I think I am doing something wrong. Can someone explain football spreads for me?

[Doggiedog]

I was 1 for 12 in my pool this week even though I thought I picked some pretty good teams.

Can someone explain the +/- spreads for me?

 

[KK]

Sounds like you suck at that. Why'd you do it if you didn't understand it?

KK

 

[Doggiedog]

Thanks for the advice.

It's not for me but my wife. She was forced into it at work.

I must have just been unlucky today. Here were my picks.

ATL 26 +3.5 MIN 39 Win
BUF 22 -9.5 CIN 16 Lost
CAR 19 -6.5 NO 13 Lost
CHI 24 +3.5 OAK 21 Lost
DAL 24 -7.5 ARI 7 Lost
GB 35 -2.5 SEA 13 Lost
JAC 27 +1.5 SD 21 Lost
KC 24 -2.5 DEN 23 Lost
NE 38 +1.5 TEN 30 Lost
NYG 10 -1.5 MIA 23 Lost
PHI 27 -5.5 WAS 25 Lost
PIT 10 -6.5 CLE 23 Lost
SF 24 -7.5 DET 17 Lost

 

[ElFenix]

spread is a margin of victory number that evens out the money coming in on each side so that the bookies can make money.

 

[her209]

the team that you pick has to either win by more than the spread or lose by less than the spread.

 

[billandopus]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Thanks for the advice.

It's not for me but my wife. She was forced into it at work.

I must have just been unlucky today. Here were my picks.

ATL 26 +3.5 MIN 39 Win
BUF 22 -9.5 CIN 16 Lost
CAR 19 -6.5 NO 13 Lost
CHI 24 +3.5 OAK 21 Lost
DAL 24 -7.5 ARI 7 Lost
GB 35 -2.5 SEA 13 Lost
JAC 27 +1.5 SD 21 Lost
KC 24 -2.5 DEN 23 Lost
NE 38 +1.5 TEN 30 Lost
NYG 10 -1.5 MIA 23 Lost
PHI 27 -5.5 WAS 25 Lost
PIT 10 -6.5 CLE 23 Lost
SF 24 -7.5 DET 17 Lost

This should clear things up for you.