What Is Football Point Spread
The most common NFL spreads are usually set between about 2.5-10.5 points, but you will also almost always have games each week with spreads lower than 2.5 and higher than 10.5. NFL Week 8 Odds: Point Spreads, Betting Lines For All 15 Football Games. By Logan Mullen October 23, 2019 Share. Link Chain Icon. There are several NFL Week 8 matchups with.
The 2020 Big Ten Conference will begin in Week 8, in a schedule of eight intraconference games.
Michigan Wolverines Football Betting Odds & Forecast
2020 Michigan Win Total Odds
Michigan 2020 wins: Over 9 (-110) or Under 9 (-110)
With what is set to be the first season of Michigan football with legal sports betting in Michigan, a current posted season win total of a flat '9' for the 2020 Michigan Wolverines predicts more of the same from the Wolverines, who are still looking for their first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.
2020 Michigan Wolverines Schedule
- Week 8 - Oct. 24 at Minnesota
- Week 9 - Oct. 31 vs. Michigan State
- Week 10 - Nov. 7 at Indiana
- Week 11 - Nov. 14 vs. Wisconsin
- Week 12 - Nov. 21 at Rutgers
- Week 13 - Nov. 28 vs. Penn State
- Week 14 - Dec. 5 vs. Maryland
- Week 15 - Dec. 12 at Ohio State
Eight straight losses vs Ohio State, and the Buckeyes being a national title favorite already has the majority penciling in that game as another defeat for the Wolverines in 2020, as that's a road contest for the Wolverines this year and Ohio State is already listed as a hefty home favorite in that spot.
'Under' bettors would need at least two more defeats to be free-rolling their play though, and that may end up being tougher then expected to get in 2020. The Wolverines other regular season losses in 2019 came on the road against ranked Wisconsin and Penn State programs and Michigan gets both of those opponents back at home in 2020, and the rest of their road schedule is rather soft.
It does make '9' the best number to post for Michigan's season though, as another 9-3 SU regular season mark has a strong likelihood of happening again for the Wolverines. Why bother coin-flipping on either side of that equation.
Michigan had a rough finish to last season but the sportsbooks are predicting nine wins for the Wolverines in 2020. (AP)
2020 Michigan Game of the Year Odds
- Week 11 - Wisconsin at Michigan (-3.5)
- Week 13 - Penn State at Michigan (-2.5)
- Week 15 - Michigan (+11.5) at Ohio State
A nationally recognized brand like Michigan will always get plenty of preseason recognition in the Game(s) of the Year odds, and 2020 is no different. Four of Michigan's contests already have early lines posted and they are small favorites in three of them.
The Wolverines season opener out West against the Washington Huskies has Michigan laying -3 points currently, while their home games against Wisconsin and Penn State have similar prices with the Wolverines laying -3.5 and -2.5 respectively.
And then there is that trip to Ohio State in the regular season finale which has Michigan as +11.5 underdogs in that game. That's definitely an interesting number for that contest for both sides, and it will be interesting to see how the season goes for both programs leading up to that game and what affect it has on the point spread the week of. If Ohio State has run the table to that point, -11.5 might be considered a steal to some.
Michigan Odds to win Big 10 Championship
Yes (+600)
The Wolverines are tied with Penn State (+600) for the second-best odds in the Big 10 conference to claim the title, but they and everyone else in the conference still get a sore neck looking all the way up at Ohio State at -230.
Any hope the Wolverines have at winning the Big 10 will always rely on them beating Ohio State in the regular season finale, and we've already discussed how big of an underdog (+11.5) they are for that game. That also assumes Michigan doesn't trip over any potential stumbling blocks leading up to that contest and are still alive for a shot at playing in the Big 10 Championship Game for the first time in school history.
So really, a +600 price tag is nice, but it just requires too much to go right for Michigan, before, during, and after the Ohio State game. With the Wolverines priced at +390 on the money line against Ohio State in those Game(s) of the Year odds currently, that would be the better way to attack the future belief that Michigan will get over the hump this year and win the Big 10. It's still nearly 4/1 odds and it's just a single game, one that Michigan HAS to win for any “Yes” tickets on their Big 10 Championship futures to have a shot.
Michigan Odds to Make 2020-21 College Football Playoff
Yes (+600) or No (-1000)
A Big 10 Championship win would assuredly get the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff for the first time in the program's history, so it really isn't all that surprising to see the odds on the “Yes” prop here priced the same.
