What Does +1.5 Spread Mean In Sports Betting?
Find out what +1.5 spread means in sports betting.
A +1.5 bet in front of a team’s name, in spread betting, means that they are 1.5-point underdogs in that matchup. Here is what this might look like from your typical betting sites:
- Chicago Bulls -1.5
- New York Knicks +1.5
This means that sportsbooks believe that the Chicago Bulls have a higher probability of winning the game over the Miami Heat. Setting the line at just 1.5 does mean that these two teams are extremely close.
This is what is called a “spread” bet, or “betting against the spread.” This is a very common bet in basketball and football games, but it is seen in other sports as well.
In this case, the Chicago Bulls would have to win the game by at least two points to be declared a winner of the bet. The Miami Heat can actually lose the game but must keep the final score within 1.5 total points.
Even though we are using +1.5 for this exercise, spreads are usually more spread out than this. There can be spreads of all different lengths, and it just depends on the sport.
+1.5 Means Different Things Depending on The Sport
Almost all forms of sports betting offer spread betting, but they behave differently depending on the sport. The most common sports that offer spread bets are basketball and football, but baseball, hockey, and soccer offer spread bet variations.
In fact, baseball, hockey, and soccer commonly set the run or goal line at 1.5, which rarely changes. The underdog will almost always be listed at +1.5, while the favorite will be listed at -1.5.
What Does 1.5 Spread Mean in Football?
+1.5 spread is quite rare in football as a touchdown is 6 points. Therefore, it’s rare to see NFL betting sites offering a +1.5 spread. However, in football, 1.5 spread means exactly what it does in the basketball example above as well.
If the Green Bay Packers are +1.5 at -110 to win against the Tennessee Titans and you take this bet, the Packers need to win by at least 2 points for your bet to win. If they only win 21-20, your bet would be a loser.
What Does Over 1.5 Goals Mean in Betting?
Another 1.5 bet that you can often see is over 1.5 goals in soccer and sometimes, but very rarely at NHL betting sites. This bet is different from a spread bet, and it’s known as a totals bet.
A totals bet indicates how many goals in total are scored in a game or a period. So if you see an over 1.5 goals bet, the under means that you think that there will only be 0 or 1 goals scored in a game or period and the over means that everything over 2 goals wins.
Spread Betting Lines Can Always Move
Another thing to keep in mind is that lines can always move, and most of them will move several times before a game begins. If you see a line of +1.5 on a football or basketball game, look for that line to be adjusted when it gets closer to the start of a game. Sports betting apps are very convenient, when it comes to quick checks of the odds.
There are several reasons that lines move, and it’s important for you to try to figure out why they are moving before placing a bet. Lines typically move because there are changes in financial circumstances, players are being injured, or there is some other news that may affect the likely outcome of a game or match.
If you ever see a line completely shift and change who is favored in a matchup, do some research to see if you can figure out what may have caused this. To ensure you get the best of a line, research all of the best online sportsbooks before placing your action. Here are some of the best online sites that offer great betting bonuses.
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet promo code valid in 18 states at ESPN Bet sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
