Sports betting has become increasingly popular in recent years and with it, the use of betting terminology. One term that is commonly used in sports betting is a “cover.” But what exactly does it mean to cover? For beginners, understanding what a cover in sports betting means is crucial to making sound betting decisions. We will dive deep into what a cover is in sports betting, how it is calculated and the different types of covers that exist.
Covering the Spread
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What is a cover in sports betting?
Cover is a phrase that is commonly used in sports betting and it simply refers to whether a team or player has beaten the point spread that was set by the oddsmakers. In this article, we will take a closer look at what a cover is in sports betting.
What is a Point Spread?
Before we dive into what cover means in sports betting, let’s first examine what a point spread is. In a point spread, the oddsmakers will set a number that represents the expected margin of victory for the favored team. This is done to balance the action on both sides and to give bettors a fair shot at winning. For example, if the New England Patriots are playing the Miami Dolphins and the point spread is set at -6 in favor of the Patriots, it means that the Patriots are expected to win by at least 6 points. Conversely, if you bet on the Dolphins, they would need to either win outright or lose by less than 6 points to cover the spread.
What is a Cover?
Now that we know what a point spread is, let’s take a look at what a cover is. A cover simply refers to a team or player’s ability to beat the point spread that was set by the oddsmakers. Let’s use the aforementioned example of the Patriots and Dolphins to illustrate this point. If you bet on the Patriots -6 and they win the game by a score of 28-21, they have covered the spread. This means that they have won by more than the expected margin of victory and secured a win for anyone who bet on them.
Conversely, if you bet on the Dolphins +6 and the final score is 24-21 in favor of the Patriots, the Dolphins would have covered the spread. This means that although they lost the game outright, they lost by less than the expected margin of victory, and anyone who bet on them would have walked away a winner.
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The difference between covering the spread and winning outright
It’s important to note that covering the spread does not necessarily mean winning the game outright. You may have heard the term ‘backdoor cover’ being used in sports betting circles. A backdoor cover occurs when a team scores points late in the game, which may not affect the outcome of the game itself, but it has an impact on whether they cover the spread or not. This can happen when a favorite team is winning comfortably and takes their foot off the gas, which allows the underdog team to score a late touchdown or some other score that pushes them over the spread.
Examples of covers in different sports
Sports betting covers are a popular way to wager on sports, and they’re available in a variety of sports. In this article, we’ll explore examples of sports betting covers in different sports.
Football
Football is perhaps the most popular sport for point spread betting. The point spread is determined by oddsmakers ahead of the game based on team performance and other factors. Here’s an example:
- New England Patriots -6.5
- New York Jets +6.5
In this scenario, the Patriots are favored to win by 6.5 points, and the Jets are the underdog. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Patriots, they would need to win by at least 7 points for the bet to win. Conversely, if a bettor chooses to bet on the Jets, they would need to either win the game or lose by fewer than 7 points for the bet to win.
Basketball
Basketball is also a popular sport for point spread betting. The spread is typically determined by oddsmakers and is based on team performance and other factors. Here’s an example:
- Los Angeles Lakers -5
- Houston Rockets +5
In this scenario, the Lakers are favored to win by 5 points, and the Rockets are the underdog. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Lakers, they would need to win by at least 6 points for the bet to win. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Rockets, they would need to either win the game or lose by fewer than 5 points for the bet to win.
Baseball
Baseball point spreads, also known as run lines, are a bit different than other sports. Rather than being based on team performance, run lines are typically set at -1.5 or +1.5, regardless of the teams’ records. Here’s an example:
- New York Yankees -1.5
- Boston Red Sox +1.5
In this scenario, the Yankees are favored to win by at least 2 runs, and the Red Sox are the underdog. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Yankees, they would need to win by at least 2 runs for the bet to win. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Red Sox, they would need to either win the game or lose by 1 run for the bet to win.
Hockey
Hockey point spreads, also known as puck lines, are similar to baseball run lines in that they are usually set at -1.5 or +1.5. Here’s an example:
- Boston Bruins -1.5
- New York Rangers +1.5
In this scenario, the Bruins are favored to win by at least 2 goals, and the Rangers are the underdog. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Bruins, they would need to win by at least 2 goals for the bet to win. If a bettor chooses to bet on the Rangers, they would need to either win the game or lose by 1 goal for the bet to win.