If you are a big believer in 2020 being the year where Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan program does finally get over that ever-growing hump, then 'doubling up' on these two +600 wagers on Michigan to win the Big 10 conference and make the CFB Playoff is a betting strategy to consider.
Adding in a Michigan ML play at the +390 odds vs Ohio State should be thrown in there as well, and if 2020 is indeed the Wolverines time to finally reach the levels of success their boosters expect from them every year, bettors that do go down that pro-Michigan path will be adding a substantial amount of units to their bankroll come the Christmas holidays.
Michigan Odds to Win 2020-21 College Football Playoff
Yes (+5000)
Again, it's a longer shot for Michigan to go all the way in 2020, but it's not like their path to glory is really full of question marks. The Wolverines have to get to that Ohio State game with a chance to win their division in the Big 10 and earn a spot in the conference title game the next week, win that game to grab a playoff spot, and then take their chances against the other top three teams in the country from there.
Believers in Michigan to get that far might as well throw some portion of a unit down on them going the full distance, but this is still a program where rationality and recent history suggest that it's better to take it one step at a time first with Michigan and their ability to win a “big game”.
Michigan Wolverines – Postseason Forecast
There is just too much evidence during Harbaugh's tenure here that the Wolverines will ultimately slip up at least once during the year, and likely two or three times. That suggests that it will be another late-December type Bowl game for Michigan this year as the nine wins they are projected to get is likely where they end up. Maybe it's another Citrus Bowl appearance for them in early January, but they are the ultimate “prove it first” college football program in 2020.
Michigan Wolverines Season Prediction
The season win total being set at 9 wins virtually puts betting that line in a tough spot, as it's not hard to see Michigan finish the year with exactly a 9-3 SU record. They enter 2020 with no firm answer yet on who will be the starting QB, although redshirt junior Dylan McCaffrey (NFL RB Christian McCaffrey's brother) has to at least get a shot.
Recent history of Michigan losses in big games makes this program extremely difficult to trust, even for the most loyal sports bettors in Michigan, and opening up as a double digit underdog for the Ohio State game isn't exactly the best vote of confidence.
Given Harbaugh's winless ways against the Buckeyes, you'd have to figure that another loss to Ohio State puts his job security in serious jeopardy, which makes that game almost like the be all, end all for the Wolverines in 2020. Michigan wins that game and a huge weight has been lifted, and of all the futures for Michigan's season, taking those 11.5 points, and tossing a bit on the money line vs Ohio State is really the only thing that really warrants consideration at this point.
Michigan finishes the year 10-2 or 9-3 SU but they are probably a program that's better to take a wait-and-see approach with.
Wolverines 2019 Betting Recap
The Michigan Wolverines finished off their 2019 campaign with a 35-16 loss to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl, rounding out a 9-4 year that saw them come up short in all the big games yet again.
| 2019 Michigan Wolverines Betting Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That's been the calling card for this program during the Jim Harbaugh era, as he's yet to beat Ohio State in “The Game” since returning to his Alma mater, and some very promising seasons for the Wolverines have ended up in disappointment because of those defeats in high profile tilts.
FAQ - Betting on the 2020 Michigan Wolverines
Where can I bet on the 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team?
Ny Post Point Spread Nfl
There are several legal sportsbook options in the United States. Visit our sportsbook directory to find online sportsbooks where you can bet on the Michigan Wolverines.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Michigan?
The legalization of Michigan sports betting in 2020 and the pre-launch of Draftkings in the state can give us good hope that Online Sports Betting will be available early 2021.
What other College Football bets are available?
Bets can be placed nearly every team in the FCS. Check out our NCAA Futures Odds to see odds to win the NCAA championship and each conference or visit our main NCAA Football page for the latest betting news.
What’s Michigan's point spreads for each of their games?
College Football odds are generally released early in the week when the game is scheduled to be played. For weekly odds, check out our College Football Vegas Odds page.
Where can I learn how to bet on College Football?
To learn more about betting on College Football, check out our football betting tutorial.
Point spread betting is the most popular form of sports betting. The vast majority of sports wagers use a point spread thanks to the popularity of football and basketball. Even though this type of betting is so popular, it may take awhile to understand.
The point spread is sometimes known as an equalizer for sportsbook operators. All teams aren’t created equally, so sportsbooks can create a point spread for a game so that each team playing has an almost even chance of winning the game. In a way, the point spread will even the field for both teams.
