Understanding the NFL Point Spread

If you're just starting to bet on the NFL, then understanding how to read the NFL point spread can seem a little confusing. But they're actually pretty simple to comprehend once you have a little guidance.The NFL Point SpreadA point spread is set by oddsmakers to give both teams an equal chance of winning (at least in the eyes of gamblers). In the NFL (or basically any sport for that matter), when two teams play against each other, one team is usually better than the other. If all you had to do was pick the winner, then it wouldn't be that difficult because all you'd do is bet on the better team. However, since there is a point spread involved, this makes it much more equal.Let's take a look at a real world example that will help us understand sports betting odds. If you were to look online or in the paper, it might look like this:(112) Green Bay 42.5o -110(113) Minnesota -11 -110The numbers in parenthesis identify the game. They are used by the sportsbook to keep track and mean nothing in betting terms. Green Bay and Minnesota are the two NFL teams playing. The 42.5o is the total that is set for the game (we'll talk more about this below) and the -110 means you would need to risk $110 to win $100. The -11 is the point spread that Minnesota is favored to win by and the -110 are the odds for the point spread (risk $110 to win $100).If you bet on Minnesota and they win the game by 12 or more points then you would win your bet. However, if they win by 10 or less (or lose), then you would lose your bet. The same goes for Green Bay. If you bet on Green Bay and they lose the game by 10 or less (or win the game out right) then you would win your bet. If they lose by 12 or more then you would lose your bet. However, if Minnesota wins by 11, the game is considered a push and all bets on both teams would be refunded.The 42.5o is the total that is set for the game (total points scored by both teams added together). You can either bet that they score under or over this amount. The odds again are set a -110, but they can vary at different sportsbooks, so it's always important to find the one that's offering the best odds and best point spreads.Sports Betting Juice or VigorishThe typical odds for a point spread are -110, as shown above. This means you would risk $110 to win $100. Although you can bet any amount, it's just that $110 to win $100 is simple to calculate. Like I said, you can wager any amount but you'll still get 11/10 odds.It's important to know when it comes to understanding sports betting odds that the extra money you have to put up (the $10 between $110 and $100) is called the vig/vigorish or juice. This is basically the sportsbooks commission if you lose the bet. If you win the bet, then you'll get your original wager back, $110, along with the $100 that you won. If you lose the bet, then you will lose the original $110 that you risked.The vig/juice and point spreads can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook and from game to game, so it is extremely important to shop around at different sportsbooks to make sure you're getting the best price for the game you're wanting to bet. This is a very important aspect when it comes to the NFL point spread.This should give you a good idea of how to understand the point spread a little better. It's also important to know that basketball spreads are listed the same way. The more you understand and learn, the better sports handicapper you'll become. As always, best of luck in all your sports betting endeavors.