The point spread is the most common type of sports bet in North America. You'll see it on almost every NFL and NBA game.
A point spread levels the playing field. Instead of picking who wins, you're betting on whether a team wins by enough — or loses by little enough.
Example: Chiefs -7 (-110) / Bills +7 (-110). The Chiefs need to win by more than 7. The Bills can lose by up to 6 and you'd still win.
Chiefs win 27-17 (10 pts) = covered. Chiefs win 24-20 (4 pts) = did not cover.
If the Chiefs win by exactly 7, it's a push — your bet is refunded. This is why sportsbooks use half-points like -7.5.
Lines move when too much money comes in on one side. The sportsbook adjusts to rebalance risk. Watching line movement tells you where the smart money is going.
The spread is not a score prediction — it's designed to get equal betting on both sides. Favorite must win by more than the spread. Underdog must lose by less or win outright.