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The point spread is the most widely used bet type in sports betting. It levels the playing field between a strong favorite and a weaker opponent by assigning a margin that the favorite must overcome. Rather than picking who wins, you are betting on whether a team wins or loses by a specific number of points. Spread betting drives NFL and NBA wagering, and it appears across college football, college basketball, and other team sports. Once you understand how to read a spread number and what the attached odds mean, it becomes the most straightforward bet type at any sportsbook. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. What Is the Point Spread? The point spread is a handicap set by oddsmakers to create a more balanced betting market between two mismatched teams. The favorite is assigned a negative number, meaning they must win by more than that amount. The underdog receives a positive number, meaning they can lose by up to that amount and still cover. The goal of the spread is not to predict the exact margin of victory. It is designed to split betting action evenly between both sides. When roughly equal money is wagered on each team, the sportsbook collects its margin on the losing bets, regardless of the outcome. How Does Spread Betting Work? When you place a spread bet, the final score is adjusted by the spread before grading. If the spread is -6.5 for the favorite, subtract 6.5 from their final score. If the result is still positive, the favorite covered. If negative, they did not. The number next to the spread (usually -110) is the juice, or vig. It is the sportsbook's cut. At -110, you must bet $110 to win $100. That small margin is how the book profits over time regardless of which side wins. NFL Point Spread Example The Kansas City Chiefs are -6.5 (-110) against the Denver Broncos, who are +6.5 (-110). A bet on Kansas City wins if the Chiefs win by 7 or more points. A bet on Denver wins if the Broncos win the game or lose by 6 or fewer. NBA Point Spread Example The Boston Celtics are -8 (-110) against the Miami Heat at +8 (-110). The Celtics need to win by 9 or more. The Heat cover if they win outright or lose by 7 or fewer. A final score of Celtics 112, Heat 105 (margin: 7) means the Heat covered. What Is a Push? A push occurs when the final margin exactly matches the spread. If the Chiefs are -7 and win by exactly 7, no side wins or loses. Your stake is returned in full. To eliminate pushes, oddsmakers frequently use half-point spreads (called the hook) such as -6.5 or -7.5. What Is the Hook? The hook is the half-point added to a spread to prevent a push. Buying or selling the hook is a common strategy where bettors pay extra juice to move a spread a half point in their favor. Moving from -3 to -2.5 on a football bet can be worth paying a premium because 3 is the most common margin of victory in the NFL. Point Spread vs. Moneyline The moneyline and the point spread are both ways to bet on the outcome of a game, but they measure different things. The moneyline rewards picking the winner regardless of margin. The spread rewards picking the team that wins by enough, or loses by little enough. For heavy favorites, the moneyline requires a large stake to win a small return. The spread often offers a more balanced payout, but it demands the favorite win convincingly. The right choice depends on how confident you are in the margin, not just the result. How Are Point Spread Payouts Calculated? Most spread bets are priced at -110 on both sides. At -110, you bet $110 to win $100, for a total return of $210. The $10 difference is the vig the sportsbook keeps. Understanding the juice is important because it affects your long-term profitability. Spreads are not always priced at -110. When one side attracts more action, the sportsbook may shade the juice to -115 or -120 on the popular side and +100 or -105 on the other. Always check the price on both sides before placing your bet. Standard -110 Spread Payout Alternate Juice Example To break even on -110 juice, you need to win 52.38% of your spread bets. That is the minimum win rate required before you start showing a profit. At -115, the break-even rate rises to roughly 53.49%. When Does Spread Betting Make Sense? When to Bet the Favorite on the Spread When to Bet the Underdog on the Spread When the Spread May Not Be the Best Option How to Place a Point Spread Bet Spread bets are available on every major sportsbook for NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, and other team sports. Here is how to get started using one of thebest betting apps. Spreads can move between when you first see them and when you place your bet. Line movement happens as new information comes in (injuries, weather, betting volume). Locking in a line early can be an advantage if you expect it to move against you. Common Point Spread Mistakes For deeper strategy on specific bet types, see our guides onhow to bet on moneylines,teaser betting, andover/under totals betting. Responsible Gambling Sports betting should be fun. Set a budget before you start and treat losses as the cost of entertainment. If gambling