What Does It Mean to Lay the Points or Take the Points in Sports Betting?
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Updated: Tue Mar 18, 2025, 08:21 AM
Read Time: 13 minutes
Sports betting has evolved from a casual pastime into a sophisticated industry where strategic thinking and informed decisions can lead to profitable outcomes. For many American sports enthusiasts, understanding the fundamentals of point spreads represents the gateway to more advanced betting concepts. Two essential terms that every bettor should comprehend are “laying the points” and “taking the points.” These concepts form the foundation of spread betting, particularly in popular American sports like the NFL, college football, the NBA, college basketball, and the WNBA.
The point spread serves as an equalizer, creating a more balanced betting proposition when teams of different skill levels compete against each other. Created by oddsmakers, the spread attempts to generate equal betting action on both sides by essentially giving the underdog team a head start or requiring the favorite to win by a certain margin.
Mastering when to lay points versus when to take points can significantly enhance your point spread betting success and help you recognize value in the marketplace, ultimately improving your long-term profitability.
This comprehensive guide will explore everything you need to know about laying and taking points across major American sports. We will begin by explaining point spreads in detail, then dive into clear definitions and examples of both laying and taking points.
You will learn key strategies for each approach, discover which factors should influence your decision-making process, and understand how concepts like line shopping and line movement can provide a critical edge. Whether you’re betting on Sunday NFL games, March Madness brackets, or summer WNBA action, the principles outlined here will help transform you from a casual bettor into a more sophisticated sports wagering strategist.
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Understanding Point Spreads
At its core, a point spread represents a handicap that oddsmakers place on the favored team. This handicap creates a theoretical even playing field between two unevenly matched teams.
For example, if the Kansas City Chiefs are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Chiefs are considered the superior team, NFL odds at BetOnline might list a spread of Chiefs -7.5. This means the Chiefs must win by at least 8 points for a bet on them to pay out. Conversely, a bet on the Jaguars would win if Jacksonville either wins outright or loses by 7 or fewer points.
Point spreads are expressed with a minus (-) sign for favorites and a plus (+) sign for underdogs. The number following these signs indicates either the points a favorite must win by for a successful bet (laying the points) or the points an underdog can lose by while still resulting in a winning bet (taking the points).
Half-points, or “hooks,” are often used in spreads (like -7.5 or +3.5) to prevent pushes, which occur when the final margin exactly matches the spread, resulting in returned wagers.
Laying the Points: Definition and Examples
Laying the points means betting on the favorite to win by more than the point spread. When you lay the points, you accept a handicap on the team you believe will win by at least a specific margin.
This wager only pays if your chosen team not only wins the game but does so by a margin greater than the established spread. The phrase “laying the points” comes from the concept that you are giving or “laying” points to the underdog.
For example, with NBA odds, if the Boston Celtics are favored by 6.5 points over the Chicago Bulls (-6.5), laying the points means betting on the Celtics.
For this bet to win, Boston would need to defeat Chicago by 7 or more points. If the final score is Celtics 110, Bulls 103, the Celtics have won by 7 points, covering the spread and making the “lay the points” bet successful.
However, if the Celtics only win 108-103 (a 5-point victory), they have failed to cover the spread, and the bet loses despite Boston winning the game outright.
In college football, where mismatches are common, the spreads can be much larger. If Alabama is a 21.5-point favorite over Vanderbilt, laying the points requires Alabama to win by 22 or more points. This represents a significant margin but reflects the vast talent disparity that can exist in NCAA football and NCAA basketball.
Taking the Points: Definition and Examples
Taking the points refers to betting on the underdog with the point spread advantage. When you take the points, you accept the cushion or “head start” that the spread provides to the perceived weaker team.
This wager wins if the underdog either wins the game outright or loses by fewer points than the spread indicates. The term “taking the points” derives from the fact that you’re receiving or “taking” points with your chosen team.
