Gambling 101: Covering The Spread

A quick gambling guide on covering the spread in sports betting.

Betting on sports is about more than just picking which team will win or lose. Kaitlin O'Toole breaks down what it means to cover the spread when betting.

Read full video transcript below:

 

Kaitlin O'Toole: We all want to make a little bit more money, especially now, so Sports Illustrated is giving you some gambling 101 to help you fill your pockets. When it comes to placing the perfect bet, that can be challenging. But one way to make money when you're betting on the favorite or the underdog is to cover the spread. Let me break it down for you. You place a bet that the Patriots will win the game, but then you place another bet that they'll cover a minus ten point spread. If the Pats defeat Miami 29-21, you may win one bet. But you'll lose your cover since the win wasn't by 10. Covering the spread gives you the opportunity to make a winning wager regardless of the actual score. And hey, we're a fan of that. Good luck out there, gamblers. When you need help, don't forget to bookmark Sports Illustrated glossary of terms. We'll see you next time for another gambling 101 here at Si.com.

Check out more Gambling 101 videos here:

Gambling 101: Moneyline Betting

Gambling 101: What is a Point Spread?

Gambling 101: What is a Teaser Bet?