stops being enjoyable or starts affecting your daily life, help is available. Point Spread Betting FAQ What does point spread mean in sports betting? The point spread is a margin set by oddsmakers that the favorite must exceed to win the bet. If a team is -6.5, they need to win by 7 or more for a bet on them to cash. The underdog at +6.5 covers if they win or lose by 6 or fewer. What does -110 mean on a point spread? The -110 is the juice, or vig. It means you must bet $110 to win $100. This is the standard price on most spread bets and represents the sportsbook's built-in margin. Not all spreads are priced at -110; the juice can vary depending on where the action is. What is a push in spread betting? A push happens when the final margin equals the spread exactly. If a team is -7 and wins by exactly 7, neither side wins. Your original stake is returned in full with no profit or loss. Sportsbooks often use half-point spreads to eliminate the possibility of a push. Can you bet the spread on any sport? Spread betting is most common in football and basketball, where scores are high and margins vary widely. In baseball the equivalent is the run line (fixed at 1.5). In hockey it is the puck line (fixed at 1.5 goals). Spreads do exist in other sports but are less commonly used. What is a key number in spread betting? Key numbers are the most frequent final margins in a sport. In the NFL, 3 and 7 are the most important because field goals and touchdowns are the most common scoring plays. Lines often cluster around these numbers and bettors will pay extra juice to land on the right side of them. What does it mean when the line moves? Line movement happens when oddsmakers adjust the spread after it opens, usually in response to betting volume, injuries, or weather. If a line moves from -6.5 to -7.5, it means more money is coming in on the favorite. Sharp bettors often try to anticipate or react to line movement. Is spread betting the same as a parlay? No. A spread bet is a single wager on one game. A parlay combines multiple bets, including spread bets, into one ticket where all legs must win for the parlay to cash. See ourparlay betting guide for more. How do I find the best spread odds? Comparing lines across multiple sportsbooks is the most reliable way to find the best spread. Even a half-point difference or a juice improvement from -115 to -110 adds up over many bets. Our list of thebest sportsbook promos can help you get started with multiple accounts.

Two teams in the IPL 2026 are already out of the playoffs race - Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. While all the other teams are still in contention, it can be safely said that seventh-placed Delhi Capitals (10 points from 12 games) have only a mathematical chance

Chris Towers breaks down traits and numbers pushing Jacob Misiorowski into the top tier of Fantasy status

Bundesliga club step up efforts to sign 19-year-old Real Madrid academy gemReal Madrid have a number of exciting talents coming through the ranks at the club currently, one of whom happens to be Victor Valdepenas.Regarded as one of the most promising young defender in Spain, the 19-year-old, who can play at centre-back and left-back, has already made his first-team debut this season, under former manager Xabi Alonso.Heading into the summer, however, Valdepenas is staring at an uncertain future, with several clubs across Europe vying for his signing.Eintracht Frankfurt intensify Valdepenas pursuitIn that regard, journalist Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reports that Eintracht Frankfurt have stepped up their efforts to sign Valdepenas from Real Madrid.Valdepenas is in demand. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)As per the report, the Bundesliga club are desperate to sign the 19-year-old starlet, who has been a mainstay for Castilla this season. However, a deal for Valdepenas will not be easy as strong competition is expected. As already reported, several top clubs like Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan also have the teenage La Fabrica on their agenda for the summer.Valdepenas protected by 50 million release clauseValdepenas joined Real Madrid back in 2018, arriving from the Rayo Vallecano youth academy. Since then, the young defender has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks La Fabrica. Valdepenas to leave Real Madrid? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)The 19-year-old versatile defender has 45 appearances with Castilla and has featured once for the senior team back in December against Deportivo Alaves.Following his first-team debut, Real Madrid moved quickly to improve his contract and secure his future until 2029. As part of the new deal, Valdepenas is now shielded by a 50 million release clause.Despite that, a move cannot be ruled out, with Real Madrid known for letting youngsters go, albeit with some degree of control over their future by the way of buyback clauses and future sell-on percentages.

Despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025 and with an extension that had not yet begun, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch has been fired.

