What does it mean to cover in sports betting

A bet where you try to determine which team will cover the spread; not necessarily which team will win. It's also known as ATS. Example: Ned bet. Depending on if you bet the favorite or underdog, covering the spread could mean winning by a certain margin or losing by less than a specific. What does it mean to cover the spread? In conversations about sports betting, you may hear someone say that a team “covered the spread” (or. When a team “covers,” it means they have beaten the point spread attached to what does it mean to cover in sports betting bet. So if the Green Bay Packers were favored by 4 (that would read as Packers.

The Art of Covering in Sports Betting

When diving into the intricate world of sports betting, one term that often gets thrown around is "covering." Understanding what it means to "cover" is crucial for anyone looking to navigate the highs and lows of sports wagering.

Covering in sports betting refers to a situation where a team or individual performing in a game meets or exceeds the expectations set by the betting line or spread. Those who placed a bet on the team or individual that covered are deemed winners, while those on the opposite side face the unfortunate outcome of losing their wager.

In essence, covering is about surpassing the predicted outcome and ultimately influencing the results in the betting realm. This concept adds a layer of complexity to the already exhilarating world of sports betting, where every play and performance can impact the final result.

To put it simply, if a team is favored by a certain number of points and they win by more than that margin, they have covered the spread. On the other hand, if a team fails to win by the expected margin or loses outright, they are considered not to have covered.

Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just getting started, mastering the art of covering can make or break your success in sports betting. It requires a keen eye for analyzing matchups, performance trends, and various other factors that can influence the outcome of a game.

Remember, in the world of sports betting, it's not just about who wins or loses but also about reaching or surpassing the expectations set by the odds. Covering adds an extra element of excitement and strategy to every bet placed, making it a vital concept to grasp in the pursuit of betting success.

What does Cover Mean in Sports Betting?

What happens if you cover the spread? Spread underdogs can lose by a certain number of points but still cover the spread. What happens if you bet on a team to cover the spread and they win? If you bet on a team to cover the spread and they win, you win your bet if you bet on the underdog. But, if you bet on the favorite, winning isn't enough.

What does covering a bet mean? To cover the spread, a bettor must either bet on the favorite or the underdog, and to win their wager, the team must cover the point spread—or, win by more than the point spread. Betting the point spread is one of the most popular sports betting methods, along with money line bets, and over/under (total) bets.

What does it mean to cover a +1.5 spread? A +1.5 spread is commonly seen in baseball betting, the standard “runline” for MLB. This spread means the underdog must win outright or lose by exactly one run to cover the spread. Alternatively, a -1.5 spread means that the favorite must win by at least two runs.

What does covering a +3 spread mean? If Team A is a 3-point favorite over Team B, Team A has to win by more than 3 points to win the bet, or "cover." Team B can win the game outright or lose by one or two points (but no more than that) and they "cover."

What does it mean to cover a negative spread? In the simplest terms, a negative spread indicates the favorite, which is the side expected to win the matchup. A negative point spread really means the team has some work to do. For a negative spread bet to hit, the team has to beat its opponent by a margin greater than the point spread.

What does a cover bet do? –Place a 2nd place cover bet on a horse. This means if it wins you get the payout at the odds offered, however if it comes second, your stake is refunded. If it comes third or more you lose the stake. –Lay the horse to win at an appropriate stake based upon the lay odds.

What is the difference between against the spread and cover the spread? When you bet “against the spread,” it's not enough for the favorite to win the game; now, they have to win by more than a specified amount (the point spread) in order for them to “cover the spread.” Let's go over some of the basics of betting the spread.

Cover the Spread

If a star player has an injury, or if adverse weather conditions are anticipated on game day, for example, then it may change the outlook of the game, and the sportsbooks could adjust the line accordingly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at , or visit ncpgambling.

These two teams will meet in two weeks in the Super Bowl, and now that everyone knows what the matchup is, the sportsbooks get to work creating the line and the spread. The Seahawks were this year—far better than the Broncos, who were , and had to win a triple-overtime game to reach the Super Bowl.

In this case, the point spread is 13 points. If a bettor placed a bet on the Seahawks to cover the spread, Seattle would need to win by 14 or more points. If a bettor instead bets on the Broncos, the Broncos would need to either win the game or lose by less than 13 points. Say the game is played, and Seattle wins by 21 points.

In that case, the Seahawks covered the spread, and a bettor betting on the favorite would have won their bet, while someone betting on the Broncos would have lost. In that case, all money wagered is returned to the bettors. There is a multitude of ways to place a wager on a given sports matchup, and betting the point spread is one of the most common and popular.

For example, a bettor makes a wager that the Broncos, not the Seahawks, will win the Super Bowl. If the Broncos win, then the bettor wins the wager, but if the Broncos lose, then the bettor loses the wager. The payouts for moneyline bets can be minimal, especially if the bettor wagers that the favorite will win. In , the U. Supreme Court gave states permission to legalize sports betting if they wish to do so.

It remains illegal in 8 states, including California and Texas. This is a bet on the total amount of points that both teams will score in a game, combined. Sports betting is legal in 38 states plus Washington, D. A sportsbook is a company or entity accepting bets from individual sports bettors. What does it mean to cover in sports betting Bets are accepted on most major sports, both at the college and professional level.

A sportsbook is technically a bookmaker or a bookie. However, those terms tend to refer to individuals and the term "sportsbook" often refers to a company. BetAnySports , for example, is our 1-rated sportsbook, primarily because it has reduced juice. Unlike most other sportsbooks that have standard odds, BetAnySports offers its players juice on football and basketball games, which is a major benefit.

Point spreads incorporate a half-point system. This has a dual function. Most importantly, it allows a bookmaker to more easily balance its books on a particular game. And a secondary function is that it eliminates any chance of the game resulting in a tie, and thus the bet 'pushing. There are sports all over the world.

And even though football and basketball are prevalent in the States, it's not that way throughout the world. Indeed, there are millions of fanatic soccer fans who eagerly watch the English Premier League. And sports like hockey and baseball are also very popular. With these sports, bookmakers also offer spread betting, but it works in a slightly different way than with football and basketball.

The reason for this is the fact that there is a lot less scoring in soccer, hockey and baseball than in a regular football or basketball game. So, the spread tends to be fixed -- usually at 1. And if the action on the game is unbalanced, the oddsmaker will adjust the associated moneyline odds, rather than the spread.

Also, bookies use different terms in soccer, hockey and baseball. In those sports, the spread is referred to as a goal-line, puck-line or run-line, rather than point spread. But they work in the same way, with spreads generally fixed at 1. The sports betting industry is no different than other industries.

When trying to determine which sportsbooks to join, we want to share some tips:. In spread betting, there's a lot of movement in the betting lines. You have the opening numbers when a game is first listed for wagering. And the closing numbers at game time. But in the hours or days in between, there can be major line movement, especially in games with injuries. As a bettor, you can take advantage of this by keeping a sharp eye on the odds and place your bet at the right moment.

Nevertheless, you always need a proper sportsbook. More from SI. SI Showcase. SI Network. What is a Point Spread. Why Bet a Spread. Latest News.