What Does +2.5 Mean in College Football Betting?

A +2.5 point spread in college football betting means the underdog must either lose by two or less points or win the game (by any margin) to cover the spread.

The corresponding side of a +2.5 point spread is -2.5. That means the favorite must win the game by at least three points to cover the spread.

How a +2.5 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on Auburn +2.5 against Oklahoma. The Tigers lose to the Sooners by two points (23-21).

Losing Bet: You bet on Kentucky +2.5 against Missouri. The Wildcats lose to the Tigers by three points (33-30).

Difference of +2.5 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 2.5-point spread, the underdog could lose the game by two points — which would result in losing tickets for all moneyline bets — but win the spread.

Spread vs. Moneyline Odds & Payouts

Spreads and moneylines almost always have different odds. For example, here are odds for a LSU-Ole Miss game:

Spread: LSU +2.5 (-105), Ole Miss -2.5 (-112)

Moneyline: LSU +115, Ole Miss -140

If the Tigers lose by two points, a point-spread bet with a $10 stake would return $19.52 (including stake).

If you bet the same amount of money on the Tigers’ moneyline, a win would return $21.50 (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.