This article explains what the plus and minus signs on a point spread mean and why that label alone does not tell the full story. You will learn how pricing and the vigorish affect the break-even rate, how house rules treat pushes and hooks, and a practical framework to decide whether the underdog or the favorite offers value. The goal is a clear, repeatable process: read the number, compare it to your model, include price and settlement rules, then size your wager responsibly. These steps help you move beyond a simple preference for plus or minus toward disciplined decision-making.

The plus or minus sign only tells you who is favorite or underdog; value depends on number and price.

Common -110 pricing increases the break-even rate, so you need more than 50 percent wins to profit.

Half-point hooks remove pushes and can change a bet from a tie into a win or loss.

What the point spread actually means

Favorite versus underdog: what the signs indicate

The point spread is a tool bookmakers use to make a contest about margin rather than only who wins. The favorite carries a minus sign and must win by more than the spread to cover. The underdog shows a plus sign and can lose by up to the spread or win outright and still cover the bet, a basic distinction described in plain terms by the American Gaming Association and other explainers American Gaming Association sports betting guide.

Concrete example: if Team A is listed at -7, Team A must win by 8 points or more for a bet on Team A to win. If Team B is +7, a bet on Team B wins if Team B wins the game or loses by 7 points or fewer. If the final margin is exactly seven, that situation is called a push and stakes are usually returned under typical settlement rules Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Covering the spread: win margins and settlement, how to bet the point spread

Covering the spread depends on the final margin, not only who wins. When a listed spread is a whole number, ties at that margin typically become pushes and the bettor gets the stake back according to many house rules; half-point differences remove that exact tie and force a winning or losing result instead Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

compute margin difference to check cover and pushes

Use for quick push checks

Use this quick calculator to check whether your predicted margin clears a spread and what a push would mean for your stake. Enter your expected margin and the posted spread to see the difference and confirm whether a push is possible with the listed number.

How point-spread pricing and vigorish work

Typical -110 pricing and what it implies

Most U.S. point-spread markets price each side around -110. That number shows how sportsbooks collect a built-in commission, often called the vigorish or vig, which is how operators recover costs and manage risk rather than paying out exactly even odds Legal Sports Report spread explainer. See BettingUSA's explainer on vig for additional context BettingUSA vig.

Calculating the break-even win rate with vig

With common -110 pricing you need to win more than 50 percent of your bets to be profitable because the vig increases the break-even rate. In simple terms, a -110 price implies you must win about 52.38 percent of bets to break even after fees, a calculation explained in everyday language by Investopedia and market explainers Investopedia vig definition. The term vigorish is also defined in other overviews vigorish.

Think of it like this: you risk 110 to win 100 on a single wager, so your average success rate must cover that built-in cost. Prices vary between books and contests, so always check the posted price when evaluating expected value before you act Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Practice spread decision-making in a structured challenge

Practice making spread decisions in a challenge format to build discipline and test timing without risking real money.

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House rules, pushes and the role of hooks

Whole-number spreads and standard push settlement

House rules determine how pushes are handled. Many operators refund stakes when a spread lands exactly on a whole number; this means a -7 versus +7 match that ends with a seven-point margin becomes a push and the bet is returned rather than paid out Caesars sportsbook house rules.

Because these rules can differ, it is important to confirm the operator's settlement terms before you make a bet. Knowing whether a push returns the stake or is handled differently changes the value calculation you might use when choosing between two closely priced options Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Half-point hooks and why they matter

Half-point hooks remove the possibility of a push by shifting a whole-number spread into a half point. For instance, a -3 line that moves to -3.5 will eliminate a tie at three and thus turn what might have been a push into a win or loss. Hooks can be decisive for close games and are a common reason bettors shop numbers across operators before placing a wager Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

When a hook is present, your model must account for the slightly different outcomes. That small difference is often worth attention because it changes both the settlement outcome and the implied risk you accept when placing a spread bet Caesars sportsbook house rules.

Why lines move: public money, news and sportsbook behavior

Information flow: injuries, matchups and reports

Lines move because new information arrives between the opening number and game time. Injury reports, confirmed lineups and matchup details routinely change expectations and can shift a line several points in response to new facts or perceived advantages Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Tracking those information flows helps you understand whether a market has already priced an important update or whether the posted number still offers an edge relative to your own assessment. Timing is part of the decision process when you decide to act on an early number or wait for more certainty Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

How betting flows and market structure influence closing lines

Close full frame shot of a mobile screen showing a betting spread line with -3.5 and -3 next to a pen and notes illustrating how to bet the point spread in a minimalist Funded Plays style

Public money and sharp action both move lines. Sometimes a lot of public volume on one side will push a number, and sometimes sharper bettors can cause moves because books respect information that looks repeatable. Moreover, markets are not organized the same as financial exchanges, and research shows books may take positions rather than perfectly balancing both sides of an event Becker Friedman Institute working paper.

For anyone studying line movement, the key habit is to track opening lines, monitor significant news updates, and note how the price changes. Comparing your estimate to the closing line can also be a useful diagnostic of how well your process captures market information Legal Sports Report spread explainer. Visit the Funded Plays homepage for more resources. Funded Plays homepage

Choosing plus or minus: a value-based framework

Assess the number, then the price

Plus or minus alone does not determine which side you should back. The sign is only a label; value comes from comparing a posted market number to your own estimate of the true expected margin and from making sure the price pays for the risk after vigorish is considered Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Here is a short decision framework: first, form a model or estimate of the expected margin. Second, compare that margin to the market number. Third, check the price including vig to see whether you have an edge. Fourth, size your stake relative to your bankroll and confidence. This sequence helps you move from a simple plus versus minus question to a disciplined, repeatable choice backed by numbers and risk control Becker Friedman Institute working paper.

