On the other hand, if you bet on the underdog team, they must either win outright or lose by less than the spread for your bet to be a winner. If you bet on the favorite team, they must win by more than the spread for your bet to be a winner. The spread is set by the sportsbook to balance the betting action on both teams and incentivize bettors to wager on both sides. The spread, in betting terms, refers to the difference between the two teams’ predicted scores or the handicap given to the underdog team.
