How to Bet on the NFL – Football Betting Explained
NFL Bet Types and Odds Explained
Taking the time to understand NFL-specific odds and bet types is some of the best advice you can get. When researching how to bet on sports, there are a few common wagers you’ll run into. We’ll start with moneylines, which are the easiest and most popular, before moving into spread betting, totals, props, futures, and more.
NFL Moneyline Betting
Betting on the moneyline is one of the safest NFL wagers you can make, especially for beginners. The moneyline is a bet on whatever team will be on the winning side.
Moneyline Example:
Let’s take the example of Dallas at home against Philadelphia. The moneyline odds might have Dallas as the favorite at -120. Favorites will always be shown with a negative sign. This means you would bet $120 to win $100 on Dallas. Philadelphia would be the underdog, indicated by a positive sign, and their odds might be +110. Here, you would need to bet $100 to win $110 on the Eagles.NFL Spread Betting
NFL spread betting is a bet on which team is favored to win by a certain number of points.
Spread Bet Example:
Keeping with Philadelphia at Dallas, the Cowboys might be favored at -2.5, so Dallas would have to win by 2.5 points or more for the bet to come through. In this example, Philadelphia is the underdog at +2.5, so they would need to lose by 2.5 points or fewer, or win outright to cash their side of the bet. Most spreads are set by a half-point to avoid a push. A push means the outcome lands on that number, and the bettor just wins their wager amount back.NFL Totals Betting
Over/under betting is also referred to as totals betting. Here, you are betting on what you think the total points will be at the end of the game.
Totals Example:
The total for Dallas/Philadelphia might be 49.5. In this type of bet, you would wager on whether the final score will be over or under a certain total. If the final score if 30–27, that adds up to 57 points and would count as the over on a 49.5 bet.NFL Prop Betting
Wagering on team and player prop bets don’t deal with the game’s outcome. Instead, they try to predict certain events that might happen to a player or a team within the game.
Player Prop Example
An example of a player prop in the NFL could be Patrick Mahomes’ passing yards line, set at 299.5. You would bet the over/under on that number for Mahomes’ total passing yards, trying to predict his outcome.Team Prop Example
An example of a team prop might be, “Will the Packers score on their first drive?” You would bet a simple yes/no answer for this. Do your research on these types of props, as you might find out that the Packers are a fast-starting team.NFL Futures Betting
Making futures bets is when you wager on long-term outcomes for a season.
Futures Examples:
For example, betting on Super Bowl winners can be a futures bet. Odds for Super Bowl winners are usually released as soon as the season ends, so you can bet on the outcome long before the season even starts. Other examples of NFL futures are NFL MVP, Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and NFC/AFC Conference Champions.NFL Parlay Betting
Parlay bets are a popular bet type when you combine two or more bets into one large NFL bet. You can do this with moneylines, spreads, props, totals, and futures.
Parlay Example:
Let’s stick with moneylines for this example. Say that Dallas is favored at -120, but you want to parlay that with Miami, who are -150 against New England, and Seattle is a +140 underdogs at San Francisco. Those odds would be calculated at +633, which means you would win $633 on a $100 bet. However, all three legs of the parlay have to win, or you lose the entire bet. It’s one of the more high-risk NFL bets, so do your research.NFL Teaser Betting
Teaser bets are like parlays but used for combining multiple alternate spreads or totals into one NFL bet.
Teaser Example:
Let’s take the above three teams and say that Dallas is favored at -2.5, Miami is favored at -4.5 and Seattle is a +3.5 underdog. You can tease the lines to make it more tenable for you. If it’s a four-point teaser bet, you can make it Dallas -6.5, Miami at -8.5, and Seattle +7.5. The odds’ price change would vary, but you would receive less of a payout since you are buying points. Also, similar to parlays, all three legs of your teaser have to win to get paid out.If you want a better idea of how to calculate NFL odds, check out our odds calculator.
Calculator
How to Bet on the NFL
You’ll have to create an online sportsbook account before your NFL betting journey can begin. It’s a straightforward process, but follow this quick guide to make sure you’re not skipping any crucial steps.
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Considering our recommendations, but most of all your preferences, select the sportsbook you’d like to start betting with. Take a peek at our other sportsbook reviews if you want further information on a particular site.
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After you’ve chosen a sportsbook to start betting with, navigate through their website or mobile app to find an option to register an account. Typically, this is a button that says, “Get Started” or “Join Now”.
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You’ll need to fill in the necessary personal details as prompted. For most betting sites, this includes your full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email.
