Key Takeaways
- +2.5 means you're betting on the underdog to either win outright or lose by 2 points or less.
- A -2.5 favorite must win by 3 or more for those bets to cash.
- Point spreads like +2.5 are set to avoid pushes and make you pick a clear side against the number.
In sports betting, a team that is +2.5 is a 2.5-point underdog. The team must win the game outright or lose by 2 points or fewer for your bet to win.
For example, let’s say the Buffalo Bills (-2.5) and the Miami Dolphins (+2.5) are playing each other. A bet on the Dolphins covers if they win or if they lose by exactly 1 or 2 points. A bet on the Bills only wins if they win by 3 or more.
All point spreads—including +2.5—are designed to “level out” the playing field in sports betting for underdogs. The oddsmakers are predicting that the Bills are going to win by 2.5 points.
While this isn’t possible, of course, it forces the bettor to decide whether they think the Bills will win by a field goal or not (while also getting rid of the possibility of a push).
You can learn more about how to read point spreads here, including numbers other than +2.5 and -2.5. You may also want to check out our guide to reading betting odds so you can learn what the numbers next to the lines mean.
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>> Read More: What does + and – mean in betting?
