A number assigned by a bookmaker which handicaps one team and favors another is called what?

• A. Spread
• B. Odds
• C. Handicap Line
• D. Parimutuel

Answer: (A)

The spread is the number a bookmaker assigns to handicap one team and help another, creating a balanced betting field. It represents how many points the favorite must win by for bets on that side to pay out, or how many points the underdog can lose by and still have bets on them win. This isn’t about how much you win or lose (that’s determined by odds), and it isn’t a pooled system (that would be parimutuel). Sometimes you’ll hear the term handicap line, but the standard, widely used term for this point-based handicapping is the spread. For example, if Team A has a spread of -7, they must win by more than 7 points for bets on them to succeed; bets on Team B with +7 cover if they win or lose by less than 7.