Against the spread (ATS) is one of the most common terms in sports betting. Instead of betting on which team will simply win the game, an ATS bet is based on whether a team covers the point spread set by the sportsbook.
A favorite must win by more than the spread to cover, while an underdog can either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread and still cash the bet.
For example, if a team is -7.5, it must win by 8 or more points to cover. If a team is +7.5, it can lose by 7 or fewer points, or win the game outright, and still cover.
Below, we explain what ATS means, how point spread betting works, and what bettors should know before placing a spread wager.
Quick Answer
Did This Team Cover the Spread?
Against the spread betting is about the final margin, not just who wins the game. Use this example to see how favorites, underdogs, covers, and pushes work.
Dallas must win by 8 or more points to cover.
Philadelphia can win outright or lose by 7 or fewer.
Dallas wins by 8, so Cowboys -7.5 covers.
Dallas wins by 4, so Eagles +7.5 covers.
At -7, this would be a push. At -7.5, it loses.
Simple rule: favorites need to win by more than the spread. Underdogs can lose within the spread and still cash.
What does “against the spread” (ATS) mean in sports betting?
In sports betting, against the spread (ATS) means wagering on whether a team will cover the sportsbook’s point spread, not just whether it will win the game outright.
Push: If the final margin lands exactly on the spread, the bet is refunded.
Favorite: Must win by more than the listed spread to cover.
Underdog: Can lose by fewer points than the spread or win outright to cover.
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Test out how different scores affect the outcome of a spread bet.
The Hook: Why Half-Points Matter
You will often see point spreads that include a half-point, such as -3.5 or +7.5. In sports betting, this half-point is known as “the hook.”
Because it is impossible for a team to score a half-point in basketball or football, the hook guarantees that there will be no ties (pushes). If you bet a -7.5 favorite, they must win by 8 or more. If they win by exactly 7, a -7 bet would push and refund your money, but a -7.5 bet loses.
ATS Records vs. Straight Up (SU) Records
When researching teams, you will often see two different win-loss records listed: Straight Up (SU) and Against the Spread (ATS). Understanding the difference is crucial for handicapping.
- Straight Up (SU): The team’s actual win-loss record on the field.
- Against the Spread (ATS): How often the team covered the betting line.
Example: A rebuilding football team might have an abysmal 4-13 SU record. However, because they are constantly listed as massive underdogs (+10 or more) and manage to keep games close, they might boast an excellent 12-5 ATS record. For a spread bettor, how a team performs relative to expectations (ATS) is much more valuable than whether they actually win the game.
Why Do Point Spreads Move? (Line Movement)
Point spreads are not static; they change from the moment they are posted until the game begins. This is called line movement. Sportsbooks move lines for a few primary reasons:
- Public Money: Oddsmakers want relatively even money on both sides of a bet. If 80% of the money comes in on the Dallas Cowboys at -3, the sportsbook will shift the line to -3.5 or -4 to encourage bettors to wager on the underdog and balance the liability.
- Injuries & Roster Changes: If a star quarterback or key player is unexpectedly ruled out, the spread will immediately adjust to reflect their absence.
- Weather: In outdoor sports, extreme wind or snow can drastically lower scoring, which often shifts the spread closer to zero.
The Vig (Juice): How ATS Payouts Work
Most standard point spread bets do not pay out evenly. They are typically priced at -110 odds.
This built-in mathematical edge is how sportsbooks make their money, known as the vigorish, vig, or juice. At -110 odds, you must risk $110 to win $100 in profit (or $11 to win $10).
- If your bet pushes: Your original $110 stake is refunded.
- If your bet wins: You receive your original $110 stake back, plus $100 in profit.
- If your bet loses: You lose your $110 stake.
ATS in Other Sports
While “against the spread” is primarily used for football and basketball, the exact same mathematical concept applies to other sports under different names:
- Baseball (The Run Line): The spread in MLB is almost universally set at -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog.
- Hockey (The Puck Line): Similar to baseball, the NHL spread is standardly set at -1.5 and +1.5.
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How to bet against the spread
Most against the spread betting is done in what is called a straight bet. A straight bet is the most common type of bet for betting on the NFL, NBA, College Football & Basketball. It consists of one singular pick against the spread, where a bettor wagers on either the favorite or underdog in one game.
Another way to get involved with ATS betting is to place a parlay wager. With parlays, bettors can make multiple ATS wagers, needing all of them to win for their ticket to cash. Parlays are harder to win than straight bets, as bettors need multiple outcomes to work out in their favor, but they also have the potential to pay out more than straight bets as a result.
Against the spread betting examples
NFL ATS Example
Did the favorite cover?
The Giants must win by 8 or more points to cover.
Result: The Giants won by 8 points, so they covered -7. The Cowboys did not cover +7.
NBA ATS Example
Did the favorite cover?
The Warriors must win by 11 or more points to cover.
Result: The Warriors won by 9 points, so they failed to cover -10. The Nuggets covered +10.
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ATS stands for against the spread. It means a bet is graded based on whether a team covers the point spread set by the sportsbook rather than simply winning the game outright.
To cover the spread means a team performs well enough relative to the betting line to win the wager. A favorite must win by more than the spread, while an underdog can lose by fewer points than the spread or win outright.
Yes. ATS betting and point spread betting mean the same thing. Both refer to wagering on whether a team covers the sportsbook’s spread.
A push happens when the final margin lands exactly on the point spread. When that happens, the sportsbook refunds the original stake.
Yes. A favorite can win the game outright but still fail to cover if it does not win by more than the listed spread.
It depends on your risk tolerance. Moneyline betting is simpler because you only need to pick the winner, but betting on heavy favorites yields very small payouts. ATS betting levels the playing field, offering better payouts on favorites, but adds the difficulty of needing a specific margin of victory.
