This article walks through what a +5.5 basketball spread means, why the half point matters, and how sportsbooks typically settle those wagers. It focuses on standard U.S. conventions so you can read and grade lines like a confident follower of nba spreads today. If you are new to spreads, the goal here is simple: by the end you should be able to state in one sentence what +5.5 means, list the outcomes that make the bet win or lose, and know where to check rules that affect settlement.

A +5.5 spread means the underdog has a 5.5-point cushion and covers by winning or losing by five or fewer.

Half-point lines remove pushes, so bets always settle as wins or losses unless the market is void for another reason.

Most full-game spreads include overtime in settlement unless a market explicitly states regulation-only.

What a +5.5 spread means, nba spreads today made simple

Quick definition

In plain terms, a +5.5 point spread means the listed team is a 5.5-point underdog and covers if it wins outright or loses by five points or fewer, with no push possible because of the half point, which prevents ties and forces a decisive settlement for the wager.

This convention, where the plus sign marks the underdog and the minus sign marks the favorite, is a standard way to assign cushion to a team when grading spread bets in U.S. markets; for a clear primer on the point spread concept see the Investopedia explanation of point spreads Investopedia point spread article and the DraftKings spread guide DraftKings spread guide.

Why the half point matters

A half point on a posted line removes the chance of a push by shifting the required margin so scores that would otherwise tie the spread now result in a win or loss, which is why many bettors prefer half-point markets for decisive outcomes.

That design is part of how spreads are presented across U.S. books and helps avoid the return of stakes that occurs when the final margin equals a whole-number spread, a handling described in sportsbook house rules DraftKings house rules.

Quick margin check for a posted spread

Enter final scores and posted spread to see if the underdog covers

How the +5.5 grading works in practice and what 'covers' looks like

Outcome scenarios (win, lose by 1-5, lose by 6+)

Here are the concrete scenarios every bettor should know: if the underdog with a +5.5 wins the game, the spread bet covers; if the underdog loses by one to five points, the +5.5 still covers; if the underdog loses by six points or more, the +5.5 loses. (See OddsJam's explanation OddsJam point-spread.)

From the favorite perspective, a -5.5 line requires a win by six or more for the favorite to cover, which is the mirror outcome of the +5.5 condition BetMGM house rules.

Numbered examples make this easier to check: 1) Underdog wins outright: covers. 2) Underdog loses by five: covers. 3) Underdog loses by six: does not cover. These three outcomes map directly to how sportsbooks grade spread wagers based on the posted margin.

To see the logic in action, think of the spread as points assigned to the underdog that are added to their final score for grading purposes; the half point simply shifts the cutoff so a tie is impossible.

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Favorite perspective: -5.5 explained

From the favorite side, the -5.5 means the favorite must outscore the opponent by six or more for a bet on the favorite to win; losing by five or fewer or failing to reach a six-point margin means the favorite does not cover.

That symmetric relationship between plus and minus spreads is the basic grading mechanism across point-spread markets and is central to evaluating ATS records.

Settlement rules: pushes, half points, and overtime in nba spreads today

What is a push and when it happens

A push occurs when the final margin equals the posted spread on a whole-number line and sportsbooks typically void or refund such wagers under their house rules, so bettors should be aware that pushes happen only on whole-number spreads and not when a half point is present Caesars house rules.

Because half-point lines like +5.5 remove the possibility of a push, bets settle as wins or losses; that is the primary practical reason books offer half points on many lines.

Regulation-only markets vs full-game settlement

Most full-game point-spread markets include overtime scoring in settlement unless the market is explicitly labeled regulation-only; that distinction is documented in major house-rule sections and affects how a final result is calculated for grading the spread BetMGM house rules.

If you see a market marked regulation-only, the game result used to grade the bet stops at the end of regulation play and excludes overtime, so always check the market labeling and the sportsbook's rule summary before placing a wager.

Close up betting slip showing plus 5.5 line with two simple annotations explaining covers and does not cover in a minimalist Funded Plays style colors nba spreads today

Evaluating whether +5.5 is good value depends on matchup context: team form, injuries, pace of play, and home-court influence can shift the expected margin, and the extra 2.5 points over a +3 line is the margin buffer you get with a +5.5.

Use ATS performance as a shorthand for whether a team regularly covers spreads of that size; ATS stands for against the spread and is the standard metric for judging spread outcomes and long-term performance tracking American Gaming Association glossary.

