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# What is a spread?

**Spread (or Line)**
The spread is the point difference set by bookmakers to balance the odds between two teams. It’s used in sports like football and basketball and changes based on the teams.

**Runline**
The runline is just like the spread but for baseball. It’s usually set at **1.5** runs. The favorite team must win by more than 1.5 runs to cover the spread.

**Puckline**
In hockey, the spread is called the **puckline**. It’s also typically set at **1.5** or **2** points.

**How Spread Points Work**
A team’s spread will be the same value but with opposite signs. For example, if one team has **-7** points, the other team has **+7** points. The **minus (-)** sign means the team is the favorite, and the **plus (+)** sign means the team is the underdog.

When betting on the favorite, they need to **cover the spread**, meaning they must win by more than the spread number (e.g., more than 7 points if the spread is -7). If betting on the underdog, they can either win or lose by fewer than the spread points.