What does a Spread of -7 Mean?

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In sports betting, a spread of -7 means that the team favored to win (the favorite) is expected to win by more than 7 points. Here’s a detailed explanation of what this means and how it works:

Understanding the Point Spread

  1. Point Spread Basics:
    • Favorite and Underdog: The point spread is a type of wager designed to level the playing field between two teams. One team is the favorite (expected to win) and the other is the underdog (expected to lose).
    • Spread: The spread is the number of points by which the favorite is expected to win.
  2. Interpreting a -7 Spread:
    • Favorite: The team with a -7 spread is the favorite. This means they need to win the game by more than 7 points for a bet on them to win.
    • Underdog: The opposing team (underdog) would have a spread of +7. This means they can either win the game outright or lose by fewer than 7 points for a bet on them to win.

Examples

  1. Betting on the Favorite (-7):
    • Scenario: If you bet on the favorite with a -7 spread, they must win the game by more than 7 points.
    • Outcome: If the favorite wins by 8 points or more, you win the bet. If they win by exactly 7 points, the bet is a push (tie), and your wager is returned. If they win by 6 points or less, or lose the game, you lose the bet.
  2. Betting on the Underdog (+7):
    • Scenario: If you bet on the underdog with a +7 spread, they must either win the game or lose by fewer than 7 points.
    • Outcome: If the underdog wins the game outright or loses by 6 points or less, you win the bet. If they lose by exactly 7 points, the bet is a push, and your wager is returned. If they lose by 8 points or more, you lose the bet.

Practical Example

  • Game: Team A vs. Team B
  • Spread: Team A is the favorite with a -7 spread, and Team B is the underdog with a +7 spread.

If you bet on Team A (-7):

  • Win by 8 or more: You win.
  • Win by exactly 7: Push (bet is returned).
  • Win by 6 or less / Lose: You lose.

If you bet on Team B (+7):

  • Win the game: You win.
  • Lose by 6 or less: You win.
  • Lose by exactly 7: Push (bet is returned).
  • Lose by 8 or more: You lose.

Conclusion

A spread of -7 means the favorite team must win by more than 7 points for a bet on them to be successful. It balances the betting action by giving the underdog a virtual advantage of 7 points. Understanding point spreads is crucial for sports bettors as it affects how bets are placed and the conditions under which bets win or lose.

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