What Does +1 Mean in College Football Betting?

A +1 point spread in college football betting means the underdog must win the game (by any margin) to cover the spread. If the underdog loses by exactly one point, it’s a push (a tie), which refunds all stakes.

The corresponding side of a +1 point spread is -1. That means the favorite must win the game by at least two points to cover the spread. If the favorite wins by exactly one point, the bet results in a push.

How a +1 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on BYU +1 against Texas Tech. The Cougars beat the Red Raiders by seven points (27-20).

Losing Bet: You bet on Penn State +1 against Nebraska. The Nittany Lions lose to the Cornhuskers by two points (45-43).

Push Bet: You bet on Cincinnati +1 against Arizona State. The Sun Devils beat the Bearcats by one point (21-20).

Difference of +1 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 1-point spread, the underdog could lose the game by one point — which would result in losing 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 Baylor-Oklahoma State game:

Spread: Baylor +1 (-112), Oklahoma State -1 (-105)

Moneyline: Baylor -108, Oklahoma State -110

If the Bears win by two points, a point-spread bet with a $10 stake would return $18.93 (including stake).

If you bet the same amount of money on the Bears’ moneyline, a win would return $19.26 (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.