What Does -9 Mean in College Football Betting?

A -9 point spread in college football betting means the favorite must win the game by at least 10 points to cover the spread. If the favorite wins by exactly nine points, the bet results in a push (a tie), which refunds all stakes.

The corresponding side of a -9 point spread is +9. That means the underdog must win the game (by any margin) or lose by eight or less points to cover the spread. If the underdog loses by exactly nine points, it’s a push.

How a -9 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on USC -9 against Northwestern. The Trojans beat the Wildcats by 10 points (36-26).

Losing Bet: You bet on Penn State -9 against Purdue. The Nittany Lions lose to the Boilermakers by 11 points (21-10).

Push Bet: You bet on Fresno State -9 against Washington State. The Bulldogs beat the Cougars by nine points (39-30).

Difference of -9 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 9-point spread, the favorite could win the game by nine 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 Air Force-Hawaii game:

Spread: Air Force -9 (-120), Hawaii +9 (-110)

Moneyline: Air Force -425, Hawaii +333

If the Falcons win by 10 points, a point-spread bet with a $25 stake would return $45.83 (including stake).

If you bet the same amount of money on the Falcons’ moneyline, a win would return $30.88 (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.