F.A.Q.

Spreadbook is a game where participants choose betting figures associated with sporting events. Each sporting event has either a Spread pick, an Over/Under pick, or both. Users must choose between two possible Spread picks and or between two possible Over/Under picks. Every correct pick awards 2 points, incorrect picks award 0 points, and a push pick awards 1 point. The player with the most points at the end of the allotted game time wins.

Starting a Spreadbook game is easy. Just choose Start a Spreadbook, choose your game options, and invite players!

You can join a Spreadbook of public open games, or accept a Spreadbook game invite link from your email. Eventually, you will also be able to send and receive invites from Facebook, Twitter, and potentially other social networks.

For now, the number of participants who can enter a Spreadbook game is unlimited. In the future, as different game modes and administrative options are released, this parameter will be adjustable.

No. Spreadbook is a free game that encourages social interaction between people who love sports. It lets people make sports betting decisions without betting real money, so the competition is between users instead. Bragging rights can be just as sweet as winning money.

For most sporting events, one team is favored to win over the other. Experts assign a number to that expectation and this is called the spread. For example, in Chicago vs. New York, New York might be favored to win by 8 or more points. Chicago would then be given 8 points in addition to the points they actually score. If the real final score is Chicago 20 and New York 21, the spread would make it 28 to 21, and Chicago would win on Spreadbook.

If the spread is 0, the teams are so evenly matched that there is no spread to consider. Your decision is based on whichever team you think will win the game outright.

On sporting events where Over/Under picks are available, the point line appears in the middle of the pick screen. If the number shown is 64, picking the Over means you believe the final combined score of both teams will be more than 64. Picking the Under means you believe the final combined score will be less than 64. If the combined score lands on exactly 64, the result is a push and neither side wins.

Yes. The spread and over under can change as game time gets closer. Unless they are still at 0, spreads and over unders lock 24 hours before the sporting event begins.

Some games do not have any spreads until several hours before kickoff. If the spread or over under is still 0 inside of the 24 hour window, it continues to update until a number greater than 0 is set. Only then does the normal locking behavior apply.

When oddsmakers first publish the spread and over under for a sporting event, the goal is to balance action on both sides. As opinions, injuries, and betting patterns shift, those numbers move. Spreadbook mirrors that behavior, but our lines stop changing once the 24 hour lock period begins.

Sometimes a spread or over/under line may be missing before an event starts, especially if the source data has not posted or updated that line yet.

If a line is missing or looks wrong, check back closer to the event start time. If it still looks wrong, email support@spreadbook.com so we can review it.

A push happens when the final result lands exactly on the line, similar to a tie. For example, if Chicago is +8 against New York and the final score is Chicago 20, New York 28, neither side wins and neither side loses. The pick is a push, and each player who made that pick is awarded 1 point.

A push point rewards participation. You still have to make your picks to receive that point. If a player fails to enter picks at all, they do not get the point for the push. That keeps a push meaningfully better than not participating.

You can change your picks as many times as you like before the sporting event starts. Once the event begins, the picks are locked and no further changes can be made for that event.

Usually, yes. In a standard Spreadbook, other players in the game can view your picks after you make them, and you can view theirs from the Picks page or the Other Players Picks modal.

If Chase Mode is turned on, pick visibility may be limited until an event starts. See the Chase Mode question below for the full details.

If you forget to make your picks before the game begins, you forfeit the chance to earn any points for that game. Do not forget to lock in your picks.

Eventually, we plan to build reminder tools for upcoming games that still need picks.