The spread is how sportsbooks attract bettors to place action on either side of the competition. The spread represents how much one team is favoured over another in a given game, match, race or event. Take the following situation: Team A: -3.5 Team B: +3.5 By betting Team A, you win your bet if they win by 4 or more points. If you bet the spread on Team B, they can lose by 3 points or fewer, or win outright in order to win your bet.