point spread
noun
: the number of points by which an oddsmaker expects a favorite to defeat an underdog
Examples of point spread in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But this year, fans looking to identify the most likely upsets won't have an easy time picking them in the first round of the NCAA bracket, not with big point spreads for the first-round favorites Thursday and Friday.
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ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Having given up on the prospect of a big payday, my wife was now focused on the more immediately visible consequences of my gambling—like the fact that our 7-year-old daughter knew the difference between a point spread and a moneyline.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The line on such contracts will move based on the number of users picking either side of the contracts, much like a sportsbook will adjust a point spread in an effort to get half of its bettors on either side of the line.
—Johnny Kampis, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
If the point spread stays at Seattle by 4 1/2, New England winning would be the biggest Super Bowl betting-line upset since the 2017 season, when the Brady/Belichick-era Patriots were favored by the same number and Philly won outright.
—Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Having given up on the prospect of a big payday, my wife was now focused on the more immediately visible consequences of my gambling—like the fact that our 7-year-old daughter knew the difference between a point spread and a moneyline.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The line on such contracts will move based on the number of users picking either side of the contracts, much like a sportsbook will adjust a point spread in an effort to get half of its bettors on either side of the line.
—Johnny Kampis, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
If the point spread stays at Seattle by 4 1/2, New England winning would be the biggest Super Bowl betting-line upset since the 2017 season, when the Brady/Belichick-era Patriots were favored by the same number and Philly won outright.
—Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for point spread
Cite this Entry
“Point spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20spread. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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