What Does -4.5 Mean in College Football Betting?

A -4.5 point spread in college football betting means the favorite must win the game by at least five points to cover the spread.

The corresponding side of a -4.5 point spread is +4.5. That means the underdog must either lose by four or less points or win the game (by any margin) to cover the spread.

How a -4.5 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on North Carolina -4.5 against Boston College. The Tar Heels beat the Eagles by five points (36-31). 

Losing Bet: You bet on Minnesota -4.5 against Penn State. The Golden Gophers beat the Nittany Lions by four points (27-23).

Difference of -4.5 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 4.5-point spread, the favorite could win the game by four points — which would result in winning tickets for all moneyline bets — but lose the spread. 

Spread vs. Moneyline Odds & Payouts

Spreads and moneylines almost always have different odds. For example, here are odds for an Ohio State-Notre Dame game:

Spread: Ohio State -4.5 (-110), Notre Dame +4.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Ohio State -125, Notre Dame +100

If the Buckeyes win by five points, a point-spread bet with a $25 stake would return $47.73 (including stake).

If you bet the same amount of money on the Buckeyes’ moneyline, a win would return $45 (including stake).

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