What Does Home (-5.5) Mean?
Home (-5.5) is a point spread (handicap) bet that favors the home team.
When you see:
Home team: -5.5
…it means the home team must win the game by 6 or more points for your bet to win.
Example with Teams
Let’s say the matchup is:
- Home: Lakers
- Away: Warriors
And the betting line is:
Lakers (-5.5)
Now imagine the final score is:
- Lakers 110
- Warriors 104
That is a 6-point win, so a bet on Home (-5.5) wins because 6 is greater than 5.5.
But if the result was:
- Lakers 108
- Warriors 105
That’s only a 3-point win, so the bet loses.
The .5 eliminates the possibility of a tie or “push.” You either win or lose.
What Does Handicap (Including Overtime) 4.5 Mean?
When a handicap says “including overtime”, it means the result counts after overtime is played, if the game goes beyond regular time.
So if the market is:
Home -4.5 (incl. overtime)
The bet still needs the home team to win by 5 or more points, even after overtime is added.
Example
Teams:
- Home: Bulls
- Away: Celtics
Line:
Bulls -4.5 (incl. OT)
Regular time score:
- Bulls 100
- Celtics 100 → Goes to overtime
Final score after OT:
- Bulls 108
- Celtics 103
Winning margin = 5 points
Bet wins because overtime points are counted.
If the final score after OT was:
- Bulls 107
- Celtics 104
Margin = 3 points → Bet loses.
If the market did not include overtime, the bet would’ve been settled as a draw/push when regular time ended.
Difference Between -5.5 and 4.5 Handicap
These are both point spreads, but they can appear differently depending on the sportsbook.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -5.5 | Team must win by 6+ points |
| -4.5 | Team must win by 5+ points |
| +4.5 | Team can lose by up to 4 points and still win the bet |
Example for +4.5:
If you bet on the away team +4.5 and they lose by only 3 points, your bet still wins.
Why Sportsbooks Use Handicaps
Handicaps balance the matchup:
- Strong teams get negative handicaps (like -5.5)
- Weaker teams get positive handicaps (like +5.5)
This makes the betting line more competitive.
Smart Betting Tips for Handicap Markets
Here are practical tips to help you bet smarter:
1. Study Team Form
Look at a team’s last 5–10 games. Are they consistently winning by large margins or barely scraping wins?
2. Check Home vs Away Records
Some teams are much stronger at home. If a team is dominant at home, a Home -5.5 bet might offer value.
3. Look at Injuries & Rest
Star players missing games can drastically affect whether a team can cover the spread.
4. Be Careful with Overtime Markets
Since “including overtime” counts extra time, it slightly favors favorites, because stronger teams often dominate in OT.
5. Watch for Line Movement
If a line moves from -4.5 to -6.5, it shows strong market confidence in the favorite.
6. Avoid Chasing Big Favorites Blindly
A team can win the game and still fail to cover the spread.
Simple Summary
Home (-5.5) = Home team must win by 6+ points
Handicap 4.5 (incl. OT) = The spread is decided after overtime is counted
Half-points like .5 prevent push results
Overtime inclusion can change how the bet is settled
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