That’s where the point-spread comes into play. But if one team is better than its opponent, it isn’t a fair bet. Betting on either side wins you the same amount of money. Straight football betting against the spread is a heads-or-tails equation. One is almost always better or has superior conditions for a win. Rarely are two teams ever evenly-matched. It is the guiding principle in football betting. The term “spread” is short for point-spread. It’s a word you hear all over the place in the world of football betting. People new to football wagering will wonder what all this “spread” talk is about. Football Betting: What is a Point Spread?īy Loot, NFL Football Handicapper.