This explainer walks through what a +5 point spread means in NFL betting, how settlements and pushes work, and practical considerations for payouts and stake sizing. It is aimed at fans who want clear examples and actionable checks for real markets. You will learn how to calculate adjusted scores, why pushes occur, how juice affects payout, and how to convert odds into implied probability to compare value across books. Practical examples and a short checklist help you apply the concepts to your own decision making.

A +5 line gives the backed team five points for settlement, and an exact five point margin is a push returning the stake.

Most U.S. spread bets are priced around -110, so winning spread wagers usually pay slightly less than even money.

Check posted juice, half-point availability and implied probability before deciding whether +5 offers value.

What "+5" means in an NFL point spread

Basic definition

When you see a +5 on a betting board, it means the team you back is given a five point advantage for settlement purposes, so the final game result is compared to that adjusted score to decide whether your bet wins, loses or pushes. What Is the Point Spread

Under standard U.S. sportsbook rules, if the backed team loses by exactly five points the result is a push and the bettor's stake is returned, rather than a win or a loss, so settlement depends on that adjusted score rather than the raw game margin. DraftKings help article

Why bookmakers use spreads

Bookmakers use point spreads to level perceived skill or performance differences so each side attracts roughly equal betting interest, which helps books manage risk and earn commission through the posted odds.

Settlement rules and the possibility of pushes are part of the market mechanics that let books offer balanced two-sided lines while collecting juice from losing bets, and readers should check a book's published settlement terms before placing wagers. BetMGM settlement guide

FundedPlays is a funded sports prediction platform where users can practice spread-based forecasting and evaluation, learn settlement mechanics, and test disciplined staking approaches by completing structured challenges. Funded Plays Challenges

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How spread settlement works in practice

Calculating adjusted scores

To settle a +5 wager you add five points to your backed team's final score and compare that adjusted total to the opponent's final score; the adjusted comparison determines whether the bet is a win, loss or push.

For example, if the final score is 24-20 against your team and you had +5, the adjusted score is 25-24 in your favor, so the spread bet covers and pays according to the posted odds. DraftKings help article

Pushes, voids and cancellations

A push occurs when the adjusted score and the opponent score are equal, and in that case most U.S. books return the original stake rather than treating it as a win or loss; pushes are explicitly addressed in standard bet settlement rules. BetMGM settlement guide What Happens With a Push

Voids and cancellations are different: they occur when a bet is declared void because the event did not meet the sportsbook's conditions, was cancelled, or could not be completed under the rules, and a void normally returns the stake independent of the spread outcome; state or book-specific rules can also change settlement in unusual cases.

Concrete examples: winning, losing and pushing with +5

Example 1: Backing the underdog that loses by 4

Suppose you back Team A at +5 and the final score is Team B 27, Team A 23. Add the five point spread to Team A's total to get 28, which beats Team B's 27, so your spread wager covers and is a winning bet.

In this situation the bet result is independent of whether Team A won the game outright; the spread settlement looks only at the adjusted score to determine cover, loss or push. Pinnacle resource on spreads

Quick pre-bet checklist for +5 lines

Before placing the next spread wager, pause to run a quick checklist: check posted juice, confirm half-point availability, and compare implied probability to your model.

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Example 2: Backing the underdog that loses by 5

If the game ends Team B 30, Team A 25 and you had +5 on Team A, the adjusted score is 30 to 30 and the result is a push, so your original stake is returned per standard settlement policy.

This push outcome is why small differences like half-point lines matter: a half-point removes the push possibility and turns an ambiguous settlement into a clear win or loss, which can change the desirability of taking +5 when alternate lines exist. BetMGM settlement guide

Odds, juice and how much a winning spread pays

Standard -110 pricing and what it means

Most U.S. sportsbooks price point spread bets close to -110 on each side, which means a typical winning spread wager does not pay true even money; the book's commission reduces the payout compared with a 1 to 1 return. NFL Odds - Betting Lines and Point Spreads

Concretely, a standard $110 wager at -110 returns $210 total, which is $100 profit plus the original $110 stake; exceptions exist when books post reduced juice or alternate prices, so always check the posted odds. FanDuel point spread guide

When books post alternate odds

Some markets offer alternate pricing where the juice is lower or the payout structure differs, and those variations can materially affect expected value when comparing the implied probability to your estimate of the true outcome chance.

Because juice changes long run returns, bettors who plan to play spreads regularly should prefer the lowest commission available for the same or similar lines to preserve expected edge. Pinnacle resource on spreads

Converting spread odds into implied probability

Odds-to-probability formula

You can convert American odds like -110 into implied probability using a standard formula, which helps you compare the market's view against your model and decide whether the price shows value.

Minimalist 2D vector comparison of two betting slips with coin stacks showing payout difference using Funded Plays color palette for nfl spreads

For negative American odds the formula is probability = -odds / (-odds + 100); for -110 that gives roughly 52.38 percent implied probability before accounting for the bookmaker margin. Pinnacle odds and probability article

convert American odds to implied probability using a simple formula

enter odds as negative for favorites

Using implied probability for line shopping

Once you have implied probabilities from posted odds, compare them across books and against your model; divergence suggests potential value or mispricing and informs where to place your stake.