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This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. The puck line is hockey's version of the point spread. It applies a fixed 1.5-goal margin to every NHL game, giving bettors an alternative to the moneyline when the straight-up odds on a favorite are too steep or an underdog feels too risky to back outright. Understanding how the puck line is graded, how overtime affects your bet, and how empty net goals can flip the result in the final minute makes you a sharper hockey bettor. This guide covers all of it. What Is the Puck Line? The puck line is a goal spread applied to hockey games. The favorite is listed at -1.5 and must win by 2 or more goals. The underdog is listed at +1.5 and covers if they win outright or lose by exactly 1 goal. Unlike football or basketball spreads, the puck line number almost never changes. Hockey is low-scoring, and the fixed 1.5 margin is wide enough to create a meaningful bet without being so large that it rarely covers. What shifts from game to game are the odds on each side. How Does the Puck Line Work? When you place a puck line bet, you are betting on the margin of the final result rather than just the winner. The odds attached to each side tell you the price you pay or the return you get for accepting the 1.5-goal requirement. In a heavy-favorite game, the -1.5 side might be priced at +130 or higher. That positive number means the book is paying you a premium because a 2-goal win is not guaranteed. In a close matchup, the -1.5 side might be -150 or -160, meaning you pay more because the favorite is likely to win comfortably. Puck Line Favorite Example The Colorado Avalanche are -1.5 (+125) against the Chicago Blackhawks at +1.5 (-150). Colorado must win by 2 or more goals. A 4-2 win covers. A 3-2 win, even in overtime, does not. For odds comparisons across NHL games, see ourNHL betting sites guide. Puck Line Underdog Example The Blackhawks at +1.5 (-150) cover if they win outright or lose by 1 goal. The negative odds mean you pay a premium for that cushion. A 3-2 overtime loss still cashes your +1.5 bet. The only losing outcome is a loss by 2 or more goals. How Overtime and Shootouts Affect the Puck Line This is where most bettors get tripped up. The puck line is not graded on the final posted score the way you might think. It is graded on the margin at the end of regulation. The moment a game enters overtime, the margin is locked at 1 goal for whoever scores first. That means a -1.5 bet automatically loses the instant a game goes to overtime, because a single overtime goal can only produce a 1-goal margin. The +1.5 bet automatically wins for the same reason. A shootout win is recorded as a 1-goal victory in the official NHL record. The puck line grades the same way: +1.5 wins, -1.5 loses, regardless of how dominant either team was through 60 minutes. Empty Net Goals and the Puck Line Empty net goals are one of the most puck-line-specific factors in hockey betting. When a team is trailing late in the third period, they pull their goalie for an extra attacker. That creates a 6-on-5 situation for the trailing team, but also leaves an open net for the leading team to score into. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of NHL games feature at least one empty net goal, and the majority go to the team already leading. A team that is up by 1 in the final two minutes can add an empty netter to win by 2, which flips a -1.5 loss into a cover. That same goal turns a comfortable +1.5 win into a loss for the underdog bettor. Empty net probability is worth factoring in when you evaluate puck line prices. Teams that generate high offensive volume and play with a lead regularly produce more empty net goals than teams that tend to play tight defensive games. Puck Line vs. Moneyline Themoneyline and the puck line ask different questions of the same game. On the moneyline, you pick the winner. Any margin counts. On the puck line, you bet on whether the favorite wins by enough, or whether the underdog survives a close game. The most common reason to bet the puck line over the moneyline is price. A heavy favorite at -250 on the moneyline might be +110 or +130 on the puck line at -1.5. You take on more risk (they need to win by 2), but the return is far better. For underdogs, the tradeoff runs the other way: you sacrifice some payout to get the 1-goal cushion. How Are Puck Line Payouts Calculated? Puck line payouts use standard American odds. Negative odds show how much you must risk to win $100. Positive odds show how much a $100 bet returns in profit. The key difference from spread betting in football or basketball is that puck line odds are rarely near -110 on both sides. Because 1-goal games are so common in hockey, one side almost always carries meaningfully better or worse odds than the other. Favorite Payout Example Underdog Payout Example When the Underdog Side Carries Heavy Juice In evenly matched games, the +1.5 