point spread
noun
: the number of points by which an oddsmaker expects a favorite to defeat an underdog
Examples of point spread in a Sentence
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UConn’s coach is two wins away from his third national title in four years and, more impressively, is 10-0 against the point spread in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four.
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Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
South Carolina is -1000 on the money line — a bet on who will win the game regardless of the point spread — which implies a 91% chance of victory.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
But this year, fans looking to identify the most likely upsets won't have an easy time picking them in the first round of the NCAA bracket, not with big point spreads for the first-round favorites Thursday and Friday.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Having given up on the prospect of a big payday, my wife was now focused on the more immediately visible consequences of my gambling—like the fact that our 7-year-old daughter knew the difference between a point spread and a moneyline.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
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Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
South Carolina is -1000 on the money line — a bet on who will win the game regardless of the point spread — which implies a 91% chance of victory.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
But this year, fans looking to identify the most likely upsets won't have an easy time picking them in the first round of the NCAA bracket, not with big point spreads for the first-round favorites Thursday and Friday.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Having given up on the prospect of a big payday, my wife was now focused on the more immediately visible consequences of my gambling—like the fact that our 7-year-old daughter knew the difference between a point spread and a moneyline.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for point spread
Cite this Entry
“Point spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20spread. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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