Contents
- What is an Alternate Spread?
- Alternate Spread Explained with an Example
- Which Sports Are Alternate Spreads Available for in Betting?
- How to Make an Alternate Spread Wager in Betting?
- What Is an Alternate Line?
- Where to find Alternative Lines in Betting?
- Alternate Line: Betting Strategies
- When to Bet Alternate Lines
- How to Bet Alternate Lines in the Playoffs?
- Where to see Alternate Lines in Betting
- Tips for Betting on Alternate Lines
What is an Alternate Spread?
An alternate spread is a line that is dissimilar from the official line of a game. Certain alternate spreads can be adjusted by more than 10 points. With the alternate spread, the spreads that you can bet on in a game change, as well as the odds with each associated spread. The more points you choose to lay on the favorite with an alternate spread, the more your payout will be.
Alternate Spread Explained with an Example
Alternate spreads for team A and team B can look something like this:
Team A, +14, -275
Team B, -14, +225
Team A, -7, +550
Team B, +7, -725
For every $100 wagered on the game, you will make a profit of $550 if you take an alternate spread of team A -7. However, if you want a better chance of winning your bet, you should take team A plus the 14 points at -275.
Which Sports Are Alternate Spreads Available for in Betting?
Up to $1,250 back on your first bet when you join Caesars here
How to Make an Alternate Spread Wager in Betting?
Create a sportsbook account and log in.
Find the games you want to wager on.
Click on “More Wagers” or “Game Props.”
Find where it says “Alternate Spreads.”
Look at all the alternate spreads and find one that is most agreeable.
Review the potential payout.
If you are happy, enter your wager amount and click “confirm bet.”
How to Place an Alternate Spread Bet Online (or on a mobile device)?
Log into your account and find games you want to wager on. Find alternate spreads and find the most suitable one. You can then review the payout and enter your wager amount to confirm the bet.
How to Place an Alternate Spread Bet Offline (In-Person)?
Tell the cashier which game you want to wager on and specify that you want to make an alternate spread wager.
If you are knowledgeable about the alternate spreads offered, tell the cashier which you want to wager on. If not, the cashier will display all the available alternate spreads on the screen.
Tell the cashier the amount of money you want to wager on.
Review the odds payout.
If you are satisfied, give the cashier your money. You can then take your betting slip and keep it in a safe place.
What Is an Alternate Line?
Betting on alternate lines involves buying or selling points on the spread or total for a sporting event. Buying points will lower the odds, requiring a larger payout in exchange for a safer outcome. On the other hand, selling points increases the odds and the potential profits to be won but create a more difficult wager to win.
Where to find Alternative Lines in Betting?
$1,000 Risk-Free Bet for all new BetMGM players here
Alternate Line: Betting Strategies
Strategy 1
Line shopping.
Line shopping allows you to compare odds at multiple sportsbooks and choose the line that offers the best payout. This is why you should have more than one account. Through line shopping, you can snag the largest odds possible.
Strategy 2
Sell points for bigger payouts.
In this case, you will make an underdog become a favorite or turn a favorite into a bigger favorite. This strategy is risky, but if you sell points and win the bet, you will get a bigger profit.
Strategy 3
Get the line you want in parlays betting
You can combine multiple individual bets and receive an increased payout if you get all of them correct. With multiple wagers in a single bet, you can easily take the blow since the overall odds will be improved.
Alternate Spread Betting
In alternate spread betting, the favorite is indicated with a negative number, while the underdog has a positive number. For a bet on team A to win, they must lose by fewer than the point spread set by the sportsbook. For a bet on Team B to win, they must win the game by more than certain points.
Alternate Totals Betting
Totals betting involves the combined sum of points that both teams will score in a game. For this type of bet, the difference in points or who wins doesn’t matter. If the set number is 210 and you believe that the combined points between both teams will be higher, bet on the over.
When to Bet Alternate Lines
You should use alternate lines when you like an underdog against a popular team. Since most people will bet heavily on the popular team, the bookmakers will make the spread a little larger than it should be.
Get up to a $1,000 bonus when you sign up to Superbook
How to Bet Alternate Lines in the Playoffs?
In the NFL postseason, underdogs rarely go down without a fight, which means you should increase the spread for an underdog in the hopes that they will score later to cover seven points or greater. In the NBA playoffs, the series will go back and forth, with teams winning a blowout at home before going on the road. In this case, you can raise the spread for a favored home team. In the MLB postseason, you can take an alternate total that is lower in hopes that both teams will sell out their bullpen to keep the game low-scoring.
Where to see Alternate Lines in Betting
You can easily find alternate betting lines on most online sportsbook apps.
Tips for Betting on Alternate Lines
When betting on NHL puck lines, always remember that a trailing team will pull its goaltender down by one or two goals late in the game. In this case, the empty-net goal will be the difference between winning and losing.
Don’t be afraid to sell or buy points, especially when betting on an NFL game, because key numbers are vital. If the spread you are wagering on is close to a key number, adjusting it in your direction can be the difference between winning and losing the bet.
