Everything you need to know about NFL point spreads — how they work, how to read them, and how to bet them profitably.
The point spread is the most common way to bet on NFL games. Instead of just picking who wins, you're betting on the margin of victory.
Example: Chiefs -7 vs Raiders +7
If you bet Chiefs -7, Kansas City needs to win by more than 7 points for you to win the bet. If you bet Raiders +7, Las Vegas can lose by up to 6 points and you still win.
Most point spread bets come with -110 odds, meaning you bet $110 to win $100. This 10% edge — called the "juice" or "vig" — is how sportsbooks make money.
To break even long-term betting -110, you need to win 52.4% of your bets. Anything above that is profitable.
Sportsbooks set lines to generate equal action on both sides — they don't care who wins, they want to collect the vig. Lines move when more money comes in on one side.
This is why line shopping matters: different books may have Chiefs -6.5 vs -7. That half point can be the difference between winning, losing, and a push.
In NFL betting, certain margins of victory are much more common than others. The most important: 3 (most common), 7, 6, 10, 14. If a spread crosses through 3 or 7, it's a big deal. A team favored by -3 is very different from -3.5.
The most important rule: shop for the best line. Having accounts at 3-4 sportsbooks and always getting the best number adds 2-3% to your win rate over time — nearly enough to overcome the vig by itself.
Our AI models analyze line movement, public betting percentages, injuries, weather, and historical trends to find spots where the market is off. Check our picks daily.
Our AI models pick the best bets daily. Follow along free.
See Today's NFL Picks →