is a "spread" bet for a team to actually win or is it just for point differentials?

[thealfa]

can anyone here clarify?

example:

Chicago Bulls +1

Philadelphia 76ers -1

Scores:

Bulls 76

76ers 78

I placed a "spread" bet for the Bulls, but they lost by 2 points. Did I still win my bet? Remember: Bulls lost the game.

[pouroupoupou]

you lose. Bulls 76+1=77 < 78

[donatello167]

Always when you are betting on spread - spread it just an advantage given on a certain team. It means that bookies believe if an underdog would have a certain point advantage (= spread), the probability of an outcome would be roughly 50 - 50 and this would make the teams "even".

So if your spread would be CHI +2,5 (or any greater number) your bet would be a winning one. In this case you lost.

[doublej95]

alfa we went over this last week kid, you should not be betting point spreads if you do not understand them.

[thealfa]

ok. wouldn't a +2 be a tie? wouldn't a +3 really mean -3 then? This is confusing. So it's all just the opposite/vice versa then?

Someone here explained to me that a + means "less" and - is "more".

you lose. Bulls 76+1=77 < 78

[doublej95]

ok alfa I will try to explain it to you again. lets look at tonights Knicks/Jazz game. Jazz is -6 against the Knicks.

So the bookmakers are saying the Jazz is 6 points better than the Knicks tonight and should win. So lets say you want to bet on the Jazz tonight and you take the -6 the Jazz have to win by 7 points for you to win the bet. if they win by 6 the bet pushes and your money is returned.
Examples:
Jazz 107 Knicks 100, Utah wins by 7 you Win the bet -7>-6
Jazz 107 Knicks 102, Utah wins by 5 you Lose the bet -5<-6
Jazz 107 Knicks 101, Utah wins by 6 you Push the bet -6 =-6

Examples of Knicks +6
Jazz 107 Knicks 100 Knicks lose by 7 you Lose the bet
Jazz 105 Knicks 100 Knicks lose by 5 you Win the bet
Jazz 100 Knicks 105 Knicks win by 5 you Win the bet