What Does -10 Mean in College Football Betting?

Tennessee mascot Smokey joins fans in a dance during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Kennesaw State, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(AP Photo/Camden Hall)
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A -10 point spread in college football betting means the favorite must win the game by at least 11 points to cover the spread. If the favorite wins by exactly 10 points, the bet results in a push (a tie), which refunds all stakes.

The corresponding side of a -10 point spread is +10. That means the underdog must win the game (by any margin) or lose by nine or less points to cover the spread. If the underdog loses by exactly 10 points, it’s a push.

How a -10 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on Kennesaw State -10 against Middle Tennessee. The Owls beat the Blue Raiders by 11 points (41-30).

Losing Bet: You bet on Alabama -10 against Arkansas. The Crimson Tide lose to the Razorbacks by 12 points (34-22).

Push Bet: You bet on Indiana -10 against Washington. The Hoosiers beat the Huskies by 10 points (52-42).

Difference of -10 Point Spread vs. Moneyline

In point-spread betting, the margin of victory matters. In moneyline betting, the margin of victory doesn’t matter; only the final outcome matters.

In the case of a 10-point spread, the favorite could win the game by 10 points — which would result in winning tickets for all moneyline bets — but push the spread.

Spread vs. Moneyline Odds & Payouts

Spreads and moneylines almost always have different odds. For example, here are odds for a West Virginia-UCF game:

Spread: West Virginia -10 (-120), UCF +10 (-110)

Moneyline: West Virginia -400, UCF +310

If the Mountaineers win by 11 points, a point-spread bet with a $20 stake would return $36.67 (including stake).

If you bet the same amount of money on the Mountaineers’ moneyline, a win would return $25.00 (including stake).

Use BetMGM’s Sports Betting Payout Calculator to calculate the potential payout of a bet or convert odds to/from American odds, decimal odds, or fractional odds.

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