What is a point spread in sports betting?
A point spread is a margin of victory set by the betting site: the favorite must win by more than the spread, and the underdog can lose by less than the spread or win outright.
Updated November 6, 2026, 3:08 PM ET. Source: ESPN.
How it reads
A minus number is the favorite and a plus number is the underdog. The half point, such as 2.5, removes ties.
Real example from ESPN, Nov 6, 2026
ESPN lists DraftKings spreads for tonight's NBA Cup games:
- 76ers at Cavaliers: 76ers -2.5. The 76ers cover by winning by 3 or more. The Cavaliers +2.5 cover by winning or losing by 2 or fewer.
- Wizards at Hawks: Hawks -7.5.
- Spurs at Kings: Spurs -17.5, the widest of the nine games.
- Timberwolves at Pelicans: Timberwolves -3.5.
Spread versus money line
A spread depends on the margin. A money line depends only on who wins. For 76ers at Cavaliers, ESPN lists 76ers -148 and Cavaliers +125 on the money line.
What spreads do not tell you
A spread is a price, not a forecast. It moves, as covered on our line movement page, and it says nothing certain about the final score.
Research more
- Tonight's games and lines
- NBA hit rates for every player
- NBA Cup games tonight
- What is EV in sports betting?
- How to read line movement
See every player's hit rates free for 24 hours at darimarket.us.
21+. Research, not picks: this page explains terms and shows past results and lines as listed by ESPN. It is not a prediction. If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FAQ
What does -2.5 mean on a point spread? The team must win by 3 or more to cover.
What does +2.5 mean on a point spread? The team covers by winning, or by losing by 2 points or fewer.
What is the difference between a spread and a money line? A spread uses the margin of victory. A money line only asks who wins.