A hook in sports betting — more commonly called “the hook” — is the name for the last half point of a non-whole number spread. So if a team is a 3.5-point underdog, the last 0.5 points is considered “the hook.”
Losing the hook is when you bet fails by only the 0.5 margin.
Of course, a team cannot win or lose by a half-point. So why would you ever reference this half-point? Let’s dive into the key numbers.
_InlineAdBlock=3
What Is “The Hook” in Sports Betting?
Consider an example of Ohio State being favored by 7.5 over Wisconsin. The hook is the “.5” being tacked onto the 7 for the point spread.
As such, the following phrases are fairly common regarding the hook for the betting line:
- “Laying the hook”
Taking the favorite with the extra half-point. If you think the favorite will win, you “lay the favorite,” but sometimes the sportsbooks will add an extra half-point so others will take the underdog. In this case, you’re getting the favorite for -3.5 instead of 3, which means the favorite has to win by 4 or more for you to win the bet.
- “Losing by the hook”
As it sounds, losing by a half point is a big deal. In the above example, with the Buckeyes favored by 7.5 points, if Ohio State wins by exactly 7, OSU bettors would “lose by the hook.”
- “[Number] and the hook”
A way of phrasing the point spread in a given game. “Ohio State is favored by seven and the hook.”
- “Buying the hook”
Buying a half point off a full number. In a case where Iowa is +3, “buying the hook” would mean buying a half point to +3.5. Buying points can be an advantageous situation in certain betting scenarios.
_InlineAdBlockRestart
Next in Betting Education 101: Hedging
