When fans bet on the latest basketball games, most opt for the point spread. That’s where oddsmakers insert a handicap between the favourite and underdog teams, so the score of the game matters just as much as who wins. The favourite needs to win by a certain number of points, the underdog needs to win, or at least lose by fewer points than the oddsmaker predicted.
Point spreads in basketball have a unique appeal – baskets can either give two or three points depending on context. That creates dramatic situations where just one throw can make or break a game. Point spreads can play into that action.
When choosing the point spread, oddsmakers will consider a variety of factors.
They start with the strength of the team, looking at recent form and which side has the better star players. Coaching is also considered since some teams are trained to excel at offense, defense, or making a comeback late in the game.
Their track record against the opponent is also factored in, as is home-court advantage. If either team has been disrupted by an injury, that will also influence the final spread that is given. Even if an injured player has just returned, they won’t be firing on all cylinders and so their team will take a knock.
You can find point spreads with both NBA and NCAAB College Basketball Odds.
What is a Push?
In most bets, there is a clear winner and loser. However, due to the way NBA some point spreads are given, your bet could end in a draw. That is a push, where all bets are off and all wagers get refunded to both sides. This happens in one very specific circumstance – when the outcome of the game exactly matches the spread.
If the favourite is predicted to win by 5 points, bettors wager in the hope they’ll win by more than 5 points. If they win by just 5 points, neither the favourite nor the underdog beat the spread.
But to avoid this at talkSPORT BET, all point spreads are .5, so there won’t be a push.
How to Read Basketball Spreads?
If you’re here, you may be new to point spreads and how they work.
Reading point spreads in basketball is simple when you’ve identified three things – the favourite, the underdog, and the scores they need to satisfy the bet.
| TEAM | SPREAD |
| Boston Celtics | -5.5 (9/10) |
| Miami Heat | +5.5 (9/10) |
This example shows that the Celtics are the favourite to win by 5.5 points. This means they need to win by 6 points or more to satisfy the bet. The Heat need to lose by fewer than 5 points, or beat the Celtics. In this case, the spread is set at 5.5 (an impossible score) to avoid a push – one team is guaranteed to win. No matter what side you’d back, you’d get £9 profit for every £10 staked.
Point Spread Betting Strategies
Given the popularity of point spreads in basketball, bettors have created several strategies to help them out. While the result of a game is ultimately unpredictable, strategies can help bettors analyse the pre-game landscape and make better calls.
First, it helps to know your teams and how they measure up against one another. Every team has strengths and weaknesses, and some franchises are known to beat others more often. Check out other NBA Basketball Odds to see which teams are consistent favourites with oddsmakers.
Next, follow the oddsmakers’ example by paying attention to injuries. Injuries, along with general fatigue after the end of a long week, will take the fight out of your team. Backing fresh teams who are well-rested, with no injuries, tends to be a wiser option.
Lastly, point spreads change over time. Like most odds, NBA point spreads are given about a day beforehand. Some prefer to wait until the game is about to start, while others like to get in early. Early birds might count on a last-minute injury announcement, though remember that can happen to your backed team too.
Favourites vs Underdogs
In point spread betting, the favourite and the underdog are clearly marked with a minus or a plus symbol.
The favourite is the one with the minus symbol next to their predicted score. In our earlier example, the Celtics are favourite at -5.5. They need 6+ points to win.
The underdog is the one with the plus symbol next to their score. That would be the Heat with +5.5. They need -5 points to win, or they can defy expectations by winning the whole game.
In our example, the odds for both were set at 9/10. While there is a clear favourite, point spreads often have the same vig – meaning the payout ratio for your stake. This isn’t always the case, some matchups will have better vig on the underdog side to reward betting against expectations.
Point Spreads vs Money Line
After point spreads, the money line bet is perhaps the second-most popular. These are straight bets on who will win, where you just need to know the favourite, underdog, and the odds. Their simplicity appeals to a lot of bettors. The score doesn’t matter if your team wins.
Money line bets are popular with other American sports, such as the NFL. You can find a lot of them wherever American Football Odds are listed. Point spread betting exists in the NFL too, it’s just not as popular as point spreads in basketball.
Both betting types have their advantages and disadvantages. Assuming the vig is the same, point spread bets equalise the odds between the favourite and the underdog. This can make backing either more palatable than it would be with money line betting, where you’d need to wager more when backing the favourite.
Where Can I Place Point Spreads in Basketball?
At talkSPORT BET, we include point spreads for upcoming NBA matchups. To place a point spread bet, you first need to have an account with our sportsbook. Signing up requires an email and password, after which you also need to credit your account. When doing that, you can also become eligible for newcomer offers on-site.
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From there, you find the game you’re interested in under our Basketball tab. Then you choose your odds, put down a stake, and confirm your bet. You may also want to take a look at our Safer Gambling Portal, where we have useful resources about safe betting practices.