Cover

In point spread betting, to “cover” means that a team has performed well enough relative to the spread to result in a winning bet. For a favorite, covering means winning by more points than the spread requires. For an underdog, covering means either winning the game outright or losing by fewer points than the spread allows. The concept of covering is central to spread betting and is one of the most commonly used terms among sports bettors.

Covering the spread is distinct from simply winning the game. A team can win outright but fail to cover if the margin of victory is too narrow. Conversely, a losing team can still cover if they keep the game close enough. This separation between winning and covering is what makes spread betting popular – it creates a competitive wagering proposition even in lopsided matchups.

Bettors study a team’s record against the spread (ATS) in various situations – as home favorites, road underdogs, coming off a bye week – to find patterns that oddsmakers may not have fully accounted for.

Example

The Kansas City Chiefs are favored by 7 points (-7) against the Denver Broncos. If you bet on the Chiefs to cover, they need to win by 8 or more points for your wager to pay out. If the final score is Chiefs 24, Broncos 14, the Chiefs won by 10 points and covered the 7-point spread. However, if the final score is Chiefs 24, Broncos 20, the Chiefs won by only 4 points and did not cover the spread. A bet on the Broncos +7 would win in the second scenario because the Broncos lost by fewer than 7 points.

Key Points

• Favorites must win by more than the spread: A -6.5 favorite needs to win by 7 or more points to cover.
• Underdogs cover by staying close or winning: A +6.5 underdog covers by losing by 6 or fewer points, or by winning outright.
• Winning the game is not the same as covering: A team can win the game but fail to cover, and a team can lose the game but still cover.
• ATS records matter: A team’s record against the spread is a key metric for evaluating spread betting opportunities.
• Half-point spreads prevent pushes: Spreads like -3.5 or +7.5 ensure one side always covers, eliminating the chance of a tie against the number.