Betting Against the Spread: What ATS Means and How to Bet It

Betting against the spread (ATS) is one of the most popular ways to wager on sports. Instead of simply picking which team wins, you bet on whether a team will beat a point handicap set by the sportsbook. This handicap, called the point spread, levels the playing field between favourites and underdogs, making every game a roughly even proposition for bettors.

ATS betting is the backbone of NFL and NBA wagering, and understanding how it works is essential if you plan to bet on sports. This guide covers what against the spread means, how to place ATS bets, how to read ATS records, and strategies to help you make better spread betting decisions.

Sports betting should always be optional and affordable. If you choose to bet, understand the risks and never wager more than you can afford to lose.

What Does Against the Spread Mean?

Against the spread (ATS) refers to betting on the point spread rather than the moneyline (straight-up winner). When you bet ATS, you are wagering that a team will either win by more than the spread (if they are the favourite) or lose by fewer points than the spread (if they are the underdog).

The point spread is a number set by oddsmakers that represents the expected margin of victory. It creates a handicap so that both sides of the bet attract roughly equal action.

How the spread works:

• The favourite gets a negative number (e.g., -7), meaning they must win by more than that number
• The underdog gets a positive number (e.g., +7), meaning they can lose by up to that number and still cover

For example, if the Kansas City Chiefs are -6.5 against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs must win by 7 or more points for an ATS bet on the Chiefs to win. A bet on the Broncos +6.5 wins if the Broncos win outright or lose by 6 or fewer points.

The term against the spread simply means you are betting with the spread factored in, as opposed to a moneyline bet where only the winner matters.

For a full breakdown of how point spreads work, see our Point Spread Betting Guide.

How ATS Betting Works

Favourites and Underdogs

Every point spread has two sides:

• Favourite (-spread): Must win by more than the spread to cover. The bigger the spread, the harder it is to cover.
• Underdog (+spread): Can lose by fewer points than the spread, or win the game outright. Underdogs cover if the final margin is smaller than the spread.

The Vig (Juice)

Most ATS bets are priced at -110 on both sides. This means you must risk $110 to win $100 (or any proportional amount). The extra $10 is the vigorish (vig), which is the sportsbook's commission.

At -110, you need to win roughly 52.4% of your bets to break even. This is an important number to keep in mind: you cannot simply win half your bets and profit.

Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice at -105, which lowers the break-even rate to about 51.2%. Shopping for better prices across multiple sportsbooks can make a real difference over time.

Half-Point Spreads and Pushes

Spreads come in two forms:

• Whole numbers (e.g., -7, +3): If the final margin lands exactly on the spread, the bet is a push and your stake is returned.
• Half-point spreads (e.g., -7.5, +3.5): The half point, called the hook, eliminates pushes entirely. Every bet resolves as a win or loss.

Half-point differences may seem small, but they matter significantly around key numbers. The difference between -7 and -7.5 in the NFL, for instance, can be the difference between a push and a loss.

Calculate Your ATS Payouts

Use our point spread calculator to see exactly what your ATS bet would pay at different odds and stake amounts.

How to Bet Against the Spread: Step by Step

If you are new to ATS betting, here is the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Find the spread for your game

Open your sportsbook and navigate to the sport and game you want to bet on. The point spread will be listed alongside the moneyline and total (over/under) for each game.

Step 2: Choose your side

Decide whether you want to bet on the favourite (negative spread) or the underdog (positive spread). Consider the matchup, recent form, injuries, and any other factors that might affect the margin of victory.

Step 3: Understand the odds

Check the price on your chosen side. Standard odds are -110, but they can vary. Lower odds (e.g., -105) mean better value. Higher odds (e.g., -115) mean you are paying more for the same bet.

Step 4: Enter your stake

Decide how much you want to bet. A common guideline is to risk no more than 1-3% of your total bankroll on any single bet.

Step 5: Place the bet and confirm

Review your bet slip to make sure the spread, odds, and stake are correct, then confirm the wager.

For help reading and interpreting the spread before you bet, see our guide on how to read point spreads.

Understanding ATS Records

ATS records track how often a team covers the spread over a given period. They are one of the most widely referenced statistics in sports betting analysis.

