A -8 point spread in college football betting means the favorite must win the game by at least nine points to cover the spread. If the favorite wins by exactly eight points, the bet results in a push (a tie), which refunds all stakes.
The corresponding side of a -8 point spread is +8. That means the underdog must win the game (by any margin) or lose by seven or less points to cover the spread. If the underdog loses by exactly eight points, it’s a push.
How a -8 Spread Bet Wins or Loses
Winning Bet: You bet on Pittsburgh -8 against Syracuse. The Panthers beat the Orange by nine points (39-30).
Losing Bet: You bet on Michigan -8 against Wisconsin. The Wolverines lose to the Badgers by 10 points (35-25).
Push Bet: You bet on Penn State -8 against Purdue. The Nittany Lions beat the Boilermakers by eight points (21-13).
Difference of -8 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 8-point spread, the favorite could win the game by eight 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 an Oregon-Notre Dame game:
Spread: Oregon -8 (-110), Notre Dame +8 (-108)
Moneyline: Oregon -325, Notre Dame +270
If the Ducks win by nine 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 Ducks’ moneyline, a win would return $13.08 (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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