College Football Point Spreads, Explained

The point spread is the margin the favorite must win by for that side to cover. A -7 favorite needs to win by more than seven points; a +7 underdog covers if the team loses by fewer than seven or wins outright.

Covering means your selected side won against the spread. The favorite covered if it won by more than the spread number; the underdog covered if it lost by less than the spread or won the game.

A push happens when the final margin equals the spread exactly. Both sides receive their original stake back. Whole-number spreads — like -3 or -7 — carry a higher push risk than half-point lines.

Key numbers are the most common winning margins in college football. Three and seven are the most critical because touchdowns and field goals drive final scores; lines set near those numbers move more sharply before kickoff.

Line movement is a change in the spread between when it opens and when the game kicks off. Movement signals where betting money or sharp action is concentrated, which can indicate which side the market favors.

Juice is the sportsbook's cut, shown as odds like -110. Betting -110 means you risk $110 to profit $100. Some lines carry adjusted juice — like -115 or -105 — instead of a shifted spread number.