The point spread is the most popular way to bet on the NFL. That is the first thing you should understand. Why? It is a system that levels the betting playing field between two teams, no matter how much better one is than the other. An example is in order.
If a Super Team X is playing a Not-So-Super Team Y, the smart thing to do would be to bet on the super team X. Right? Not really. The point spread gives you a chance to beat on the team you are sure will lose, and make some cash.
Point spreads are usually written like this: Super Team X-10. Not-So-Super Team Y+10. If you bet on Super Team X, you are predicting that they will win by more than 10 points. If they don’t, you lose your money. If you bet on Not-So-Super Team, you are predicting that they will lose by more than 10 points. If they lose by only 5 points, they’ve beat the point spread and you are in the money.
The out-of-sight thing about the point spread system is the way it intensifies the experience of watching the game. You are no longer just rooting for your team, you are engaged in how your bet is unfolding. Instead of lamenting the fact that the Jaguars decided not to go for a quarterback on the 2013 draft, you can bet on them to lose by the right amount of points. It is a much healthier way to watch your team struggle through the season.
You may be wondering what happens if there is a tie? What happens to all of that cash laid down by fans? It is all returned. No harm, no foul.
You could do worse than look up the point spread for the next game you are going to watch and put down some cash. The adrenaline follows.