Remember to adjust implied probabilities for the bookmaker margin before comparing to your model, because the raw market numbers embed the book's vig and can overstate the market's true consensus probability. Pinnacle margins explanation

Bankroll management and staking when betting spreads

Flat-percentage staking

Many experienced bettors use a flat-percentage staking rule that sizes each bet as a fixed percent of the total bankroll, which limits downside and keeps exposure proportional as the bankroll changes.

Flat-percentage staking is simple to apply and helps avoid large swings from single bets on spread lines like +5, especially because spread wagers usually pay slightly less than even money after juice is accounted for. Investopedia guide on bankroll management

Kelly and risk sizing basics

The Kelly criterion offers a long run optimal sizing rule if you can estimate edge and variance, but many bettors use a fractional Kelly or other conservative variants to reduce volatility and the risk of ruin.

Whatever method you choose, document your staking plan, avoid changing stakes impulsively after short term results, and remember that vig reduces the required edge to turn a long term profit compared with even money bets. Pinnacle resource on spreads

Key NFL numbers and choosing whether to take +5

Why 3 and 7 matter

Certain NFL final margins occur more often because of scoring mechanics, and margins of 3 and 7 are statistically common; understanding these key numbers helps you judge whether a +5 line is likely to result in a push or to favor one side. Pinnacle key numbers article

How does a +5 spread settle and why does an exact five point margin return the stake?

A +5 spread adds five points to the backed team's final score for settlement; when the adjusted score equals the opponent score the result is a push and most U.S. sportsbooks return the bettor's stake under standard settlement rules.

When a half-point matters

A half-point removes the push outcome and turns an ambiguous settlement into a clear win or loss, so if a book offers +5.5 instead of +5 you avoid the stake-return scenario and should weigh whether that certainty is worth the different price or juice.

Always factor the posted juice and the implied probability when deciding between a whole number and a half-point line, because those elements jointly determine long term value. FanDuel point spread guide

Common mistakes bettors make with spreads

Misunderstanding pushes

A frequent error is assuming that a +5 always helps you win; forgetting that an exact five point margin is a push can lead to misplaced expectations about profit and loss from a single ticket. BetMGM settlement guide

Keep in mind that pushes return the stake, which can be helpful for preserving bankroll but is not equivalent to a profitable outcome when you measure long term returns.

Ignoring vig and implied probability

Ignoring the juice is another common mistake: a market priced at -110 requires a slightly higher true edge to be profitable than an even money market, so factor the commission into your expected value calculations. Pinnacle margins explanation

Also avoid varying stake sizes without a clear edge; inconsistent staking increases variance and makes it harder to judge whether your approach is working over time. Investopedia bankroll overview

Practical scenarios and when +5 can be a smart play

Scenario A: market misprice versus your model

If your model assigns a higher probability to the underdog covering than the market-implied probability after adjusting for vig, taking +5 can be a sensible value bet, provided you size the stake according to your staking plan.

Line shopping across books for the best posted juice or a half-point version can increase expected value when the underlying model edge exists. Pinnacle odds and probability article

Scenario B: playing for insurance or downside protection

Sometimes you take +5 not because you expect the underdog to win outright but because the extra points provide downside protection relative to an outright moneyline bet or to a larger parlay exposure.

When using +5 for protection, confirm the juice and consider whether a half-point or reduced commission option provides materially better insurance for a similar cost. Pinnacle resource on spreads

Summary checklist and next steps

Quick checklist before you bet +5

Core takeaway: +5 gives the backed team a five point settlement advantage and an exact five point difference produces a push that returns your stake under standard settlement rules. DraftKings help article

Before placing a spread wager check posted juice, see if a half-point line exists, convert posted odds to implied probability and compare that to your model, then size the wager using a documented staking plan. Investopedia bankroll guide

Where to learn more

For further reading consult the sportsbook help pages, our blog, and betting resources that explain settlement rules, odds conversion and market key numbers so you can apply the checklist consistently across books.

Practice scenarios in simulation or in evaluation challenges to build familiarity with settlement outcomes and stake sizing before committing larger real world funds. Pinnacle resource on spreads

What happens if the game result exactly matches the spread?

If the adjusted score equals the opponent score, most sportsbooks treat the outcome as a push and return your original stake under their settlement rules.

Does taking +5 mean the underdog has to win the game?

No. Taking +5 means the underdog gets five points for settlement, so they can lose the game but still cover the spread if the margin is smaller than five.

How does juice affect a winning spread bet?

Juice reduces payout; a common -110 price means a $110 bet returns $100 profit plus the original stake when it wins, so commission lowers long term returns.

Taking a +5 line is a simple mechanical rule: the backed team receives five points for settlement and an exact five point difference results in a push that returns your stake. The harder part is assessing whether the posted price gives you enough edge after juice and whether your staking plan manages risk appropriately. Use the checklist and scenarios in this article to decide when +5 fits your model or your risk tolerance, and practice the calculations until settlement outcomes become second nature.