How to Make the Most of NBA Spreads
Before spreads were introduced to the sports betting market in the ‘40s, bettors had to choose a team to win straight up—and see their payouts dashed when taking a significant favourite. The point spread offered an alternate option where both teams were equally appealing picks.
NBA spreads do this by requiring the favourite to beat their opponent by a specific number of points. For example, a 16.5-point favourite on the NBA odds board must win by at least 17 points to cover the spread. Alternatively, the underdog can lose by up to 16 points and still cover the spread.
How to Bet on NBA Point Spread
In the NBA, against the spread (ATS) refers to the style of betting where the favoured team has to cover a win margin while beating their opponent. The underdog, meanwhile, pays when the favourite fails to do that, or when the underdog wins outright.
To successfully bet on the point spread, we recommend doing some preliminary research before placing bets. You’ll want to know how the opponents in a game match up; some teams match up well and play beyond expectation with certain opponents, or at different times of the season. Injuries to star players is another factor that will impact a team’s ability to cover the spread. Keeping an eye on CBS Sports will get you access to daily updates on all player injuries in the NBA.
There are other things to keep in mind when trying to bet the spread. Teams go through ebbs and flows through the season, so being aware of a team’s current streak can help you stay ahead of the curb. If an underdog has been gaining strides, but is still under the radar, it could be a good time to take that team against the spread. On top of looking at current streaks, you can also step back and consider the historical implications of the matchup. Some teams have longstanding rivalries with others; in many of these cases, the outcomes are tracked on sites.
Lastly, NBA coaches have different styles and strategies—some execute them more successfully than others. If you know that a coach has a defensive mind, it will almost certainly be more challenging for the opponent to cover the spread.
How to Read NBA Spreads
NBA spreads are under “Game Lines” on the NBA Betting page. The spread is in the first betting column and looks like this (as an example):
Spread Los Angeles Lakers -12.5 (-105) Toronto Raptors +12.5 (-115)
The negative spread is assigned to the favourite, and the positive is assigned to the underdog. The number shows how many points the favourite must beat the underdog by in order to cover the spread.
In our example above, the Lakers are 12.5-point favourites on the spread against the Raptors and must beat them by at least 13 points to pay their bettors. We’ll cover how much the bets pay in the next section.
How Much Does it Cost to Place a Spread Bet: Vig or Juice
In sports betting, you’ll likely come across the terms vigorish or juice at some point; this refers to the cost of placing a bet at a sportsbook. Most spread bets offer -110 payouts when first released, meaning you get paid $100 on a $110 bet (the extra $10 is the vig). This is what the standard -110 payouts look like on the game lines:
Spread Los Angeles Lakers -12.5 (-110) Toronto Raptors +12.5 (-110)
Sometimes the payouts can change slightly to encourage more betting on a certain team. You may see one team’s line move to -105 and the other move to -115.
Strategies to Bet on NBA against the Spread
Betting on the spread is always more fun when you’re winning. To boost your chances of accurately picking the team to cover, we’re providing tips to keep in mind next time you fill out a slip. Everything from timing your bet with the market to conducting helpful pre-game research is covered and recommended.
Bet Early Before the Numbers Settle Down
The bigger a team’s fanbase, the more the spread moves after the game lines are first released. Once the public puts down their money, there will almost certainly be less value on the more popular pick. Conversely, if you plan to bet on the underdog, you could use this to your advantage and place your bet closer to game time.
For example, with our Lakers-Raptors game, we can imagine that the vig on the spread shifted to -115 for the Lakers and -105 for the Raptors, meaning people who waited to bet on the Raptors got a better deal.
Current Performance of the Teams
Many beginners check teams’ positions in the standings before placing bets, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. As mentioned, teams often experience streaks—both winning and losing. Being aware of a team’s current streak can help you decide which team to take on the spread.
For two straight seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16) the Golden State Warriors experienced epic 28-game win streaks—second only to the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. That was an excellent betting opportunity for sharp bettors.
Check the NBA Matchups
You can spend countless hours evaluating NBA matchups, and there are many different ways to do it. Elo Ratings were popular with NBA matchups at one point, but never captured the full picture, failing to incorporate things like injuries and trades. Different metric systems improved results somewhat, but this heavy data-driven approach can take away from the core experience. Reading up on the two teams and making your own assessments puts you in the driver’s seat. Trust your gut and get paid if it plays out on the court.
Follow up Injuries
Checking injury reports should be part of anyone’s pre-game research as nothing impacts the outcome of a game as much as an injured key player. Many Sacramento Kings fans can recall with horror when Chris Webber went down with a knee injury when the Kings were poised to win it all in 2003. The sooner you’re aware of injuries, the faster you can act in the sportsbook. Teams are required to outline all injured, ill and resting players by 5 PM local time the day before a game.
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NBA Spreads FAQ
What Does a Push Mean in NBA Spreads Betting?
A push is essentially a tie where all money is returned to bettors. In spread betting, it happens when the favourite wins by the exact number of the spread. For example, if the 12-point favoured Lakers beat the Raptors 100-88, the result would be a push. Many spreads include a half-point to avoid this outcome.
How do I Place an NBA Speads Bet?
Log in to your Bodog account, deposit funds, and pull up the NBA Betting page. Under Game Lines, select the team/spread combination that you want; it’ll be loaded onto your virtual bet slip automatically. Key in your stake under “Risk” and hit the “Place Bet” button. We do the rest.
How do I Know Which Team is the Favourite and the Underdog?
Both teams in a game are posted on the game lines, and the favourite has the negative spread, denoted with a “-” sign. The underdog has the positive spread, denoted with a “+” sign. This is because the favourite “lays” those points to their opponent.
Can I Bet Against the Spread for Different Parts of an NBA Game?
Yes. If you select a matchup on the NBA game lines, all of the smaller betting options appear. Bet on the spread for the first half, or first quarter, before the game starts. After tip-off, you can bet on the later quarters in the Live Betting section of the sportsbook. Alternate lines are also available at different price points.