Against the spread betting isn’t about picking a winner of the football game, it’s about picking the team who will cover the spread. Let’s say you bet your money that Team A covers the spread (wins by a certain amount of points), Michigan State -6.5 for example. Or that Team B will cover the spread (keep the game closer than oddsmakers. Dear Twitpic Community - thank you for all the wonderful photos you have taken over the years. We have now placed Twitpic in an archived state. A New Way of Seeing Things: 85 Part Series: A New Way of Seeing Things (4.42): A conervative wife finds she has a not-so conservative need. Exhibitionist & Voyeur 08/01/13.
We’re on to the NFL playoffs, with the Super Wild Card weekend kicking off on Saturday with three games. That means it’s time once again for our weekly look at the point spreads in order to help you win some money.
In the regular season, Steven Ruiz went 113-109-7 overall and Charles Curtis went 111-124-7 overall. And this week, we’re bringing in our Charles McDonald to make picks as well!
We now go to each of them for comments.
Charles C: Rough season, but I get a second chance in the postseason. And now, a new challenge: facing not one but two incredibly knowledgeable NFL experts.
Steven: One Charl (?) wasn’t enough to take me down, so they had to bring in another.
Charles M: I may be new here, but I’m bringing the pain with these 100% correct picks. I’m also gunning to be only Charles known at For The Win after getting every playoff pick correct.
(All bets courtesy of BetMGM)
Colts at Bills (-6.5)
Philip Rivers will have to be on his A-game to beat the Buffalo Bills. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Bills
In looking back over the Colts’ schedule this year, I noticed that there were A LOT of wins over bad teams. The losses came against the Titans, Steelers, Ravens, Browns and Jags (in Week 1, ugh!). Conclusion: this is not exactly the most threatening of teams. The Bills take care of business on both sides of the ball and win by at least a touchdown.
Steven: Bills
The more I think about this game, the more I believe the Colts have a legitimate chance to cover. But the Bills offense is a buzzsaw right now and I’m not sure the Indy defense is capable of slowing it down. The Colts’ only hope is Jonathan Taylor running wild against a suspect run defense and Philip Rivers putting together a flawless performance. It’s possible … but not likely.
Charles M: Colts
I think the Bills end up winning this game, but the Colts can make this a game. If Philip Rivers is on his “A” game, he should be able to find some success against the Bills defense. It just won’t be enough to actually get the Colts over the hump and win this game.
Rams at Seahawks (-3.5)
It might be hard for Sean McVay to hold Jared Goff’s hand if he has a hurt thumb. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Rams
John Wolford? Jared Goff? I think it’s probably the former, but there are other factors: two teams meeting for a third time this season, the Seahawks’ inconsistent offense and an elite Rams defense that will at least keep this game close. It’s too much to back the favorites.
Steven: Rams
I’d like to know more about Jared Goff’s thumb injury before making this pick official but I guess I don’t have that luxury. If he is fully healthy, this is an easy pick for me. Sean McVay has had Pete Carroll’s number over the past few years, and the coaching advantage is what makes the difference for me. Instant withdrawal casino usa.
Charles M: Seahawks
When the matchups are this tight, just take the better quarterback. Russell Wilson is better than Jared Goff and John Wolford combined. The Rams pass defense will make it difficult for Wilson and his receivers, but it’s hard to pick against Wilson in this scenario.
Buccaneers at Washington (+8)
Chase Young will have to be unblockable if the Washington Football Team is going to stand a chance. (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Buccaneers
I had a lot more trouble with this one than I thought. Washington’s pass rush is a problem for sure. But I just don’t see WFT’s offense getting too much off the ground. Maybe it’s a closer game at halftime, but a Bucs offense that has shown some real life in recent weeks could take off in the second half.
Steven: Buccaneers
Washington’s biggest advantage in this game — that pass rush — will be somewhat mitigated by Tom Brady’s ability to get the ball out in a hurry. And even the Bucs offense does struggle against a good WFT defense, Alex Smith isn’t putting up enough points to keep this one close.
Charles M: Buccaneers
There’s just no way Washington’s offense can generate the points needed to keep up in this game. Tampa Bay’s defense hasn’t been as strong as the early portion of the season, but Washington has one of the worst offenses in the league this year. They averaged just 20.9 points per game, good for 25th in the NFL.
Ravens at Titans (+3.5)
If the Ravens are going to avoid another one-and-done in the playoffs, they’ll have to stop Derrick Henry this time around. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Titans
I do think this will be the best game of the weekend. But I’m also pretty sure the Ravens are winning this one, revenge for a Week 11 loss to Tennessee in overtime. By how much? That’s where that half-point has me hamstrung. So I’ll take the points and figure this one stays within a field goal.
