-14 Point Spread in Sports Betting: Explained for Beginners

Minus 14 point spread in sports betting

In the world of sports betting, a -14 point spread means that the favored team (your pick) needs to win by more than 14 points for your bet to be successful.

If they win by exactly 14 points, you’ll find yourself in a ‘push’ situation, where your original stake is returned to you.

If the favored team wins by less than 14 points or even suffers a loss, unfortunately, you lose your bet.

How does this affect your betting strategy?

A -14 point spread can and should significantly influence your betting strategy.

When you come across such a high spread, it’s essential to assess whether the favorite team has the capacity to cover this spread.

To make an educated decision, you might need to dig into past performances, consider player injuries, and weigh other factors that could impact the game.

Betting on a high spread like this does involve more risk, but remember, with higher risk often comes higher reward.

Let’s put this into perspective with a real-world example of a $100 bet

Imagine you place a $100 bet on Team A with a -14 point spread at odds of -110.

If Team A triumphs by more than 14 points, congratulations, you’ve won your bet and get a return of roughly $190.90 (your initial $100 stake plus $90.90 in winnings).

If Team A wins by exactly 14 points, it’s a push, and you retain your $100 stake. If Team A wins by fewer than 14 points or loses, regrettably, you’d lose your $100 bet.

When should you consider this type of bet?

Consider a -14 point spread bet when you have a strong conviction that the favored team will win by a significant margin.

This conviction may be based on their current form, historical performance against the opponent, or other relevant factors.

However, always remember that such a bet is a high risk since the favored team has to win by more than 14 points.

Finding the spreads with the most profitable odds

To find the most profitable point spreads, I recommend using odds comparison tools, like OddsJam.

These tools allow you to compare odds from various bookmakers, helping you find the best value for your bets.

By optimizing your betting strategy in this way, you can potentially maximize your returns.

This might seem complex at first, but with practice, it becomes a handy habit that could make your betting experience and strategy significantly more profitable.