The point spread gives a reason for bettors to risk money on both teams. The better team playing in the game is considered favorite. They have to win by the point spread offered by the sportsbook. The favorite in a game is listed as being minus (-) the point spread.
The worse of the teams playing in the game is called the underdog. The bettor wins if this team wins the game outright or loses by an amount smaller than the point spread. The underdog in a game is listed as being plus (+) the point spread.
Let’s use this past Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs as an example.
What Does Football Point Spread Mean
Using this example, the Chiefs were 3-point favorites over the Buccaneers. The Chiefs needed to win by 4 or more points to cover the spread.
Likewise, the Buccaneers were 3-point underdogs. That means the Buccaneers needed to win the game outright or not lose the contest by 4 points or more. At Chiefs -3, if they won by exactly 3 points, the betting result would have been a “push” and bettors for both sides would have gotten their wagers refunded.
The Buccaneers pulled off the upset, winning by a score of 31-9, and rewarded bettors who backed them at +3.
Point spread betting odds
Point spreads are usually set with -110 odds, but pricing often fluctuates at online sportsbooks. This is the sportsbook operators’ house edge. The odds guarantee the sportsbook operator will see a little money over time. When the odds are set at -110, the bettor must wager $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10).
The odds on a point spread are most commonly known as the vigorish or “vig” for the sportsbook. You might hear this small profit margin for the sportsbook called the “juice” by some sports bettors.
Point spread FAQs
What does ‘pick em’ or ‘pick’ mean in NFL betting?
A “pick em” (sometimes seen as “pick”) is when the teams have a point spread of zero, meaning neither team is favored. In this instance, you’re essentially picking moneyline and your bet will be determined on the winner alone.
What does -7 and +7 mean in NFL betting?
A spread of minus-seven (-7) means that a is favored to win the game by a touchdown (technically, a touchdown and the extra point). A team favored by -7 must win the game by eight or more points to win the bet. If the team wins by seven, the result is a “push” and the bet is refunded.
A spread of +7 means the team must win the game or lose by fewer than seven points to win the bet. A loss by seven would result in a push.
What does -3 and +3 mean in NFL betting?
A -3 spread means that the favorite must win by more than a field goal to win the wager. A three-point win would result in a push and the sportsbook would refund the wager.
A spread of +3 means the team listed as the underdog must win the game or lose by fewer than three points to cash the bet. A three-point loss would be graded as a push by the sportsbook and the bet would be refunded.
Why are point spreads in the NFL so much lower than in college?
In 2019, the Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in point differential per game at +13.7 points; the Miami Dolphins ranked last in the NFL in point differential per game at -11.7. Even Kansas City– known for their explosive offense– had an average point differential in 2019 of just 9.7 points. The net point differential in the NFL is -14.1, or -0.9 points per game. Basically, the talent differential in the NFL is so minute that even mismatched teams often draw games within a score of each other.
NFL spreads are most commonly between one point and four, with six being a heavy favorite and extremes coming out around 15-20 point favors. (For those wondering, the 1941 Chicago Bears hold the NFL record of point differential at +15.7 points per game. Conversely, Ohio State had a +33.1 average point differential in 2019.)
Point spread and odds movement
Sportsbook operators often aim to have equal money on both sides of a point spread. When the money is exactly split the sportsbook operator will see the exact vigorish as their profit margin. If all things are equal over time this will maximize how much money the sportsbook operator can make.
In an effort to have equal money on both sides of a wager, the sportsbook operator will move the point spread to attract money on the side that customers aren’t betting on. The odds for a point spread might change before the actual point spread. There are certain point spread numbers, like 3 and 7 in football, the sportsbook operators would like to avoid moving away from since the final score margin falls on these two numbers most often.
For example, if a lot more money is wagered on the New England Patriots -3, the vig may shift from -112 to -115 and -120 before the line moves to -3.5.
Run and puck lines
Football and basketball games are mostly bet using a point spread. The less popular major sports, baseball and hockey, are mostly bet using a moneyline. In an effort to make baseball and hockey more appealing to point spread bettors, the sportsbook operators offer run and puck lines, respectively.
These alternative lines give point spread bettors a chance to wager on other sports using a more familiar method of betting. Since points (runs and goals) aren’t as easy to come by in baseball and hockey, the odds with the lines may have a wider spread than a football or basketball game.