Pros and Cons of Betting Against the Spread

There is no denying that betting against the spread can be beneficial, but ATS betting also has its drawbacks. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the pros and cons of betting against the spread.

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Pros of Betting Against the Spread

There are many advantages when it comes to betting against the spread. We will go over the cons of betting against the spread a little later, but let’s start by looking at the pros.

Balanced Odds Offer Better Value

Bookies use the point spread to level the playing field for uneven sporting contests. Accordingly, this creates more balanced odds, leading to better value. The spread gives you the opportunity to back a heavy favorite, as the points handicap makes the odds more attractive.

Spread Betting Can Mitigate Risks

Betting against the spread can add an extra level of security to your bet. Even if the team you back doesn’t win the game outright, they still have the chance to cover the spread, regardless of the final result. This is another reason why spread betting is attractive.

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Strategy Comes Into Play

Frequent bettors can identify trends and patterns relating to different teams’ performance against the spread. If you analyze the data behind each game, you will only enhance your chances of winning money. You can do this by studying stats for individual teams and players.

Cons of Betting Against the Spread

Sadly, betting against the spread isn’t always a good idea. Having discussed the benefits of spread betting, it’s only right that we look at the disadvantages.

Spread Betting Can Be More Difficult

Betting against the spread adds extra difficulty to your wager. Not only do you need to consider which team is likely to perform better, but you also need to consider the team’s performance in relation to the point spread. Ultimately, this requires a deeper level of analysis.

How to Read Fractional Odds

Higher Margin of Error

While we previously stated that spread betting can mitigate risks, it can also cause a higher margin of error. Sure, you can back a team to dominate the game, but your favored team must win by a certain number of points for your bet to be successful.

You Could Be Vulnerable to Line Movement

The point spread is often impacted by line movement, especially when an increased number of people are wagering on the game. Consequently, the spread can change before you lay down your bet, which could impact the value of the wager.

Hopefully, the information on this page will help you win money when you next partake in ATS betting. While betting against the spread can be enjoyable and profitable, it is important to remember that ATS betting can also be risky.

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Todd Watson
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