Demystifying Sports Betting Spreads and Totals: A Beginner‘s Guide to Understanding – and Winning – Common Bets like 1.75

Hey friend! Have you ever wondered what sportsbook numbers like 1.75, -7, or Over 42 are all about? If so, you‘ve come to the right place.

As a passionate sports bettor and analyst, I‘m going to explain everything you need to know about spread and total betting. I‘ll demystify what these odds mean and give you pro tips to help you win more of these common wagers.

Let‘s start with the basics…

Spread Betting: Giving the Underdog a Head Start

Before we dig into mysterious numbers like 1.75, let‘s first cover the concept of spread betting.

The term "spread" refers to a handicap set by oddsmakers that levels the playing field by giving the underdog team a virtual head start on points. This spread number also sets a margin of victory the favorite needs to "cover the spread" and win versus just picking the winner straight up.

Confused? Let me explain how it works with an example:

New England Patriots -7 (-110) vs New York Jets +7 (-110)

This NFL spread gives the underdog Jets a +7 point head start against the favored Patriots.

• For spread bets on the Pats to cash, they‘d need to win by more than 7 points (aka cover the -7 spread)
• Bets on the Jets cover if they lose by fewer than 7 points or win outright.

See how the spread gives the underdog a chance to cover even if they don‘t necessarily win?

This type of handicap betting is popular because it allows sportsbooks to set fairer odds on lopsided matchups between favorites and underdogs. Bettors also love that winning by "covering the spread" gives you something extra to root for.

Converting Spreads into Touchdowns

A quick rule of thumb to keep in mind – a standard spread of about -7 points is similar to giving the underdog team an extra "1.5 touchdowns" in football.

Let‘s break down the math:

• A touchdown with extra point = 7 points
• Half a touchdown ~ 3.5 points
• So 1.5 touchdowns = around 7 points

No need to get obsessive doing precise math here! Just know that a -7 spread is like spotting the underdog 1.5 TDs.

This concept helps make spread numbers more tangible. Other common spreads like -3, -10, or -14 can also be converted into partial touchdowns.

Why Totals and Over/Unders Are So Popular

In addition to spread betting, sportsbooks let you wager on over/under bets (also called totals). This is where you bet on whether the TOTAL points scored by both teams in a game will be over or under a set line.

Some examples:

• Bears vs Vikings –> Over/Under 41 points
• Lakers vs Heat –> Over/Under 220 points

If you bet the OVER 41 points, you need 42 total points or more to cash. Bet the UNDER, and you want 40 or fewer points scored. Pretty straightforward right?

These over/under bets are popular for a few reasons:

• You don‘t need to pick the winner, just whether scoring will be high or low.
• You get action on every play as teams move toward the total.
• They provide great betting opportunities on lopsided matchups or games with injuries/weather concerns.

Books tend to set NFL totals between 35 and 55 points, with NBA totals ranging from 190 to 240. The most common football over/unders end in 0 or 5 (40, 45, 50). Basketball and hockey are usually set at increments of 5 (195, 210, 225).

Okay, So What Exactly is 1.75 in Betting?

Great – now that you‘ve got the basics of spreads and totals down, let‘s get back to deciphering what the mysterious 1.75 means!

In spread betting, 1.75 isn‘t too common, but you may see it in some tight matchups where the spread is set at 1.5 points. Books will allow you to pay extra "juice" to get the spread at +/- 1.75 points.

Over/under 1.75 is more prevalent, especially in low-scoring sports like hockey, soccer, and baseball.

This low total means sportsbooks project a tight, defensive matchup with minimal scoring.

• To bet OVER 1.75, you need 2 or more total goals/runs/points scored to win
• Bet under 1.75, and you‘re hoping for 0 or 1 points.

If exactly 1 point is scored, over/under 1.75 bets are a "push" – your wager is refunded.

You‘ll often see OVER 1.75 goals in soccer matches expected to be tight, defensive struggles. In hockey, a low-scoring defensive battle might have an over/under of just 1.75 goals. And similarly, a pitcher‘s duel in baseball could result in a very low run total of 1.75.

The sportsbook sets these low markers hoping to attract equal action on both sides from bettors expecting both high or low scoring affairs.

Why Sportsbooks Set Spread and Total Numbers Where They Do

By now you might be wondering – how do oddsmakers actually come up with these spread and total numbers anyway? What‘s the rationale behind setting lines at -7, +3, 1.75, or Over/Under 48 points?

It‘s part art, part science. The main goals are to:

• Attract equal betting action on both sides
• Incorporate public betting tendencies
• Account for situational factors like injuries or weather

Of course, the books also want to set lines so that they have a solid edge over the long run as bettors try to pick a side.

For spreads, the most common NFL margins are 3, 7, and 10 points. Home field advantage is typically considered worth 2-3 points. Books know public bettors love to bet favorites straight up and "lay the points" with teams expected to win big.

When setting totals, books analyze matchups stylistically – considering factors like whether teams have strong offenses and porous defenses conducive to high scoring. Weather and injuries are huge in moving totals up or down too.

The books have entire teams of oddsmakers and statisticians constantly tweaking lines to strike this delicate balance of enticing bettors while maintaining their own edge.

Key Strategies for Spread and Totals Betting

Now that you‘ve got the basics down, let‘s get into strategy! Here are my top tips for sports bettors looking to win more with spread and over/under bets:

• Focus on how teams perform against the spread historically, not just their win/loss record. Some winning teams struggle to cover big spreads.

• Buy points to move the spread up or down across key numbers like 3 and 7 if needed to ensure a win. This avoids heartbreakingly close losses by a half point.

• Study the offensive and defensive strengths of both teams carefully when betting totals. How teams match up stylistically is crucial in hitting over/unders.

• Keep an eye on line movements and bet early before spreads and totals move against you. Steam moves from sharp bettors can shift lines.

• Injury news can significantly impact spread and totals betting. Make sure to monitor key player health situations.

• Consider teasing spreads up (for favorites) or down (for underdogs) by 6-7 points to give yourself more cushion and wiggle room against the spread.

• Shop around for the best lines! Differences of a half or full point on spreads/totals at various sportsbooks can be very meaningful.

Concluding Thoughts: An Exciting New World to Explore

While spread and total betting can seem intimidating at first glance, it‘s much simpler once you grasp the basic concepts I‘ve outlined above. Here are some key takeaways:

• Spreads set margins of victory required for favorites or underdogs to cover
• Over/under totals predict combined points scored in a game
• Most NFL spreads and totals move in increments around 3, 7, 10
• Converting spreads to approximate touchdowns helps conceptualize the numbers

I hope this guide has helped demystify the world of spread and totals betting so you can start wagering and winning on these fun bets yourself. Never hesitate to reach out with any other sports betting questions you have! I‘m always happy to help a friend learn the ropes.

Now go crush it! I want to hear about your big underdog spread covers and over totals winners soon. This exciting world of spread and total betting is yours to explore.