Some sportsbooks might request documents for further verification, including recent utility bills or a photo of your government I.D.
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After you’re registered, you’ll need to put money into your account. Visit the banking section of your chosen sportsbook and select your preferred option of payment.
Deposit your chosen amount and wait for your account to update your bankroll. Remember to only bet what you can afford to lose.
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Typically, sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses for first-time deposits. Sometimes, there will be multiple bonuses depending on their criteria, like crypto-specific bonuses. Make sure to confirm your sportsbook’s promotions beforehand.
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Now that your account has a bankroll, and you’ve redeemed your bonus, start making some NFL bets. Navigate to the NFL or football section of your sportsbook and explore the options at your disposal.
You’ll find moneylines, spreads, totals, and plenty of other types to experiment with. Remember to gamble responsibly and have fun.
What Is NFL Live Betting?
Live betting is growing in popularity each year as online sportsbook technology improves. It lets players bet on the ever-changing odds during a game. If you’re curious to see it in action, Bovada and Everygame are two sportsbooks with an assortment of live betting options for the NFL and beyond.
For Example:
An NFL matchup between Kansas City and Denver might start with Kansas City’s spread at -7.5, meaning KC is favored by 7.5 points at kickoff. However, Denver is playing well and leading the game into the fourth quarter. The live odds for this game might have Denver’s spread at -1.5 at the start of the final quarter, making them the new favorites. If you had bet on Kansas City at the beginning of the game, you might want to bet on Denver at this point to hedge your bet and attempt to come out even. Live betting odds can also adjust moneylines, totals, and more.Always be prepared for live betting on the NFL, as the odds change quickly. If you aren’t, you might make snap decisions that lead to losing wagers. Here are a few tips to get you started on live betting:
Top Recommended NFL Sportsbooks
Bovada Top Choice for New NFL Bettors
Bovada offers tons of NFL odds and lines for the regular season, post-season and Super Bowl. You can also find plenty of odds for alternative leagues including college football, the XFL and UFL. The site is simple to use with a mobile-friendly interface, an excellent live betting section, and a range of deposit methods including crypto. The 100% up to $1,000 welcome bonus makes Bovada a great choice for new players.
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Everygame Top Betting Event Coverage
Everygame’s NFL betting options are fantastic, but even football season comes to an end eventually. That’s why Everygame’s incredible range of betting lines for other markets is so helpful. Football fans can wager on tons of exciting competitions while waiting for the next kick-off, or throughout the off-season.
With Everygame’s global coverage, it stands out among competitors as one of the top sportsbooks for fans of every sport, not only the NFL. You’ll find a mix of moneylines, spreads, props and futures for leagues across the world, including the FIFA World Cup, Europa League, and most crucially, the Super Bowl.
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Tips for NFL Betting
Whether you’re a newbie or you’ve been wagering on the NFL for a decade, betting advice on NFL games is essential. Here are our top five tips for helping you become a successful and profitable NFL bettor:
Before placing bets, set aside funds you’re comfortable losing if a game doesn’t go your way. A good money-saving tip is to only bet 2–5% of your bankroll per game to ensure your money lasts as long as possible. Solid sports betting bankroll management can go a long way.
It’s always good to shop around for the best odds to see where you can get the most betting value. For example, you might see New Orleans at -200 to beat Carolina at one sportsbook, but they could be -160 at BetOnline or BetUS. The latter line offers more value for you. Most sportsbooks have similar lines, but you can always find one with the most value.
Don’t bet on a team because their quarterback went to your favorite college or the team was good 2–3 years ago. Use the statistical analysis and trends in our resources above to support your NFL betting decisions.
A serious injury to a player can damage a team’s hopes that week and impact their future success. Keep an eye on injury reports until kickoff (and even during games).
Parlays are enticing as payouts increase as you add more games. However, they’re also riskier as you need all the games to hit to win. Stick with moneylines, especially as you’re just starting out. The payouts aren’t as high, but you only depend on one outcome to get paid out.
Responsible Gambling for NFL Bettors
We encourage all players to gamble responsibly. Remember that online betting is a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits. Budget your bankroll ahead of time to avoid losing more than you can afford to. Keeping these tips in mind will help you have fun and remain a responsible gambler.
If you are over-preoccupied with thoughts about gambling or exceed your budget regularly, you might benefit from some help. Consider the resources below if you recognize the warning signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one:
- National Council on Problem Gambling: (202) 547-9204 or NCPGambling.org
- GambleAware: https://www.gambleaware.org/
- Gambler’s Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
- Responsible Gambling Council: http://www.responsiblegambling.org/
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