Steven: Ravens
All those little breaks the Titans caught in last year’s playoff upset aren’t likely to happen again, and this Baltimore defense is better suited to stop Derrick Henry this time around. The Ravens are the better team and that spread is just small enough for me to take them.
Charles M: Ravens
This is the moment. Lamar Jackson will finally get the first playoff win of his career. Jackson has been red hot lately, playing like an MVP talent over the past few games for the Ravens. I think that’ll be enough to get the Ravens over the Titans, whose defense has been pretty bad all season long.
Bears at Saints (-10)
Is Vegas trolling all of us by making the spread the same number that Mitch Trubisky wears? (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Saints
Nope. No. NO. I’m not betting on Mitchell Trubisky in a road playoff game to cover against that Saints defense. Next.
Steven: Bears
Uggggghhhh.
I’m betting on Mitch Trubisky. The Bears defense is good enough to keep this within 10 points. Let’s just move on. This is a shameful moment for me.
Charles M: Saints
This one doesn’t need any hard thinking. Saints.
Browns at Steelers (-6)
Baker Mayfield won’t have Kevin Stefanski to lean on against the Steelers. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
Charles C: Steelers
The week off will perhaps help Pittsburgh distance itself from the late-season struggles. On the other side, obviously, I have to mention that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will miss the game due to COVID-19, but even if he was on the sideline, I’m not sure what happens when the Browns need to go into catch-up mode and Baker Mayfield has to throw against the third-best pass D in the league. I’ll back the Steelers.
Steven: Steelers
Even if EVERYTHING was going right for the Browns, I’d be tempted to lay those points. But they aren’t, so laying those six points is a lot easier. Pittsburgh is getting its best player (T.J. Watt) back this week and will actually put in some effort game-planning — unlike last week. I would also point out that Ben Roethlisberger will be back, but I’m not sure he’ll be much of an upgrade over what Mason Rudolph gave Pittsburgh last week.
Charles M: Browns
I think the Browns can keep it close and cover the spread even without Joel Bitonio and Kevin Stefanski. Winning will be difficult, but this is more about what Ben Roethlisberger is at this point in his career, which is just ok at best. The Steelers probably shouldn’t be touchdown favorites over any playoff teams right now, except maybe Chicago.
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Jackson Kelly
Table Of Contents
- Betting Against the Spread (ATS) is the most popular way of betting on the NFL
- Use this beginner's guide to learn what is against the spread in betting and why it matters
- And don't miss the weekly expert pick!
The National Football League - NFL is one of the world's most popular leagues to bet on.
Millions of fans back their favorite teams and star players throughout the 17-week regular season and all the way through to the most important event of the year: the Super Bowl.
With the advent of online betting and live streaming, the NFL is more accessible to bettors than ever.
While there are literally dozens of markets available, both before and during the game, we're going to focus on one market in particular: betting against the spread (ATS).
Against the spread (ATS) betting is the most popular way to bet on the NFL.
When betting against the spread, you aren't just betting on who will win the game.
You bet on a certain team winning by a predetermined points margin.
If you are wondering why would you complicate your betting to this point and not choose something simpler like a moneyline bet, think about this:
Betting against the spread you can still profit even if the team you bet on loses.
How to make NFL picks against the spread
The best way to explain against the spread betting is to use an example and look at the numbers.
In our scenario, the Baltimore Ravens play with the Cleveland Browns. The Baltimore Ravens are the favorites by 7.5 points, as indicated by the minus sign.
Team | Spread | Result |
Cleveland Browns | +7.5 (-110) | 21 |
Baltimore Ravens | -7.5 (-110) | 30 |
The favored Baltimore is laying 7.5 points, which means that you take 7.5 points away from their score at the end of the game.
If they still have more points than Cleveland, as in this example, they have covered the spread.
Baltimore will have needed to have won by 8 points or more for you to have won your bet.
When betting against the spread, one thing you should bear in mind above all else is that your opinion on which team will win the game is irrelevant.
When you bet against the spread, your mission is not to pick the winner. You bet to predicting how many points a team will win by.
Theoretically, a team could have an undefeated season and yet fail to cover the spread in each game they play. It depends on the line they're up against.
What Does It Mean To Pick Against The Spread College Football
Best Sites to Bet Against the Spread
As an online bettor, you need sportsbooks that are:
- Safe
- Licensed
- Offer great odds
- Pay out fast
And have enough options to bet against the spread, of course.
To help you find the best site to try betting against the spread, we teamed up with the guys at Oddscheker — our sister sports book guide — and asked them to do some research for us.
Here are the three best sportsbooks for betting against the spread, according to Oddschecker.
Rank | Sportsbook | Best for | Visit |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Fanduel | Odds on NY teams | Visit Site |
2. | DraftKings | First-time Bettors | Visit Site |
3. | BetAmerica | Welcome bonus | Visit Site |
FanDuel
One of the best sportsbooks to bet against the spread with is FanDuel.