Consider this example using WNBA odds: if the Las Vegas Aces are favored by 8.5 points over the Indiana Fever (+8.5), taking the points means betting on Indiana.
This bet wins if the Fever either win the game outright or lose by 8 or fewer points. If the final score is Aces 85, Fever 78, the Fever have lost by 7 points but still “cover” the spread, making the “take the points” bet successful.
In college basketball, a mid-major program might be a 14-point underdog against a highly ranked power conference team. Taking the points with the underdog would win if they keep the game within 13 points or win outright.
This can be particularly valuable with March Madness betting or wagering on conference tournaments, when motivated underdogs often play above their typical level.
Factors Affecting Whether to Lay or Take Points
Several key factors should influence your decision to lay or take points in any given matchup.
Understanding team dynamics is crucial. Some teams consistently play to their competition level, making them unreliable favorites but potentially strong underdogs.
Injury reports significantly impact spread decisions. A star player’s absence affects teams differently. Some NBA teams might rally without their superstar for a game or two. On the other hand, football teams typically struggle immediately without key players.
Always verify the status of important players before deciding whether to lay or take points, especially in basketball where a single player can have an outsized impact.
Situational analysis often reveals opportunities. Teams playing on short rest, traveling across multiple time zones, or facing emotional letdown spots after big wins frequently underperform against the spread.
Similarly, look for motivated underdogs with revenge factors from previous blowout losses or teams fighting for playoff positioning late in seasons. College teams playing their rivalry games or fighting for bowl eligibility often perform above expectations as underdogs.
Home-field and home-court advantage vary significantly across sports and venues.
If you are making your NFL picks for this week, keep in mind that NFL teams generally receive a 2.5 to 3-point advantage for playing at home, though this varies by team. College basketball home courts can provide massive advantages, with some programs maintaining years-long home winning streaks. The WNBA shows varying home-court effects, with some franchises drawing energetic crowds that meaningfully impact performance.
Weather conditions can affect spreads in football. Extreme cold, snow, or heavy rain typically favor underdogs by limiting scoring and increasing variance, particularly against pass-heavy favorites. A projected snowstorm or high-wind game might make taking the points with an underdog more attractive, especially against teams with offensive systems dependent on precise passing.
Strategies for Laying the Points
When considering laying points with favorites, focus on teams with consistent performance profiles and proven ability to win convincingly.
Elite NFL quarterbacks like three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes or 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen leading well-coached teams often justify laying reasonable spreads because of their ability to maintain focus and execute efficiently.
Similarly, NBA teams with depth and defensive identity tend to maintain leads better than offensively oriented teams that can go cold.
Look for favorites playing against opponents with fundamental mismatches they can exploit repeatedly.
Are you betting on college football odds? A team with dominant offensive linemen facing a small defensive front presents a scenario where the favorite can potentially control the game throughout.
In basketball, a team with size advantages at multiple positions often wears down opponents as games progress.
Timing is essential when laying points. Early in seasons, favorites might be undervalued as oddsmakers wait to see how teams perform, creating value opportunities.
Conversely, public teams like the Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Lakers often become overvalued favorites as seasons progress due to public betting support, making laying points with them less advisable.
Line shopping becomes particularly important when laying points. The difference between laying 6.5 points versus 7.5 points in football is significant given the frequency of games landing on key numbers like 7.
Using multiple sportsbooks to find the most favorable line can dramatically improve your long-term returns when betting favorites.
Strategies for Taking the Points
When taking points with underdogs, prioritize teams with specific characteristics that make them live underdogs.
Strong defensive teams can keep games close even when outmatched in talent. Running teams in football control possession and limit the total possessions in a game. That creates fewer opportunities for favorites to pull away. Veteran-led underdog teams with experienced coaches typically make fewer mistakes in high-pressure situations.
Consider taking points in divisional matchups or rivalry games where familiarity breeds competitiveness. NFL divisional games are consistently tighter than non-divisional contests because teams know each other’s tendencies intimately. College rivalries, which include some of the biggest rivalries in American sports, often produce performances that defy season-long statistics due to elevated motivation and emotional investment.
