When it comes to sports betting, understanding the terminology and different betting options is crucial to making informed decisions. One of the most common and important terms bettors encounter is ATS, which stands for "Against the Spread." If you're new to sports betting or want to refine your strategy, understanding ATS is key. In this article, we'll explore what ATS in sports betting means, how it works, and why it's an essential concept for anyone looking to bet on sports successfully.
In simple terms, ATS stands for "Against the Spread". The spread is the number of points or goals that a favorite team is expected to win by, or conversely, the amount the underdog is expected to lose by. The ATS statistic is used to evaluate how well teams perform in relation to this point spread.
Example: In an NFL game, if the New England Patriots are favored to win by 7 points against the Miami Dolphins, the point spread would be listed as Patriots -7. To "cover the spread," the Patriots must win by more than 7 points. On the other hand, the Dolphins would need to lose by less than 7 points, or win outright, for them to cover the spread.
ATS betting provides a way for bettors to evaluate team performance beyond simply who wins or loses. It allows bettors to see whether teams are meeting or exceeding expectations based on the point spread set by bookmakers.
The point spread, which is central to ATS betting, is created by bookmakers to make betting on both teams more balanced. The spread is designed to make a game more exciting by giving the underdog a handicap or head start, and the favorite a disadvantage.
For example, in a college basketball game between Duke and North Carolina, the point spread might be:
Duke -5
North Carolina +5
In this case:
Duke must win by more than 5 points for bettors who wager on them to win the bet (cover the spread).
North Carolina can either win outright or lose by less than 5 points for bettors on them to win (cover the spread).
One of the most useful statistics in ATS betting is a team's ATS record, which tells you how often a team covers the spread. If a team has a strong ATS record, it means they regularly perform well against the spread, indicating consistency and reliability for bettors.
Example: A team with an ATS record of 8-2 means that out of 10 games, the team has covered the spread 8 times and failed to cover the spread only 2 times. This type of information can be critical when deciding which team to bet on in future games.
Bettors often track ATS statistics to find teams that consistently outperform expectations or teams that struggle to cover the spread. Analyzing these trends can help identify value bets where the odds might be mispriced.
Understanding ATS is essential for developing a well-rounded betting strategy. Here are some tips on how to incorporate ATS betting into your approach:
Teams with a high ATS percentage often perform consistently in certain situations, whether it's at home, on the road, or against specific opponents. By focusing on these teams, you can identify trends that may give you an edge in your betting.
Tip: Look for teams that consistently outperform expectations, especially under specific conditions like home games or certain matchups. These teams often represent better value bets.
While favorites are often expected to win, underdogs can be great value bets, especially if they have a history of covering the spread. Betting on underdogs can provide good payouts, particularly in sports where the point spread is volatile.
Example: If an underdog team has a strong ATS record against a top-ranked opponent, betting on them to cover the spread may be a solid strategy, even if they aren’t expected to win outright.
Tracking ATS trends for certain teams can help you make better predictions. For instance, some teams are known for covering the spread on the road but not at home, or vice versa. Identifying these patterns can give you a strategic advantage over other bettors.
Tip: Keep an eye on key factors like team injuries, player rest, recent performance, and historical success against the spread for particular teams or matchups.
Sometimes, the spread will move due to factors like injuries or public betting trends. Observing these movements can offer clues about where the sharp money (professional bettors) is going. If you spot a spread that’s moving in your favor, it could indicate value in betting that side.
Example: If a team’s point spread increases significantly after an injury to a key player, it might signal an opportunity to bet on the underdog to cover the spread, particularly if the odds are adjusted too dramatically.
Although ATS betting is most common in American sports like football and basketball, the concept can be applied across various sports. Here’s how ATS betting works in some popular sports:
In football, point spreads are widely used in both professional (NFL) and college (NCAA) football. The spread varies based on team performance, injuries, and matchups.
Like football, basketball also uses point spreads to make games more competitive for bettors. A team that is favored by a certain number of points must win by more than that spread to cover.
While baseball does not have a point spread per se, run line betting serves a similar purpose. In baseball, the favorite team must win by a specific number of runs, typically 1.5, to cover the spread.