In terms of what you would want from a sportsbook, FanDuel checks all the boxes, with:
- A positive bet variety
- A flexible cashier
- An easy and fluid interface
Free Nfl Picks Against The Spread
They offer especially generous odds on the spread on the two New York teams (the Giants and Jets), so it's worth taking these two teams into account when looking at which games to bet on.
DraftKings
Draftkings is another popular option for against the spread betting, with a wealth of valuable information and statistics available to make the right pick all the time.
This information includes against the spread records.
DraftKings is also a great option if you're an inexperienced bettor who might like to bet on-the-go.
Its clean and user-friendly mobile interface is perfect for beginners who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by a more elaborate design.
BetAmerica
BetAmerica is a sportsbook that also offers against the spread betting, along with other popular kinds of NFL bets.
Right now, you get a $100 match bonus on your initial deposit, giving you the chance to make your first spread bet with them really count.
If value is what you are after, you better grab the BetAmerica's bonus offer before it's gone.
Where Can I Find NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread?
The easiest way for you to understand NFL betting against the spread and grow your bankroll as you do so, is to rely on the best NFL expert picks against the spread
Bet at home casino tricks. Against the spread bets are discussed openly by fans and announcers alike, and NFL is one of the few of the major sports where this is the case.
They take a number of factors into account when making weekly spread betting picks, such as:
- Conditions
- Form
- Head-to-head records
When you look at the results of their suggestions, we suggest you to look at Oddschecker as your primary source of the best NFL picks against the spread.
There's an entire section dedicated to NFL picks where you find everything you need to place your bets.
Once you've looked at the expert picks against the spread offered by Oddschecker and know which you feel the most confident in, you can finally place your bet.
If you are in a hurry and you just want quick NFL picks against the spread, here's what we have for you this week:
NFL: Against The Spread Pick - Sunday 2nd February 2020
Game | Teams | Pick |
---|---|---|
Super Bowl 54 | San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs | San Francisco 49ers +1.5 @ -110 |
What Are the Best Sites for NFL Picks Against the Spread?
Against the spread betting can be very lucrative when you know what you're doing. But — where do you get started?
What Does It Mean To Pick Against The Spread 2019
In each week of the NFL season, numerous sportsbooks create their own odds for betting against the spread.
You can spend your time scrolling through them and putting them into a spreadsheet to find the best sites for you — or you can rely on an odds comparison site who does that for you.
With so many different sportsbooks around, it makes sense to start from a comparison site like Oddschecker (see here for their NFL picks against the spread).
Their service is free of charge and they help you compare the spread and ensure that you're always the best possible odds available.
Other popular NFL bets
Moneyline
While against the spread betting is undoubtedly exciting, it can also frustrate some bettors whose betting style suits a more straightforward approach.
The most basic kind of bet in NFL football is the moneyline bet.
This is where you place a bet on a team to win the game outright without any spread involved. If you have confidence in the underdog, moneyline bets are a great way to increase your profits.
Here's an example:
Team | Moneyline | Result |
Buffalo Bills | +270 | 34 |
Miami Dolphins | -330 | 27 |
Here, you would need to bet $330 to make a $100 profit on a Miami win. If you wanted to bet on a Buffalo win, you would bet any amount you want to, and if they won, you would be paid 3.7x that amount.
In this case, Buffalo won. So if you bet $100, you would be paid $370, including your $100 wager.
Over/under
When you're unsure on which team will win the game, another option is to bet on the number of points scored.
Here, the sportsbook makes a prediction on the combined points at the end of the game and offers odds on the points totalling either over or under that amount.
This still makes the game exciting to watch, because even if one of the two teams is clearly going to win, and it's only in the third quarter, there may yet be a last-second field goal that turns the game.
Fox Nfl Picks Against Spread
Betting Against the Spread FAQ
Spreads are subject to change based on injury reports and which team the money is going on. If Lamar Jackson is injured two days before the game, for example, the spread will decrease.
College Football Picks Against Spreads
This happens frequently and is called a “push”. In this case, your money is refunded by the sportsbook. An example of a push would be if Cincinnati was a six-point favourite over Tampa Bay and they won by exactly six points.
This would mean neither Cincinnati (-6), or Tampa Bay (+6) would be a winner, and this would then result in a push.
Yes, sportsbooks offer odds for different points in the game, such as at the end of the first quarter or at the end of the half. It's up to you to determine at which point to bet against the spread.
Oddschecker provides an odds comparison service so you can see all the odds, offers, and promotions from every single sportsbook in one place.
The site also provide free picks and analysis across every single sport. This means that at Oddschecker, you will always be able to see the best NFL odds and picks the market has to offer.
All odds correct and available at oddschecker.com/us at the time of publishing. Odds and offers available in New Jersey only. 21+