If the game lands on 11, like a 21-10 49ers win, it’s a push and all bets are refunded. If the Cardinals win or lose by 10 or less, that side wins the bet. The 49ers have to win by 12 or more points to cover the spread. In that example, the 49ers are spotting the Cardinals 11 points before the game starts, at least for bettors. But when the 49ers are 11-point favorites and each side is -110 odds? That’s much easier. When the San Francisco 49ers are expected to blow out the Arizona Cardinals, it’s not enticing to lay $300 to win $100 on a moneyline. The point spread was created to attract more action on a game.
The concept can be a bit confusing if you’ve never dabbled in sports betting before. Football and basketball have moneyline bets available too, but most people will take the point spread.
The most popular way to bet for the two most popular sports, basketball and football, is with the point spread, also known as the “side.” Most baseball, hockey and soccer bets are on the moneyline, which is betting on a team to win straight up with adjusted odds.
