In football and basketball, a 1.5-point spread often suggests that two teams are fairly evenly matched and that either has a solid chance to win the game outright.
The underdog\n\n A plus sign (+) in front of the handicap indicates an underdog. The 49ers are the +1.5 underdog in this game, meaning oddsmakers believe they will lose, but only by a point. To win this point spread bet with the 49ers, San Francisco would need to win the game outright or lose by one point exactly.