If you’ve ever heard someone say they’re “taking the points” in betting, you might be wondering what that actually means. It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Let me explain in a way that’s easy to follow, so you can feel confident next time you’re betting.

Taking the Points Meaning

In sports betting, “taking the points” means you’re betting on the underdog in a game with a point spread. Instead of betting that the underdog will win the game outright, you’re betting that they’ll either win or lose by fewer points than the spread. You’re essentially giving the underdog a cushion—those extra points give you more room to win your bet.

For example, let’s say you see a game where:

  • Team A is favored by 6 points (-6).
  • Team B is the underdog, getting 6 points (+6).

If you take the points with Team B, you win the bet if Team B wins the game or loses by less than 6 points. Pretty simple, right?

How Does a Point Spread Work?

To understand taking the points, you first need to know what a point spread is. The point spread is a number set by sportsbooks to level the playing field between two teams, especially when one team is heavily favored to win.

Here’s what the spread looks like:

  • Team A: -6
  • Team B: +6

In this case, Team A is the favorite and must win by more than 6 points for a bet on them to win. If you bet on Team B and take the points, you win as long as Team B either wins the game or loses by fewer than 6 points.

What Does -3.5 Mean in a Point Spread?

You’ll often see numbers like -3.5 in a point spread. It just means the favorite needs to win by more than 3.5 points for you to win a bet on them. Since half points don’t exist in real life, it’s a way to avoid a tie or “push.” If the spread is -3.5, and you’re taking the points with the underdog, your bet wins if the underdog loses by 3 points or fewer, or if they win the game outright.

Difference Between Taking the Points and Laying the Points

So, now that you know what taking the points means, let’s talk about the opposite—laying the points.

  • Taking the points: You’re betting on the underdog and adding the point spread to their score, giving them a better chance of covering.
  • Laying the points: You’re betting on the favorite. To win, the favorite has to win by more than the point spread.

For example, if the spread is -7.5, and you’re betting on the favorite, you’ll need the favorite to win by at least 8 points for your bet to hit.

Why Take the Points?

You might choose to take the points when you think the underdog will keep the game close, even if they don’t win. Sometimes, a team that’s expected to lose might still put up a good fight, and taking the points can be a safer way to bet on them.

For instance, if an underdog has been playing well lately or if the favorite is dealing with injuries, it might be a good idea to bet on the underdog and take those extra points.

Betting Against the Spread

When people talk about betting against the spread, they’re usually talking about either taking the points or laying the points. This is different from betting on the moneyline, where you’re just betting on who will win the game straight up, without any point spread involved.

In spread betting, you’re not just betting on which team will win. You’re betting on the margin of victory or how close the game will be. That’s why it’s important to understand how point spreads work and when to take the points or lay the points.

How Does Spread Betting Work?

When you bet the spread, you’re betting on how much a team will win or lose by. The point spread makes betting on the underdog more appealing because they don’t have to win the game outright for you to win your bet. They just need to keep it close enough.

For example:

  • Team A: -6
  • Team B: +6

If you take the points with Team B (+6), you’ll win your bet if Team B wins the game or loses by less than 6 points. If Team A wins by 7 or more, you lose your bet.

What’s a Good Strategy for Taking the Points?

Here are a few tips for when you might want to take the points:

  1. Look at Recent Form: If the underdog has been playing well lately, they might be able to cover the spread, even if they don’t win.
  2. Check for Injuries: If the favorite has injured key players, the game might be closer than expected, making the underdog a good bet.
  3. Home Field Advantage: If the underdog is playing at home, they might have a better chance to cover the spread.

Conclusion

So, what does take the points mean? It’s all about betting on the underdog in a point spread. When you take the points, you’re betting that the underdog will either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread. It’s a great way to make betting more exciting and gives you more chances to win even if the underdog doesn’t pull off an upset.

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