Spreads (also referred to as lines) is a number set by the book to offset the differences in perceived abilities of the teams involved. By giving each team a points/goals/runs handicap, the chances of success for both teams are deemed to be even.
Betting on the spread is betting on the margin of victory. Each outcome of a points spread bet has a line (or handicap) attached to it.
For example, Team 1 is a 7-point favorite (-7) against Team 2.
If you bet on Team 1, you will need them to win the game by 8 points or more for you to win your bet. If you bet on Team 2, you will need them to either win the game or lose the game by 6 points or less to win your bet.
If the margin is exactly the same as the spread (Team 1 wins by 7 points or Team 2 loses by 7 points) this is a push.
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