From UFC fans to MLB betting players and everything in between, people like to bet on sports….there is just no way around it. Betting on sports has been around since the beginning of time, and it has grown from a recreational hobby to a massive industry that is growing every day. But you may have some questions that need answering, and the point spread is something that will definitely pop up as you’re gathering your information.

First of all, the point spread means that a team has to beat another team by a certain amount of points in order to come away with the win. For example, this weekend’s Super Bowl odds sees New England as a 2.5-point favorite over the New York Giants, but that means betting on the Patriots requires a win of three points or more; even 2.5 points would only be a push and that means a loss for the player.

But how is it figured out? Sportsbooks would like to get an equal amount of action on both sides, but that is only part of the method for figuring out point spreads. But sportsbooks are just trying to come up with a line where they can profit regardless of the outcome on either side, which is smart business. It isn’t a matter of Team X being that much better than Team Y, but a matter of trying to create a fair split between the two teams, which means a profit for the books. Keep that in mind as you bet on sports, no matter the sport.