What is a Handicap?
Handicap (also known as '
spread' or '
line') is a figure set by the
sportsbook to counter the perceived bias in abilities of opponents. By giving each team a
points/goals/runs handicap, this creates a market in which the chances of success for both teams are deemed to be even. A
spread or
line are other names for a handicap. An example of this is an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors in which the
underdog Knicks could be given a +12.5 point handicap, whereas the favored Warriors would be given a -12.5 point handicap.
