Point spreads use plus and minus signs to turn a game into a contest of margins rather than just a contest of winners. Understanding that a + line helps an underdog and a - line asks a favorite to win by more than the number is the first step to reading any NFL spread. This guide walks through the core definitions, the math behind covers and pushes, and practical examples you can use to verify outcomes. It also points to the common operator rules and small display differences that matter for settlement so you can practice with confidence.

Plus means underdog, minus means favorite; the number is the handicap used to judge the final margin.

Whole-number spreads can produce pushes; half-points remove that possibility and force a win or loss.

Always check operator grading rules and use simple subtraction to confirm whether a bet covered.

What nfl football point spreads mean: plus and minus basics

Point spreads use the plus and minus signs to show which team starts with an advantage or handicap in a game. In U.S. markets the plus sign marks the underdog and the minus sign marks the favorite; the numeric value is subtracted from the favorite or added to the underdog when comparing the final margin to the posted line, so a negative line means that team must win by more than the number to cover, and a positive line means that team can lose by fewer points than the number or win outright to cover Investopedia point spread explainer.

Funded Plays Challenges

Review challenge rules

Books and operators set spreads as handicaps to balance wagering on both sides; the goal is even action rather than to predict the winner for its own sake, so the spread is judged against the final scoring margin rather than the moneyline result American Gaming Association guide.

What the plus sign (+) indicates

A plus sign before a number indicates the underdog and the number shows how many points are added to that team when settling the wager. If a team is +7, that team covers when it wins outright or when it loses by fewer than 7 points; if the final margin equals 7 in a whole-number line, the result is determined by the operator's push rule Investopedia point spread explainer.

What the minus sign (-) indicates

A minus sign marks the favorite and means that team must win by more than the listed number to cover the spread. For example a -7 favorite needs to win by 8 or more for wagers on that side to be graded as winners under standard settlement logic Investopedia point spread explainer.

Why books use spreads

Operators use spreads to level perceived differences between teams, encouraging wagering on both sides and reducing single-sided exposure; treating the line as a handicap helps maintain balanced books and clearer pricing for markets American Gaming Association guide.

How to read nfl football point spreads: cover, push and settlement

Reading a spread requires comparing the final official scoring margin to the posted number and then applying the terms win, loss, or push. A favorite with a negative number covers only when the final margin strictly exceeds the number, while an underdog with a positive number covers when the final margin is less than the number or when the underdog wins outright Investopedia point spread explainer.

What it means to 'cover'

To decide whether a bet covered, subtract the losing team's points from the winner's points to get the margin, then compare that margin to the posted spread; if the favorite's margin is larger than the negative number on the board, the favorite covered, and wagers on the underdog lose in that case unless a house rule states otherwise Legal Sports Report explanation.

When a push happens

When a spread is a whole number, a final margin that equals the posted line creates a push and stakes are typically returned in standard operator rules; that is why a -7 favorite that wins by exactly 7 points usually results in no win or loss for spread bets on that line Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

House-rule exceptions and where to check

Some operators or jurisdictions add specific grading details, timing rules for official score confirmation, or tie-break conditions, so bettors should check the platform's posted grading page or regulator guidance for final settlement practices Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

Why half-point lines matter and how they prevent pushes

When a bookmaker adds a half-point to a spread, it removes the possibility of a push because games cannot end with half-point margins; a -3.5 favorite either covers or loses, there is no tie, and that certainty changes how single bets are resolved Colorado Division of Gaming rule text.

Traders often use half-points to move a market past a whole-number threshold where a push might occur, and adding or removing a half-point can be a way to balance books when money is heavier on one side Legal Sports Report explanation.

quick cover or push check for a posted spread

Enter final official scores

What a half-point (e.g., -3.5) does

A half-point forces a binary outcome on the spread market: win or loss. Because no football score can create a half-point margin, a -3.5 favorite that wins by 4 covers and one that wins by 3 does not, so bettors know there will be no push for that ticket Investopedia point spread explainer.

Examples showing win/loss outcomes

Compare -7 and -7.5 in the same matchup: if a favorite wins by 7, the -7 line results in a push while the -7.5 line results in a losing ticket for that side; bettors should be aware that the half-point can change the outcome for the exact same final score Colorado Division of Gaming rule text.

Common uses of half-points in NFL markets

Half-points are common when books want to force a decisive grading outcome or when bettors crowd one side of the market; they are a normal part of NFL pricing and can appear at open or as line movement in response to money flow or injury news Legal Sports Report explanation.

How betting lines are displayed and common formatting conventions

Close up mobile betting app comparing nfl football point spreads showing minus 7 and minus 7.5 on adjacent cards in a minimalist Funded Plays dark theme

You will see lines shown in different formats across apps and board displays, but the sign before the number is the consistent indicator of favorite or underdog regardless of where the number sits relative to the team name The Athletic how-to read lines.

Home/away order and rotation numbers

Listings sometimes put the home team first, sometimes second, and often include rotation numbers used by operators to identify markets, but those display choices do not change what the plus or minus sign means when you compute cover or push outcomes American Gaming Association guide.

Where the sign appears and how to read it

Some interfaces show the spread immediately after a team name, others use a separate column; always read the sign with the number and treat it as the handicap to apply to that team when settling the wager The Athletic how-to read lines.

Operator display differences to watch

Minor display quirks, such as whether a price is shown as -7 or 7 with a small negative marker, are presentation differences and do not affect the underlying math; if an interface is unclear, consult the operator's legend or help pages for clarification American Gaming Association guide.

