Understanding the term “ATS” is crucial for anyone interested in sports betting. ATS stands for “Against The Spread,” and it plays a significant role in betting strategies. It denotes how a team performs compared to the point spread set by bookmakers rather than just winning or losing a game outright.
Key Points About ATS in Betting
- **Point Spread**: The spread is a handicap that gives one team a points advantage. Bettors wager on whether a team will win by more or lose by fewer points than the spread.
- **Covering the Spread**: A team “covers the spread” if they perform better than the set point spread, even if they lose the game.
- **ATS Record**: This stat shows how often a team has covered the spread over a specific period, providing insight into their performance against bookmaker expectations.
Why ATS Matters
- **Strategy**: Betting ATS allows for more strategic wagering, as it focuses on performance relative to the spread rather than just winning.
- **Value**: Finding value bets where you believe the spread is inaccurate can lead to profitable betting opportunities.
