Question about ATS

Ash1402 · Sep 23, 2009

I know that ATS means 'Against The Spread' but I need some help in getting a better definition.

I am on USAToday site and looking at Cleveland and Baltimore game for this weekend. Cleveland have 2 losses against the spread. Does this mean that in their first two games if the spread was taken into account they would have lost the game or the opposite.

Thanks for your help.

barman · Sep 23, 2009

Ash1402 said:
I know that ATS means 'Against The Spread' but I need some help in getting a better definition.

I am on USAToday site and looking at Cleveland and Baltimore game for this weekend. Cleveland have 2 losses against the spread. Does this mean that in their first two games if the spread was taken into account they would have lost the game

Correct.

Cleveland was about +4 in their opener and +7 in Denver. So even with those plus numbers, they still had losing scores both weeks.

barman · Sep 23, 2009

The "spread" is simply a handicap +/- that is applied to the actual final score of the game.

If you've ever been in a bowling league, that experience might help you relate. You have a "scratch" score (the true score of your 10 frames) and you have a handicapped score.