Rules of 'cover' in practice: favorites vs underdogs with examples

Favorite example step-through

Take a -7 favorite and a final score of Favorite 28, Underdog 21; the margin is 7, so a -7 line does not exceed the margin and that result is a push under typical grading rules, meaning stakes are returned rather than winning or losing for spread bets on that number Investopedia point spread explainer.

Now the same favorite wins 31-21; the margin is 10, which is greater than 7, so the -7 favorite covers and wagers on the favorite win under standard settlement logic Legal Sports Report explanation.

What does +/- mean in point spreads?

A plus sign means the underdog gets that many points; a minus sign means the favorite must win by more than that number to cover. Settlement compares the final scoring margin to the posted spread to determine a win, loss, or push.

Underdog example step-through

Consider a +7 underdog that loses 24-20; the margin is 4, which is less than 7, so the +7 underdog covers and wagers on that side win, because the underdog's added seven points would make the adjusted result favorable to that side Investopedia point spread explainer.

What equals a push

A push happens when the final margin exactly matches a whole-number posted spread; for example a 10-point victory against a -10 favorite usually returns stakes to both sides unless an operator posts a different house rule, so always check the operator's posted grading rules for confirmation Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

Practical nfl examples: three real-game scenarios and grading outcomes

Close game underdog covers example

Hypothetical score: Underdog 23, Favorite 20, posted line Favorite -3. The margin is 3 in favor of the underdog, so the underdog wins outright and covers the +3 by any definition that gives the underdog the added points; bets on the underdog are winners in that scenario Investopedia point spread explainer.

If the same game had the line at -3.5 instead, the underdog's 3-point victory still wins and covers, and there is no push because the half-point eliminates that outcome Colorado Division of Gaming rule text.

Favorite wins but fails to cover example

Hypothetical score: Favorite 27, Underdog 24, posted line Favorite -7. The favorite wins by 3, which is less than 7, so wagers on the favorite lose while wagers on the underdog win because the underdog covered by keeping the loss within the posted number Investopedia point spread explainer.

With the same final score and a -3.5 line instead, the favorite would cover because the margin of 3 is greater than 3.5 when treated as a real number comparison, so small line differences can flip outcomes Legal Sports Report explanation.

Half-point example avoiding a push

Hypothetical score: Favorite 24, Underdog 17, posted line Favorite -7. If the final margin is 7, the -7 line produces a push and stakes are returned; if the board shows -7.5 instead, that same 7-point victory results in a loss for the favorite side because the margin does not exceed 7.5, so the half-point changes how the ticket settles Colorado Division of Gaming rule text.

After any of these scenarios the operator will usually reference an official scoring source and the posted grading rules to confirm settlement, so bettors should refer to the operator's rule page for the timing and authoritative score used to grade tickets Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

Common mistakes and pitfalls when interpreting nfl football point spreads

One frequent error is equating the moneyline outcome with spread settlement; a team can win a game but fail to cover the spread if the margin is too small, so keep the two concepts separate when you judge results American Gaming Association guide.

Another common mistake is overlooking whole-number versus half-point lines; forgetting a half-point can turn a push into a loss or win, so always note whether a line includes a half-point when you calculate outcomes Investopedia point spread explainer.

Check grading rules and practice cover math

Before placing a bet or testing a strategy, review the operator's grading rules and practice the cover math on a few sample scores to reduce simple settlement errors.

Review challenge rules

Finally, misreading display formats such as rotation numbers or team ordering can cause confusion; if a platform's layout is unclear, consult the operator's interface legend before staking funds The Athletic how-to read lines.

Decision criteria: when to use point spreads vs alternatives and verifying rules

Point spreads suit strategies that seek predictable payout structures tied to margins, because they change the payout calculus compared with moneyline bets that simply pay for a correct winner; bettors who want an outcome tied to margin rather than result may prefer spread markets Legal Sports Report explanation.

When spreads suit your strategy

Spread bets can be useful when you expect a team to win by a certain margin and want a more favorable price than a moneyline offers, but they require careful attention to pushes and house grading rules before staking money Investopedia point spread explainer.

Minimalist 2D vector infographic showing two team scores 27 and 21 calculated margin 6 checked box indicating cover and a no half points icon nfl football point spreads

Alternatives: moneyline and totals

If you prefer a single-team winner payoff without margin concerns, a moneyline is the alternative; totals are a separate market that focuses on combined points rather than which team covers the handicap American Gaming Association guide.

Checklist for verifying operator grading

Before placing stakes, confirm whether a sportsbook uses half-points, how they define official final score, the timing of grade updates, and any special conditions listed on the grading page; regulator and operator pages commonly publish these details Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

Quick summary and next steps: verify rules and practice the math

In short, the plus sign marks the underdog and the minus sign marks the favorite; covers depend on whether the final margin exceeds the posted handicap, whole-number lines can push, and half-points remove pushes to force wins or losses Investopedia point spread explainer.

Next steps: practice the subtraction method on sample scores, and check the operator's posted grading rules or regulator guidance before testing strategies in a funded challenge or practice environment Ohio Casino Control Commission guide.

What does a + sign mean on an NFL point spread?

A + sign marks the underdog; that team covers if it wins outright or loses by fewer points than the posted number.

What happens if the final margin equals the spread?

If the spread is a whole number and the final margin equals it, that outcome is a push and stakes are typically returned under standard rules.

Why do some lines include a half-point?

A half-point removes the possibility of a push so the ticket settles as either a win or a loss.

Reading spreads is mostly arithmetic plus a quick check of house rules. Practice on sample scores, confirm grading policies on the operator or regulator page you use, and build a routine of disciplined verification before entering a funded challenge or placing a stake. If you want a low-risk way to practice spread math and grading behavior, consider testing your workflow in a simulated or challenge environment that preserves your process without real-money exposure.