In sports betting, a point spread of -9.5 indicates that the favored team is predicted to win by 9.5 points.
This figure is established by bookmakers to even out the odds between two teams with varying skill levels.
If you bet on a team with a -9.5 point spread, they must win by 10 or more points for your wager to be a winner.
How Does This Affect Your Betting Strategy?
An understanding of point spread is critical in developing an effective betting strategy.
You should consider how much risk you’re willing to take on. A larger point spread like -9.5 carries more risk as it requires the team to win by a substantial margin.
However, the potential returns could be higher if your chosen team performs as expected.
Let’s Put This Into Perspective With a Real-World Example of a $100 Bet
Let’s say you place a $100 bet on a team with a -9.5 point spread at odds of -200. If your team wins by 10 or more points, you’ll win your bet.
However, the odds of -200 mean that you would only gain around $50 from your $100 stake.
Negative odds signify how much you need to wager to win $100. So, in this case, you’d need to bet approximately $200 on a -200 odds to make a $100 profit.
When Should You Consider This Type of Bet?
You might want to consider betting on a -9.5 point spread when you’re highly confident that the favored team will exceed the spread.
This confidence could be based on their recent performance, player statistics, or other relevant factors.
Always remember: the larger the point spread, the more points the team needs to win by for your wager to be successful.
Finding the Spreads With the Most Profitable Odds
To optimize your potential returns, it’s recommended to use an odds comparison tool like OddsJam.
This tool allows you to compare the odds offered by various bookmakers for the same event, helping you find the most profitable spreads.
This could potentially increase your chances of winning and getting the best possible return on your bets.