What Does +4.5 Mean in College Football Betting?

A +4.5 point spread in college football betting means the underdog must either lose by four or less points or win the game (by any margin) to cover the spread.

The corresponding side of a +4.5 point spread is -4.5. That means the favorite must win the game by at least five points to cover the spread.

How a +4.5 Spread Bet Wins or Loses

Winning Bet: You bet on Boston College +4.5 against UNC. The Eagles lose to the Tar Heels by four points (27-23).

Losing Bet: You bet on Oklahoma State +4.5 against Baylor. The Cowboys lose to the Bears by five points (35-30).

Difference of +4.5 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 4.5-point spread, the underdog could lose the game by four 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 Michigan-Ohio State game:

Spread: Michigan +4.5 (-110), Ohio State -4.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Michigan +170, Ohio State -210

If the Wolverines lose by four 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 Wolverines’ moneyline, a win would return $27.00 (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.