What ATS Records Show

An ATS record is presented as wins-losses-pushes. For example:

• Buffalo Bills: 10-5-1 ATS means the Bills covered the spread in 10 games, failed to cover in 5 games, and pushed in 1 game over that stretch.

ATS records can be broken down in many ways:

• Overall season record
• Home ATS vs road ATS
• As a favourite ATS vs as an underdog ATS
• Against specific divisions or conferences
• In primetime games, after a bye week, or in specific weather conditions

How to Use ATS Records

ATS records are useful as one data point among many, but they require context. A team that is 9-2 ATS through Week 11 might look like a strong bet, but consider:

• Market adjustment: Sportsbooks adjust lines based on ATS trends. A team that keeps covering will see larger spreads, making future covers harder.
• Sample size: Eleven games is a small sample. A few lucky breaks or close finishes can inflate an ATS record.
• Context matters: Were those covers by wide margins or last-second scores? Were key players healthy for all those games?

The smartest approach is to use ATS records as a starting point for research, not as a standalone betting system.

ATS Records vs Straight-Up Records

A team's ATS record often tells a very different story than their win-loss record. A team that is 12-3 straight up might be only 7-8 ATS because they are consistently favoured by large margins and fail to cover. Conversely, a team with a losing record might be profitable ATS because they consistently outperform low expectations.

This is why ATS analysis matters. The best team in the league is not always the best bet against the spread.

ATS Betting Examples by Sport

NFL ATS Examples

The NFL is where ATS betting is most popular. Games typically have spreads between 1 and 14 points.

Example 1: Favourite covers

• Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -4.5 at -110
• Final score: Eagles 31, Cowboys 24
• Margin: Eagles win by 7
• Result: Eagles cover -4.5 (won by more than 4.5)

Example 2: Underdog covers without winning

• Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars +9.5 at -110
• Final score: 49ers 27, Jaguars 20
• Margin: 49ers win by 7
• Result: Jaguars cover +9.5 (lost by only 7, which is less than 9.5)

Example 3: Push on a key number

• Spread: Green Bay Packers -3 at -110
• Final score: Packers 20, Vikings 17
• Margin: Packers win by exactly 3
• Result: Push, all stakes returned

NBA ATS Examples

NBA spreads tend to be larger and more volatile due to the higher scoring nature of the sport.

Example 1: Favourite fails to cover

• Spread: Boston Celtics -8.5 at -110
• Final score: Celtics 118, Hornets 112
• Margin: Celtics win by 6
• Result: Celtics do NOT cover (needed to win by 9+), Hornets cover

Example 2: Late free throws affect the spread

• Spread: Milwaukee Bucks -5.5 at -110
• Score with 30 seconds left: Bucks 112, Pistons 103 (Bucks up 9)
• Final score after intentional fouls: Bucks 114, Pistons 110
• Margin: Bucks win by 4
• Result: Bucks do NOT cover (needed 6+), Pistons cover

Late-game fouling in the NBA regularly impacts ATS outcomes. A team that appears to have the spread locked up can lose their cover in the final minute.

MLB and NHL ATS Equivalents

Baseball and hockey use fixed spreads:

• MLB run line: ±1.5 runs (standard)
• NHL puck line: ±1.5 goals (standard)

These work the same way as traditional point spreads. A -1.5 run line favourite must win by 2 or more runs. A +1.5 puck line underdog can lose by 1 goal and still cover.

Because the margins in these sports are smaller, the run line and puck line create more dramatic odds differences between the favourite and underdog sides compared to NFL or NBA spreads.

ATS Betting Tips and Strategies

Pay Attention to Key Numbers

In the NFL, certain margins of victory occur far more often than others. The most important key numbers are:

• 3: The most common NFL margin (field goal)
• 7: The second most common margin (touchdown)
• 10: Third most common (touchdown + field goal)

A half point around these numbers is extremely valuable. Getting +3.5 instead of +3, or -6.5 instead of -7, can significantly affect your win rate over time.

For a deeper look at key numbers and how to use them, see our Key Numbers in Point Spread Betting Guide.

Shop for the Best Line

Different sportsbooks often post slightly different spreads for the same game. One book might have the Chiefs at -6.5 while another has them at -7. Over hundreds of bets, consistently getting the best available line adds up to a meaningful edge.

Use our Point Spread Calculator to compare payouts across different spreads and odds.

