What Does ‘To Cover’ Mean in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, to “cover” or “cover the spread” means to win a bet placed on a point spread. It’s not just about winning the game, but winning by a certain margin of points.
The point spread is a number set by bookmakers to level the playing field between a favored team and an underdog. To cover, a team’s performance must exceed the expectations set by that spread.
How It Works
Covering the spread has different requirements depending on whether you bet on the favorite or the underdog.
Covering as the Favorite 🏆
The favorite is the team expected to win and is indicated by a minus sign (-) next to their point spread. To cover, the favorite must win the game by more than the point spread.
- Example: The Kansas City Chiefs are favored by -6.5 points against the Denver Broncos.
- To Cover: The Chiefs must win the game by 7 points or more.
- Result: If the Chiefs win 28-20 (an 8-point margin), they have covered the spread. If they win 24-20 (a 4-point margin), they have failed to cover.
Covering as the Underdog
The underdog is the team expected to lose and is indicated by a plus sign (+) next to their point spread. The underdog can cover in two ways: by winning the game outright or by losing by less than the point spread.
- Example: The New York Jets are +4.5 underdogs against the Miami Dolphins.
- To Cover: The Jets must either win the game or lose by 4 points or fewer.
- Result: If the Jets lose 21-18 (a 3-point margin), they have covered the spread. If they lose 28-17 (an 11-point margin), they have failed to cover.
Best Online Sportsbooks for Spread Betting
