zz from http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/sports/fantasysports/footballpickem_p/picks/fpick-14.html
What is a point spread?
A point spread is the predicted scoring difference between a game’s
two opponents. If you choose the team that’s favored, they have to win
by more than the spread number in order for you to get credit for a
correct pick. If you choose the underdog team, they must lose by less
than the spread number (or win outright) in order for you to get credit
for the correct pick.
So, if you pick Pittsburgh and they’re favored to beat Dallas by five
points, Pittsburgh has to win the game by six or more points in order
for you to get credit for the win. Otherwise, if Dallas loses by less
than five (or wins outright), you wouldn’t get credit for the win. If
Pittsburgh wins by exactly five points, the game is a push, and no users
get credit for a victory.
If a point spread is listed as "off," this indicates that there is no
official point spread set for the game (e.g., when a team’s star player
is injured and it is unclear whether or not he will play). When the
point spread is "off," you’re simply picking which team will win the
game.
Yahoo! Sports uses the point spreads provided by the Associated
Press. These spreads will be updated each day. Unless there are Thursday
games, Thursday’s lines will serve as the game’s official spread. In
weeks with Thursday games, Wednesday’s line will be the official spread.
Please note that only Private Groups can elect to incorporate point spreads.
