Point Spread Betting
The point spread is the most popular bet type in NFL and college football. Instead of picking who wins, you pick who covers; by how many.
How a point spread works
The sportsbook posts a "spread" that handicaps the favorite. The favorite must win by more than the spread; the underdog can lose by less than the spread (or win outright) and still cover.
NFL example: Chiefs -7.5 vs Vikings +7.5
| Chiefs -7.5 (-110) | Chiefs must win by 8 or more to cover. |
| Vikings +7.5 (-110) | Vikings cover if they lose by 7 or fewer, or win outright. |
What -110 means
The (-110) next to the spread is the moneyline price for that side. -110 is "standard juice"; bet $110 to win $100. The 10% premium is the sportsbook's edge. Sharp shops like Circa regularly post -105 lines, lowering the break-even win rate from 52.4% to 51.2%.
The hook
The half-point on a spread (e.g. -7.5 instead of -7) is called the hook. It eliminates the possibility of a push (a tie at exactly -7) and forces a winner. Buying off the hook; moving from -7.5 to -7 for a worse price; can be worth it on key NFL numbers like 3 and 7.
Key numbers in NFL spreads
NFL games most commonly land on margins of 3, 7, 6, 10 and 14. A spread of 2.5 or 3.5 is very different from 3 because so many games end with a 3-point margin (about 14% of all NFL games).
College football spreads
College spreads are wider and more volatile than NFL; Iowa Hawkeyes games may post lines of -14 or +21 vs ranked opponents. Lower-leverage early-season games can have softer lines and offer value if you follow Big Ten or Big 12 teams closely.
Where to shop spreads in Iowa
Line shopping matters. Half a point can flip a winner into a push. Compare lines at three or more operators before placing; most competitive Iowa books are DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and the sharper Circa Sports.