Funded Plays Challenges

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Using market movement and information to identify value

Market movement and the timing of news can reveal whether value truly exists. If your model says a team should be favored by 5 but the market posts -3.5, that difference may represent a betting edge after you include the vig and confirm no late information justifies the market gap Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

When you see movement toward your number, consider whether you should act early or wait to see if the market moves further. Waiting can reduce the chance of being on the wrong side of late news, but acting early sometimes locks a favorable number. The choice depends on your information access, model confidence and bankroll rules Becker Friedman Institute working paper. For more on structured evaluations see how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Decision checklist: when to place a spread bet

Price versus model edge

Use this short checklist as a pre-wager review. Confirm the posted number against your estimate, check the price and implied break-even rate, verify there are no late injury or lineup reports, and ensure the house rules for pushes and settlement match your expectations. These steps help protect expected value and avoid surprises at settlement Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Price shopping matters. Small differences such as a half point or a few cents of price change can swing whether a wager is profitable over time. If you can get a better number at another operator, that difference compounds across many bets and is a real way to improve your long-term return Investopedia vig definition.

Bankroll and timing checks before you wager

Before you place a bet, set a stake size rule tied to your bankroll and your confidence in the pick. Keep stakes consistent and avoid increasing size to chase losses. Responsible play and budget setting remain central habits to protect your capital and decision quality American Gaming Association responsible play guidance.

Keep a simple rule: define maximum percent of bankroll per bet, confirm edge after vig, and record the reason for each wager. This record helps you learn which edges are real and which are emotional reactions to recent results Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Chasing losses and ignoring vig

One frequent error is ignoring the break-even threshold the vig creates. Winning slightly more than half of your bets is not enough when prices sit near -110; you need to clear the higher required win rate or you will lose money overall Investopedia vig definition. See a practical guide on how vig affects returns at Sporting News Sporting News guide.

Another common mistake is increasing stakes after a loss. This behavior typically amplifies risk without improving long-term results. Precommit to stake sizes and stick to them even when a run of bad results tempts you to chase American Gaming Association responsible play guidance.

Is it better to bet the plus or the minus on a point spread?

Neither sign is inherently better. Decide by comparing the market number and price to your own expected margin, account for vigorish and house rules, and size bets based on bankroll and confidence.

Misreading hooks or house rules

Misunderstanding half-point hooks or failing to check house rules can turn a presumed win into a push or loss. Always verify settlement terms for whole-number spreads, especially when a single point or half point separates winning from pushing Caesars sportsbook house rules.

Fixes are simple: read the operator rules before you wager, track whether a market uses half points, and simulate outcomes so you know how pushes will be handled for the bets you place Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Practical examples and scenario walk-throughs

Example A: betting -3.5 versus -3

Suppose your model estimates the favorite will win by 4 points. If the market posts -3, that looks attractive versus your 4 point estimate, but if the available number is -3.5 the half point now matters. A -3.5 line means your expected margin of 4 still covers, but a -3 line leaves room for a push if the game ends with a three point margin. Always confirm settlement rules for the -3 option because a push would return the stake rather than produce a win Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Next, factor in price. If the -3 line is offered at a better price or lower vig than -3.5 across available markets, that price difference can offset the push risk. Use the calculator tool above to check whether your margin comfortably exceeds the spread once you include the effect of vig Investopedia vig definition.

Example B: taking a +7 underdog with late injury news

Imagine a key starter on the favorite is listed questionable on Wednesday and ruled out by game time. If the opener was -9 and the line moves to -7, a +7 underdog that you can take early might now represent value because your model updates the expected margin. Line movement that reacts to confirmed injury reports often reflects real information you can use, but always double check the timing and whether the market has fully adjusted to the news Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

In this scenario, confirm house rules about pushes and hooks. If the book removes the half point making the spread a whole number, a push could occur on a seven point margin. That subtle settlement detail can change whether taking the underdog is truly the best choice Caesars sportsbook house rules.

Minimalist 2D vector split image of an injury report card and a shifting spread line illustrating how to bet the point spread for sports betting

Summary and next steps for responsible bettors

Key takeaways on plus versus minus

Plus and minus signs are labels that show which team is the favorite and which is the underdog; they do not by themselves indicate a better bet. Value comes from the number and the posted price relative to your own margin estimate and the implied break-even after vig Legal Sports Report spread explainer.

Where to learn more and practice

Keep learning by tracking lines, comparing your closing-line estimates to market closes, and practicing decision-making in controlled environments on our blog. Responsible budgeting and sticking to stake rules remain the most reliable behaviors for protecting your long-term results American Gaming Association responsible play guidance. our blog

What does the plus or minus sign mean on a spread?

Minus marks the favorite that must win by more than the spread; plus marks the underdog that can lose by up to the spread and still cover.

How does -110 pricing affect my required win rate?

A common -110 price implies you need to win more than 50 percent of bets, roughly about 52 percent, to break even after the bookmaker fee.

What is a hook and why should I care?

A hook is a half point that removes the chance of a push; hooks change settlement outcomes and can turn a push into a win or loss.

If you want to improve, track your models against closing lines and practice making decisions with clear stake rules. Remember that consistent process and responsible bankroll control are more important than short-term wins. For further reading, consult official rule pages and reputable explainers before wagering, and always confirm operator settlement terms on pushes and half-point hooks.