How to Make an NCAA Point Spread Bet

A point spread bet is a bet in which each team is rated according to how many points they should win or lose a game by. A point spread of +7, for example, would mean that in order to win a bet, the team you bet on would need to win by 7 points or lose by less than 7 (which would appear as a win in the final tally). It's easy to make an NCAA point spread bet through a number of different sports betting outlets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Check with sports betting outlets like BetUS.com to see what the currently offered point spreads are (see Resources below). Most point spread bets are fairly uniform, but some outlets will offer slightly better (or worse) odds.
2. Study the teams that are about to face off, and examine their statistics. It's important to read about teams and their abilities, trends and overall outlook. It's not uncommon for surprises to occur, and if you've read up on a team you can make a risky bet with confidence.
3. Place your bet, choosing the team with the point spread you favor. When betting online, you can usually just select a box or button link next to the team you are betting for and click "Confirm." Otherwise, if betting in person, just double-check your bet record to ensure it's been processed correctly.
4. Choose the bet for the underdog when you make a point spread bet. Since the point spread bet evens the odds, many times the underdog (unless completely outclassed by their opponent) can cover the point spread.
5. Buy points in a point spread bet to help shift the odds more in your favor. Buying points costs more money (usually about $5 to $10 per point).

Tips & Warnings

• Make proposition bets in addition to a point spread bet. Proposition bets allow you to bet on other conditions that occur during a game, not just whether a team wins or loses. Choose whether a quarterback will make a certain number of passes, how many sacks a linebacker will get, or how many field goals a team will have to rely on, for example.
• Make sure gambling is legal in your area. Online gambling is legal in most states, or simply unregulated, but if your state prohibits gambling, then you do so at your own risk.