Core betting
Cover
Beating the point spread, as opposed to simply winning the game.
A favourite covers by winning by more than the spread; an underdog covers by losing by less than it, or by winning outright. A team can win the game and fail to cover, which is the entire point of the market.
Against-the-spread records — 'the Chiefs are 6–4 ATS' — describe how a team has performed relative to expectation rather than in absolute terms, which is why a bad team can have a strong ATS record.
See also
- Point spread — A margin handicap that makes an uneven matchup close to a coin flip.
- Push — A tie against the number — the bet is void and your stake is returned.
- Favorite — The side expected to win, priced with negative odds or laying points.
- Underdog — The side expected to lose, priced with positive odds or receiving points.