Underdogs are denoted by numbers with a plus sign in front. Favorites are denoted by negative numbers. This is how the Commanders-Jaguars game appears at DraftKings sportsbook. If the Commanders beat the Jaguars by exactly four points, everyone’s bets are refunded. Alternately, anyone betting on the Jaguars would need them to win outright or lose by three points or fewer. If they win by three points or fewer or fail to win at all, you lose. If you bet on the Commanders, they must win by at least five points for your bet to pay off. For instance, in Week 1 of the NFL season, the Washington Commanders are four-point favorites to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Point-spread bet: A type of wager in which you’re betting on a team to win by a certain amount of points or lose within a certain amount of points.
This series will examine the impact of legalized gambling on sports, through news coverage, accountability journalism and advice for navigating this new landscape.