Practical checks before committing: review recent margins of victory, note injuries that affect rotation depth, and compare pace metrics to see if a game is likely to stay close or widen the gap; these items together tell you whether the 5.5-point cushion is meaningful for the matchup.

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Common mistakes and pitfalls when reading and betting +5.5 lines

Misreading half points and pushes

A common error is assuming a push can happen on a half-point line; that is incorrect because the half point is specifically there to avoid ties, so a +5.5 cannot push and will always settle as a win or loss.

Another mistake is confusing the plus or minus sign with home or away designation; the plus indicates the underdog and the minus indicates the favorite and these signs are independent of which team is listed at home.

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Ignoring house-rule exceptions

House rules can vary in edge cases, such as how canceled games are handled or how late scoring may be treated for certain markets, so always read the sportsbook's settlement policies for the specific market you plan to use DraftKings house rules.

If you do not check those exceptions you can misread outcomes, for example by assuming overtime counts when a market is regulation-only, which may lead to unexpected lost bets even when your margin prediction was correct in regulation.

Final score: Favorite 102, Underdog 98. Posted line: Underdog +5.5. Grading: subtract the favorite's score from the underdog's score and add the posted spread for a check; the underdog loses by four points in raw margin, which is within the 5.5 cushion, so the +5.5 bet covers.

Minimal 2D vector timeline illustrating a scoreline moving from regulation to overtime with visual settlement difference for regulation only versus full game markets nba spreads today

When you write the calculation out it looks like this: 98 plus 5.5 equals 103.5 versus 102, so the adjusted underdog total exceeds the favorite for settlement.

Final score: Favorite 110, Underdog 103. Posted line: Favorite -5.5. Grading: the favorite wins by seven points, which exceeds the 5.5 threshold, so a bet on the favorite covers under the posted -5.5 line.

That direct threshold test is the simple arithmetic most bettors use to grade results mentally after a final box score; the half point makes the required margin unambiguous.

How does a +5.5 point spread settle in basketball, and does overtime count?

A +5.5 spread gives the underdog 5.5 points of cushion and covers if the underdog wins or loses by five or fewer; pushes are impossible with a half point, and overtime is included in settlement for full-game markets unless a specific market is marked regulation-only.

Final score after regulation: Favorite 105, Underdog 100. Posted line: Underdog +5.5. If overtime is played and the final including overtime is Favorite 112, Underdog 110, then the margin used to settle the bet depends on whether the market includes overtime; when markets are full-game the overtime scoring is included and this final would grade differently than if the market were regulation-only Caesars house rules.

Always check the market label: if it says regulation-only the grading stops at the 105 to 100 result and the underdog would have covered in that case, whereas a full-game market would use the 112 to 110 final and produce a different settlement outcome.

Summary and next steps for reading nba spreads today confidently

Quick takeaway checklist

Key takeaways: +5.5 gives the underdog 5.5 points of cushion; half points eliminate pushes; plus and minus signs show underdog and favorite; and overtime usually counts unless a market is marked regulation-only.

Before placing a bet, check the sportsbook's house rules for settlement specifics, track outcomes ATS to measure your predictions, and apply simple bankroll discipline to manage risk while testing reads on spreads. Read how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Where to check exact house rules

For definitive settlement language consult the sportsbook's published house rules or market labeling, which explain push handling, overtime inclusion, and other grading conventions; for general point spread definitions, review an educational primer on the topic Investopedia point spread article or the RG.org guide Mastering NBA Spread Betting - RG.org.

Using these checks will reduce surprises and help you interpret nba spreads today with more confidence in how wagers will settle.

How does a +5.5 bet win or lose?

A +5.5 bet wins if the underdog wins outright or loses by five points or fewer; it loses if the underdog loses by six or more.

Does overtime count when settling a +5.5 spread?

Yes for most full-game markets; if a market is labeled regulation-only then overtime is excluded, so check the market label and house rules.

Can a +5.5 ever result in a push?

No, a half-point like .5 removes the possibility of a push because the final margin cannot exactly equal the posted spread.

Understanding a +5.5 line is mostly about the arithmetic of margins and the small but important rule differences sportsbooks publish. With clear tracking and a habit of checking market labels and house rules, you can avoid common surprises and interpret nba spreads today with greater certainty. If you want to practice reading lines and grading outcomes without risking funds, consider structured practice options that simulate account management and let you measure your decision-making over time.