals 11 points before the game starts, at least for bettors. The 49ers have to win by 12 or more points to cover the spread. If the Cardinals win or lose by 10 or less, that side wins the bet. If the game lands on 11, like a 21-10 49ers win, it’s a push and all bets are refunded. If you see a -11 that means that team is favored, and +11 means you’re taking the underdog.

Nothing sharpens your math skills better than trying to figure out how big your lead as a bettor is if you have a 22.5-point basketball underdog that is losing 90-72.

The problem with the point spread can be when a team — which really doesn’t care that you bet the favorite at -11 — has a 14-point lead but gives up a meaningless score at the end to win by only seven points. They’re still happy with the win. You, as a bettor, are not.

Point spreads lead to bad beats

The most infamous example of a bad beat with the point spread probably came in the 2004 Final Four at the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Duke was a 2.5-point underdog against UConn. The Huskies rallied late and took a 79-75 lead on a free throw with 3.2 seconds left. The game itself was over; Duke couldn’t score twice in a few seconds. But Duke guard Chris Duhon pulled up for a running 3-pointer just over the half-court line and banked it in at the buzzer. Duke lost 79-78, but bettors who had Duke and 2.5 points won. March Madness is a huge event for bettors, and reports at the time estimated that Duhon’s “meaningless” shot resulted in a $30 or $40 million swing in Nevada. UConn players celebrated at the final buzzer. UConn bettors doubled over in pain. That’s the difference between betting the moneyline and the point spread.

Baseball and hockey have point spreads too, the “run line” in baseball and “puck line” in hockey. It’s generally 1.5 with odds adjusting accordingly. Taking a big baseball favorite at -1.5 runs can make the odds more palatable. Of course, betting the New York Yankees at -1.5 to bring down the odds from -190 to -110 isn’t too fun when they win 4-3 and you don’t cash a bet.

What Does Alternative Point Spread Mean

Betting on the point spread is the most common way to wager on sports. And the first time you take a favorite that wins the game but doesn’t cover the spread, you’ll understand every bettor’s heartbreak.