Look for inflated lines caused by public perception. After a team delivers a prime-time blowout victory, the public often overvalues them in their next game, creating artificially high spreads.
Similarly, teams coming off embarrassing losses might be undervalued as the public overreacts to recent performance. These recency bias situations often create value for contrarian bettors taking points.
Weather and pace considerations matter significantly when taking points. Underdogs benefit from games with fewer possessions and lower scores, as each possession becomes more valuable and random variance plays a larger role. Basketball underdogs that can control tempo and force favorites into half-court settings often outperform expectations against the spread.
The use of reliable sports betting research tools and resources can be valuable when evaluating important factors. For example, KenPom provides information about adjusted tempo and average offensive and defensive possession length for every Division I college basketball team, while Team Rankings provides information about the average number of offensive plays each NFL and NCAA Division I FBS team runs per game.
The Role of Line Movement & Line Shopping with Laying and Taking the Points
Line movement refers to changes in the point spread from when it’s first released to when the game begins. Understanding why lines move helps inform better decisions about laying or taking points.
Early line movement often reflects sharp money from professional bettors, while movement closer to game time typically indicates public money. Following the smart money, particularly in less prominent games like mid-week college basketball or WNBA contests, can reveal valuable information.
When a line moves against the public consensus (for example, the spread gets smaller despite most tickets being on the favorite), this reverse line movement suggests professional bettors are taking the underdog. These situations often present opportunities to join the sharp side by taking points.
Conversely, when both the ticket percentage and money percentage heavily favor one side but the line doesn’t move, sportsbooks might be comfortable with their position, suggesting caution.
Line shopping involves comparing odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the most favorable terms for your bet. This practice is essential for serious bettors and directly impacts profitability when laying or taking points.
For favorites, always seek the lowest spread (laying -6 instead of -7); for underdogs, look for the highest number (taking +7.5 instead of +6.5). The prevalence of mobile betting apps makes line shopping easier than ever, allowing bettors to compare offerings across numerous platforms instantly.
Key numbers in football (3, 7, 10) and basketball (5, 7, 9) represent common margin-of-victory outcomes and hold special significance in spread betting. Getting the right side of key numbers through line shopping can dramatically improve long-term results.
For instance, taking an NFL underdog at +3.5 versus +2.5 captures all the games that end with a field goal difference, a remarkably common outcome.
Conclusion
Mastering the concepts of laying and taking points represents a fundamental step in developing a sophisticated sports betting approach.
Rather than viewing this knowledge as simply understanding terminology, consider it as developing a framework for identifying value in the betting marketplace. The most successful bettors do not simply pick winners; they identify situations where the probability of outcomes differs from what the market suggests through point spreads.
As you apply these concepts to your betting strategy, remember that discipline and bankroll management remain paramount.
No edge in understanding when to lay or take points can overcome poor money management or emotional decision-making. Establish consistent unit sizes, avoid chasing losses, and track your results meticulously to identify which situations and strategies work best for your betting style across different sports and seasons.
Ultimately, profitable sports betting requires a combination of knowledge, discipline, and adaptability. The sports betting landscape constantly evolves as oddsmakers adjust to market inefficiencies, but bettors who master fundamental concepts like laying and taking points position themselves to capitalize on opportunities in the NFL, college football, the NBA, college basketball, and the WNBA markets.
By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide and continuously refining your approach based on results, you can develop a sustainable edge in navigating point spreads across American sports.
Learn More About Sports Betting
This guide covers a lot of information that will serve sports betting beginners well, but it is just one of many guides we have for both new and experienced bettors.
Whether you want to learn about over/under bets, prop bets, and other types of bets, sportsbook bonuses, notable sports betting terms and phrases, or sports betting strategies such as hedging and middling, we have you covered.
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