Know When ATS Beats the Moneyline

ATS bets and moneyline bets serve different purposes. Here is when each tends to offer more value:

ATS is often better when:

• The favourite is expected to win comfortably (large moneyline price, moderate spread)
• You believe the underdog will keep it close but probably lose
• The spread is set around a key number in your favour

Moneyline is often better when:

• The underdog has a realistic chance of winning outright (small spread, decent moneyline price)
• The favourite is a very slight favourite (spread of 1-2 points)
• You want simpler win/lose resolution without worrying about margins

Track Your Results

Keep a record of every ATS bet you place, including the spread, odds, stake, and result. Over time, this data reveals patterns: which sports you bet best, which situations produce profits, and where you lose money.

A sustained ATS win rate above 52.4% at standard -110 odds means you are beating the market. Anything below that, and you are losing to the vig.

Common ATS Betting Mistakes

Confusing Winning With Covering

The most common mistake new bettors make is thinking that if their team wins the game, they win the bet. In ATS betting, the margin of victory is what matters. A team can win the game by 3 points and still fail to cover a -7 spread.

To understand exactly how results are graded as wins, losses, and pushes, read our guide on covering the spread.

Chasing ATS Trends

A team that is 8-1 ATS looks attractive, but the market has already noticed. Sportsbooks adjust spreads based on betting patterns and public perception. By the time an ATS trend is widely known, the value has usually been priced out.

Ignoring Line Movement

The spread you see when the line opens is not always the spread available at game time. Lines move based on betting action, injury news, and other factors. If you have a strong opinion, betting early can lock in a better number. But if you prefer to wait and see how the line moves, you might get a worse spread.

Betting the Same Amount Every Game

Flat betting (wagering the same amount on every game) is a solid approach for most bettors. The mistake is the opposite: increasing stakes after wins or chasing losses with bigger bets. ATS betting is a long game, and bankroll discipline matters more than any single pick.

Not Accounting for the Vig

At -110, you need to win 52.4% of your bets to break even. Many bettors overestimate their edge because they forget about the vig. If you are winning 51% of your ATS bets, you are losing money, not breaking even.

For more advanced strategies on improving your ATS results, see our Point Spread Betting Strategy Guide.

FAQs: Betting Against the Spread

What does ATS mean in sports betting?

ATS stands for against the spread. It refers to betting on the point spread rather than the moneyline. When you bet ATS, your team must beat the handicap (spread) set by the sportsbook for your bet to win, not just win the game outright.

How do you bet against the spread?

To bet ATS, choose a game at your sportsbook, look at the point spread, and decide whether to bet on the favourite (must win by more than the spread) or the underdog (can lose by fewer points than the spread or win outright). Most ATS bets are priced at -110 odds.

Is ATS the same as point spread betting?

Yes. Betting against the spread and point spread betting are the same thing. Both terms refer to wagering on the margin of victory with a handicap applied. ATS is the abbreviation commonly used in betting analysis and record tracking.

What is a good ATS record?

Any ATS record above 52.4% is profitable at standard -110 odds. A record of 55% or better ATS is considered excellent and indicates a strong edge. Even professional bettors rarely sustain win rates above 57-58% ATS over large sample sizes.

Can you bet ATS on any sport?

ATS betting is available for virtually every major sport. The NFL and NBA are the most popular for point spread betting. MLB uses the run line (±1.5) and the NHL uses the puck line (±1.5), which function as fixed spreads. College football and basketball also have active ATS markets.

Should I bet ATS or moneyline?

It depends on the matchup. ATS is often better for games with a clear favourite where the moneyline price is too high. Moneyline is often better for close games or when you believe an underdog can win outright. There is no universally correct answer as each game presents different value on each bet type.

What does it mean when a team goes ATS?

When someone says a team went 7-3 ATS, it means the team covered the point spread in 7 out of 10 games. The ATS record is separate from the team's win-loss record and specifically tracks performance relative to the spread.

How do pushes work in ATS betting?

A push occurs when the final margin of victory lands exactly on the spread. For example, if the spread is -7 and the favourite wins by exactly 7, the bet is a push and your stake is returned. Pushes only happen on whole-number spreads. Half-point spreads (hooks) like -7.5 eliminate pushes entirely.