If you like the Colts to win but think three points is a tricky number, a moneyline bet could be made on the winning team with no points in the equation. That means whether you bet the Colts -3 or Texans +3, you'll win the same amount of money if you win the bet. In a spread bet, the odds are usually set at -110 on both sides, depending on the sportsbook and state. If these teams were widely considered equal and bookmakers put the spread at -10, they wouldn't get equal money as Texans +10 would likely be pounded by bettors. Bookmakers see these teams as equal and expect to receive fairly even money from bettors. The spread at -3 suggests the teams are fairly equal and maybe in this case, the Colts are only -3 because they are playing at home. If the Colts win by two points, you would lose the bet because they didn't hit the key number of three. If you want to bet the Colts on the spread, it would mean the Colts need to win by at least three points for you to win the bet. For example, the Colts are a -3 point favorite against the Texans. The spread, also referred to as the line, is used to even the odds between two unevenly matched teams.īookmakers set a spread with the hopes of getting equal action on both sides of a game.

Understanding odds and spreads