underdog can be priced at -130, -150, or even steeper. This happens when the sportsbook believes a 1-goal game is the most likely outcome. Paying -150 for a +1.5 cushion means you need the underdog to cover reliably to show profit. If they lose by 2 regularly, the juice eats you alive. What Is an Alternate Puck Line? An alternate puck line lets you adjust the standard 1.5-goal margin up or down in exchange for different odds. Most major sportsbooks offer options at -2.5 and +2.5, with some going further. Alternate puck lines are useful when you have a strong conviction about how a game plays out. A team with a dominant power play facing a poor penalty kill might be worth backing at -2.5 for the higher return. A defensive team likely to play a grinding 1-goal game might make the +2.5 expensive but appealing. When Does the Puck Line Make Sense? When to Bet the Puck Line Favorite When to Bet the Puck Line Underdog When the Moneyline Makes More Sense How to Place a Puck Line Bet Puck line bets are available on every NHL game at major sportsbooks. Find them in the hockey section next to the moneyline and total for each game. If you are not yet set up with a sportsbook, see our list of thebest betting apps. Puck line odds shift quickly when goaltender confirmations come in or injury news drops. Locking in your price before the lineup is official can give you an edge. Most sportsbooks also offerlive betting on the puck line during the game, where odds move in real time as the score changes. Common Puck Line Mistakes For more on how spread betting works across sports, see our guide topoint spread betting and how therun line works in baseball. Responsible Gambling Set a budget before you start and treat losses as the cost of entertainment. If gambling stops being enjoyable or starts affecting your daily life, free support is available. Puck Line Betting FAQ What does puck line mean in hockey betting? The puck line is a 1.5-goal spread applied to NHL games. The favorite at -1.5 must win by 2 or more goals. The underdog at +1.5 covers if they win outright or lose by exactly 1 goal. It is hockey's version of the point spread. What does -1.5 mean on the puck line? A -1.5 puck line means the favorite must win by 2 or more goals for the bet to cash. A win by exactly 1 goal does not cover. Any overtime or shootout result also loses the -1.5 bet, because the maximum winning margin in extra time is 1 goal. What does +1.5 mean on the puck line? A +1.5 puck line means the underdog covers if they win outright or lose by exactly 1 goal. Because overtime and shootouts always produce a 1-goal margin for the winning team, any game that goes to extra time is an automatic winner for the +1.5 side. Does overtime count on the puck line? Once a game enters overtime, the -1.5 favorite automatically loses and the +1.5 underdog automatically wins. It does not matter who scores in overtime. The margin is locked at 1 goal the moment regulation ends tied, which makes a 2-goal win impossible. Is the puck line always 1.5? The standard puck line is always 1.5. Unlike football or basketball where spreads vary by game, hockey uses a fixed 1.5 because the sport is low-scoring and the margin between teams rarely justifies a larger number. Alternate puck lines at -2.5, +2.5, and other values are available at most sportsbooks for bettors who want more flexibility. What is an alternate puck line? An alternate puck line lets you adjust the standard 1.5-goal margin for different odds. Moving to -2.5 means the favorite must win by 3 or more, which pays out more but is harder to cover. Moving to +2.5 gives the underdog extra cushion but costs more in juice. How do empty net goals affect the puck line? Empty net goals happen when the trailing team pulls their goalie late in a game, leaving the net open. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of NHL games feature at least one empty net goal, and most go to the leading team. A team up by 1 that adds an empty netter turns a -1.5 loss into a cover, and turns a +1.5 win into a loss. It is one of the most underrated factors in puck line betting. What is a reverse puck line? A reverse puck line flips the standard setup. Taking the favorite at +1.5 means they only need to win by any margin, but you pay heavily negative odds for that safety net. Taking the underdog at -1.5 means they must win by 2 or more goals, which is a bold play that returns significant profit but requires a dominant underdog upset. Is it better to bet the moneyline or puck line in hockey? It depends on the game and the price. When a heavy moneyline favorite is -200 or worse, the puck line at -1.5 often offers much better value if you believe they win comfortably. In tight matchups where a 1-goal game is likely, the moneyline is the simpler and often smarter choice. Where can I bet the puck line? Every major sportsbook offers the puck line on NHL games. You can compare apps, odds, and sign-up offers at ourbest NHL betting sites guide.