An spread alternate is when you are betting on a line that is different from the official line of a game. This scenario comes up when you like a team to cover the spread against another. In fact, you are that confident that you believe they will win by a bigger margin than what Vegas oddsmakers are suggesting. It also could be that you don’t agree with the underdog’s point spread; you think the margin should be much closer, or maybe even that there will be an upset.
This is where using the alternate spread comes into its own. The best online sportsbooks allow bettors to adjust the spread, giving you more flexibility. There will be different odds for each alternate spread so the potential payouts will also be adjusted accordingly.
This guide will look at alternate spreads in more detail including looking at some examples and tips for using alternate lines in sports betting.
How do Alternate Lines Work in Betting?
The spread for a basketball or football game will typically be set at -110 for the favorite and the underdog. The favorite will have the minus sign and the underdog the plus sign e.g. Seahawks +11, Cardinals -11. When looking at alternate lines on a sportsbook, you will be presented with something like the below:
Most online betting sites will offer numerous options around betting the point spread or total. These will be found under the ‘alternate lines’ tab and these options will show how the odds can increase or decrease as the player moves further away from the spread or total set by the bookmaker.
Let’s look at an example and say the Philadelphia Eagles are -4, and betting on the Eagles to cover would have odds close to the usual -110 line. There will also be lots of alternate lines available if you wanted to take the Eagles to cover by 4, 5 or 6 more points. Selling some points and betting on the Eagles to cover a -6.5 spread could give you more generous odds of say -150 or higher.
On the flip side, you can buy points with a favorite, lowering the spread and making the bet easier to win. The negative of doing this is risking more than you actually stand to win. For example, you decide you want to lower the Eagles’ spread to just a field goal. You then take the Philadelphia at -2.5 which could lower the spread to around -140.
When Should You Bet Alternate Lines?
If you have a strong feeling on a particular team in any game, and think they will win in a blowout, increasing the spread will give you better odds and then a better payout will follow.
If you have a sneaky feeling for an underdog in any sport and think they are being undervalued, decreasing the spread will also generate great odds. It is the same idea behind putting your faith behind an underdog to win on a moneyline bet.
Alternate lines are also a good idea when backing the favorite or underdog by changing the number needed for them to cover. Let’s say you think the Cowboys will win but you are not overly confident and think it will be a close game, so you don’t think Dallas will cover by four or five points. You can opt to pick an alternate line to get the figure down to 2.5 points and then the bet would win as long as the Cowboys win by 3 or more points.
Live Alternate Betting Lines
Live betting has become extremely popular in recent years. Technically, most odds available during a game is an alternate line, because odds frequently change based on what is happening on the court or field. Those alternate lines can still be used for your benefit if you think you know what is going to happen.
For example, if you watch the first quarter of an NFL game and it is low scoring with both offenses not getting much going, you might think the struggle will continue for the rest of the game. The total starts to drop due to these results. Taking the under bet on a line of -44.5 points as the game approaches halftime would give you really good odds.
Why is Spread Betting Popular?
There are a couple of reasons why spread betting is seemingly becoming a more popular option than a typical moneyline wager. One of the key reasons is that spreads offer better odds and potential payouts. As mentioned above, you can generate really good odds for yourself if you are clever.
Another appealing aspect of betting the spread is that your team can lose and your spread bet can still win. It is all about looking at margins of victory rather than outright victory, meaning that it is more flexible. True, betting against the spread requires more strategy and analysis, but if you put this work in you are presented with more opportunity to make a profit.
Sportsbooks will always aim to have equal money on both sides of the spread. They are easy to find on any sportsbook, and the odds and payouts will be adjusted based on how far the alternate line moves from the standard line.
Tips for Spread Alternate Betting
Betting on alternate lines involves a lot of time researching. For this to be a part of a long term betting strategy, here are some key things to consider:
Shop around for the best line: Savvy players will find there are some inconsistencies on how sportsbooks set their lines and then take advantage of them. Shopping around for the best lines will allow you to compare odds across numerous sportsbooks and then choose the best options for you. Remember, even an extra half-point matters.
Try and find mismatches: Try and target matches where there is a noticeable difference in the quality of the two teams. Home and away field advantages are also something to consider, look at the teams cover rates when they play at home or on the road.
Consider key numbers: Get to know the key spreads such as 3, 7 and 10. Then you should always keep track of line movements.
Bankroll management: Sensible bankroll management should be used no matter what type of bets or strategy you are using. You should never chase losses or stretch your bankroll more than it can handle. Have a budget and stick to it.
Follow line movements: If a spread bet goes up or down, it shows that there is some heat on that game.
Buy points: Some sportsbooks allow you to buy points against the spread as a form of an alternate line. By being wise and getting the best lines, your spread bets will have more chance of winning.
Using Alternate Lines on Parlays
Using alternate lines can be used on parlays, which are very popular among bettors. Parlay bets allow you to combine more than one bet into the same wager, which gives you very high odds. The payout depends on how many legs you include, but it is popular because it has the potential to give you a big win from a small outlay.
Alternate lines give you the opportunity to move the line for each leg you select, so an alternate line parlay wager could be created by customizing the spread for each match individually.
Best Sportsbooks for Alternate Lines Betting
Not all online sportsbooks offer alternate lines and spreads. Like we said above, the trick is to find value, where you think a betting site has badly misjudged the line and that is where you jump in.
Spread Alternate Betting can be Profitable
Spread betting gives you the chance to bet on your favorite sports with reduced risk while wagering on teams to cover the margin. When using alternate lines, you can try and earn an even bigger payout. As long as you do a bit of shopping and take the time to do some analysis, you can really adopt alternate spread betting as part of your overall betting strategy.
