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Gambling

What is a Backdoor Cover in Sports Betting?

A backdoor cover in sports betting occurs when an underdog scores late, covering the point spread but still losing the game. Learn how this affects bettors and strategies to mitigate risk.

Jon Young
Jon Young

Last Updated: 2024-09-16

A. Tzamantanis

5 minutes read

AFC West NFL Chargers – backdoor cover bet

Image Credits: AP

The backdoor cover bet involves an underdog scoring late goals or points to cover the spread. The underdog still loses the game, making the points meaningless. However, the backdoor bet means they end up covering the spread. 

You can make point spreads at the best betting sites online. No-one is immune from a backdoor cover bet, but there are ways to avoid losing out long-term. 

What is the Backdoor Cover on Underdogs?

A backdoor cover is a point spread bet where the underdog covers the spread but still ends up losing the game. The team covers the spread late on in a game with what are essentially meaningless points. The backdoor cover is truly the “bad beat” of the sports betting world. 

What does backdoor mean in football? Here’s a quick example:

Top of the AFC West Chiefs are at home to the LA Chargers, languishing bottom of the division. The bookies make the Chargers +12 on the spread. That means they cover the spread if they either win the game or lose the game by 13 or fewer points. 

Imagine the score is 28-12 to the dominant Chiefs. They are both winning the game and easily avoiding a point spread wipeout. However, in the dying seconds, the Chargers power through with a touchdown. 

The final score is 28-18 to the Chiefs who would win the game with or without that late touchdown. However, with the +12 addition, the Chargers cover the spread and ruin anyone with a wager on the Chiefs. 

Backdoor Cover vs Front Door Cover


The flipside to backdoor cover betting is the front door. While the backdoor cover applies to underdogs, the frontdoor is for the favorites

The frontdoor is when the favorite covers the spread but still wins the game. For example, imagine the Chiefs lead 24-12 with a -13 spread and then score a late touchdown. They would still win the game but would also win the point spread for anyone backing them. The late points do nothing to change the outcome of the game. 

Strategies for Mitigating Risk in Backdoor Covers 

There are one or two ways you can work against the basketball or football backdoor bet. 

Use Cash Out 

The Cash Out function allows you to settle bets early before a game finishes. Though it’s not available on all point spread markets, it’s a good way to secure a smaller profit without risking the bet getting ruined. 

Find Bookmakers Offering Teasers 

Teaser bets allow you to fix the point spread in your favor. You can move the point up or down depending on how confident you are of the favorite or underdog covering the spread. 

Avoid High-Swing Sports like NFL & NBA 

The best way to dodge the backdoor cover bet is to avoid high-swing markets in the first place. Baseball has a much tighter run line markets with fewer swings than NBA or NFL. 

Jon Young
Jon Young Sports Betting Writer

Jon is an experienced journalist and editor working in the gambling industry for over 17 years. He started life as a football betting blogger before being bitten by the online poker bug, eventually becoming editor of some of the largest gambling and poker publications around, including Gambling Magazine and WPT (World Poker Tour) Poker Magazine.