For you who bet on games, a question

[MHS Rebel]

What is the difference between this.

Team 1 is +3.5
Team 2 is -3.5.

Isn't that the same thing?

For example, if Tenn is +14.5 against Arky, but Arky is -14.5. Huh?

 

[miket4god]

What is the difference between this.

Team 1 is +3.5
Team 2 is -3.5.

Isn't that the same thing?

For example, if Tenn is +14.5 against Arky, but Arky is -14.5. Hu

In your example, Team 1 is the underdog by 3.5 points.
Team 2 is favored by 3.5 points.

So if you bet on Team 2 they must win by 4 or more points for you to win the bet.

 

[Bearkat_Vol]

What is the difference between this.

Team 1 is +3.5
Team 2 is -3.5.

Isn't that the same thing?

For example, if Tenn is +14.5 against Arky, but Arky is -14.5. Huh?

You will sometimes see something like "-110" quoted with the "spread." This means that for each $1 bet, you must put up an extra 10 cents (or ten percent of your bet) in commission. You will get the twice your bet plus the commission if you win. If you lose, then you lose your bet and the commission.

This is why bettors, on average, lose money in the long run when the line represent a 'fair' bet.

 

[05_never_again]

What is the difference between this.

Team 1 is +3.5
Team 2 is -3.5.

Isn't that the same thing?

For example, if Tenn is +14.5 against Arky, but Arky is -14.5. Huh?

Yes, it is the same thing.

Some books will only show one those lines since kind of redundant to show both. If one team is a 14.5 point favorite (-14.5 after their name) then the other team is obviously a 14.5 point underdog (+14.5 after their name).

 

[MHS Rebel]

Yes, it is the same thing.

Some books will only show one those lines since kind of redundant to show both. If one team is a 14.5 point favorite (-14.5 after their name) then the other team is obviously a 14.5 point underdog (+14.5 after their name).

Sometimes I see betting lines by the same book where +/- are interspersed in their list of games. Why the inconsistencies?

Pseudoexample:
Tenn +14.5
PSU -2.5
ISU -8.5
TSU +5.5

I also laugh at the use of .5 so there can be no ties.

 

[05_never_again]

Sometimes I see betting lines by the same book where +/- are interspersed in their list of games. Why the inconsistencies?

Pseudoexample:
Tenn +14.5
PSU -2.5
ISU -8.5
TSU +5.5

I also laugh at the use of .5 so there can be no ties.

Some books will display the point spread by whichever team is the home team. Depending on if the home team is the favorite or the underdog, you'll see a + or a - after the team name. For example, using 2 of this week's games:

Tennessee
Arkansas +14.5

Missouri
Texas A&M -2.5

Point spreads can be whole numbers. A bet on those games can end in a push (all bets are refunded on that game). For example, if UGA beats Auburn 45-21 people who took UGA -24 and Auburn +24 get their bet refunded.

 

[MHS Rebel]

Some books will display the point spread by whichever team is the home team.

Thanks. I learned something today.

 

[jackaro]

Does it upset anyone else that one cannot find news about college football without having to see it through the lense of gambling? I have nothing against gambling but sports coverage should be about sports, not the gambling odds. There should be seperate resources for that.

 

[LouderVol]

Does it upset anyone else that one cannot find news about college football without having to see it through the lense of gambling? I have nothing against gambling but sports coverage should be about sports, not the gambling odds. There should be seperate resources for that.

I really hate that gameday covers it at all, yet alone has that "expert" who is consistently under 50%.

 

[MHS Rebel]

Does it upset anyone else that one cannot find news about college football without having to see it through the lense of gambling? I have nothing against gambling but sports coverage should be about sports, not the gambling odds. There should be seperate resources for that.

If you watch the DET / HOU baseball game on right now, they have the odds of winning on screen in real time with the pitch count/score/inning, etc.
Right now, it's 64% Houston. Changes each inning.

 

[Remy]

Be advised betting and getting half points is a serendipity if you can get it. Why? Because if the house or bookie with points given or taken results in a tie, he pays nobody, he takes everybody's money. The line slides back and forth so not all bets come in with the same odds. But if half points are given/taken there cannot be a tie. Also, make your bet on game day. You never can tell when an event like the flu bug or something else occurs affecting the variables of the game late such as field conditions, weather, or players.