A -5.5 point spread in college football betting means the favorite must win the game by at least six points to cover the spread.
The corresponding side of a -5.5 point spread is +5.5. That means the underdog must either lose by five or less points or win the game (by any margin) to cover the spread.
How a -5.5 Spread Bet Wins or Loses
Winning Bet: You bet on Florida -5.5 against Arkansas. The Gators beat the Razorbacks by six points (28-22).
Losing Bet: You bet on James Madison -5.5 against Old Dominion. The Dukes beat the Monarchs by five points (35-30).
Difference of -5.5 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 5.5-point spread, the favorite could win the game by five 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 a New Mexico-Boise State game:
Spread: New Mexico -5.5 (-110), Boise State +5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: New Mexico -125, Boise State +100
If the Lobos win by six points, a point-spread bet with a $10 stake would return $19.09 (including stake).
If you bet the same amount of money on the Lobos’ moneyline, a win would return $18 (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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