How to Bet on Football: Betting Guide

There is plenty of football action in the fall if you want to get started with sports betting. The top NFL betting sites provide lines, odds, and more for all of the games. How do you begin? Here’s a guide on football betting. What you need to know about odds, lines, the NFL season, and more as you go to place your first bet.

How to Read NFL Odds and Lines

When looking at American betting lines on popular sportsbooks, you will see odds listed with positive and negative numbers. For example, a spread bet might have odds of -110. This means you need to bet $110 to win $100. If the odds were +110, a $100 bet would win $110.

Negative odds represent favorites while positive odds represent underdogs. This is important to keep track of when you are going to fill up your bet slip. For example, the Chicago Bears might be a -225 favorite vs the Texans. This means they are heavily favored to win the game. You would have to bet $225 on the Bears to win $100.

NFL Spread and Total Lines

Along with odds, there are also betting lines. For example, you might see a point spread that says -10.5. That means the team is favored by 10.5 points and must win by 11 points or more to cover.

Spread bets usually have odds of around -110 on both sides. There are also total bets at sportsbooks. You might see a total of 44.5. That is the line for the number of points scored by both teams combined.

Pushes

In sports betting, a push is when your bet lands on the exact betting line. So when it comes to football lines, a push happens when you land on betting lines like totals and spreads. For example, the Titans are -8 favorites vs the Giants. The Titans win 28-20. Since they won by the exact total of the point spread which was eight, a bettor would get their money back.

Types of Bets and NFL Betting Odds

There are a lot of different NFL bet types. Here’s a look at some of the bet types and markets you will see when you start getting into football betting.

Point Spread

A point spread bet is looking at the margin or point differential in a game. A favorite is given the number of points they are expected to win by. It’s represented by a negative number. An underdog point spread is represented by a positive number and it’s how many points they can lose by.

For example, the Patriots are -3.5 favorites vs the Jets. If you bet on the Patriots to cover the spread, they need to win by four points or more to cover the spread. If the odds were -115, a $115 bet would win $100. The payout would be $215 because you get back your original stake.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is picking the outright winner of an NFL game. It’s not any more complicated than that. Favorites are represented with negative odds while underdogs have positive odds.

For example, the Dolphins are +150 underdogs vs the Ravens. You want to get in on online betting and place a $100 wager on the Dolphins. If the Dolphins win the game, you would win $150.

Total

A total bet is also called an over/under. It’s a point total set by a sportsbook that represents the combined score of both teams. As a bettor, you pick over or under the line set by the sportsbook.

For example, you see the total for the Bears-Cardinals game is 46.5. You bet the over. You need 47 or more points scored in the game to win the bet. If the game ends 24-20, you would lose because only 44 points were scored in the game.

Future

A futures bet is a wager on an outcome or event down the road. You can bet on the Super Bowl winner, MVP winner, and more at any point during the season. If you’re really confident, you can bet on a team to win it all in the preseason. The odds change throughout the year based on performance, injuries, and more.

Prop

A prop bet is a wager on an outcome within a game but it isn’t necessarily tied to the end result. There are team, game, and player props. In the NFL, you can bet on the first touchdown scorer, the number of passing yards by a QB, and more. Bettors have a ton of fun with the number of props available during football season when online sports betting.

Parlays

A parlay is when you combine multiple wagers into one bet. For example, you bet on the Chiefs, Bengals, and Titans to each win their game. It gives a boost to the odds with each leg you add, but that means the probability of winning goes down. Each team has to win for the bet to be a winner.

Live Betting

NFL live betting is a fast-paced and exciting way to bet on football games with an online sportsbook. With live betting, you can place wagers on a variety of outcomes during the game, such as the next team to score or the outcome of the next drive. This type of betting allows you to adjust your bets based on the game’s progress, making it a more dynamic and engaging betting experience.

Football Betting Tips and Strategies

Now that you’ve learned about some of the bet types and football betting lines, here are a few tips to help you out as you start to place bets on pro football.

Understand Bet Types

To maximize your earnings from sports betting, it’s important to understand the various types of football bets offered by online sportsbooks. As discussed above, there are several types of bets, each with its own strategy and suitable games.

By familiarizing yourself with these different types of bets and knowing which games to use them in, you can increase your chances of making serious money from football betting.

Watch Football

When you start betting on football, it’s crucial to watch more games than before. Betting on a sport requires knowledge and understanding of how different teams play.

Although there are plenty of football betting experts available, it’s beneficial to watch the games yourself and see how teams perform. Additionally, keeping track of NFL news can provide valuable insights into player injuries, team changes, and other factors that could affect the outcome of a game.

Bankroll Management

To ensure your betting wallet or bankroll lasts throughout the season, it’s essential to follow good bankroll management practices. These practices include separating your personal and betting finances, playing within your bankroll balance, and avoiding placing all your bankroll money in one wager.

Additionally, it’s crucial to resist the urge to make desperate moves to compensate for losses and to have the ability to accept losses and move on. Keeping track of your results and regularly auditing your performance can help you determine when to take risks or hold back with your bankroll.

Follow Injury Reports

Injuries are an inevitable part of football and should be considered when making betting plans. It’s important to assess whether a key player is absent due to injury or if a player returning from a long injury is unlikely to perform at 100% during the game.

However, it’s important not to overreact and maintain a level-headed approach when evaluating the impact an injury may have on a team’s performance.

Avoid Your Favorite Teams

Many of us have a favorite NFL team that we are emotionally attached to and always want to win. However, this emotional attachment can sometimes lead us to make poor betting decisions.

We may be so invested in our team’s success that we place bets on them even when the signs suggest they may not win. That’s why it’s not always wise to bet on teams you support.

Don’t Let the Public Guide You

Although the advice of betting experts can be valuable, especially for beginners, it’s important not to rely too heavily on their opinions. To grow as a bettor, it’s essential to make some decisions on your own and analyze games independently. By doing so, you can better understand the reasoning behind their recommendations.

Additionally, it’s wise to avoid betting based on popular trends and make each decision based on your own analysis to minimize the likelihood and severity of regret.

National Football League Season and Schedule

The NFL is widely considered the premier football league globally, featuring 32 teams playing a total of 272 games over 18 weeks. With plenty of games throughout the season, the NFL offers numerous opportunities for betting.

Bettors can even wager on the NFL draft. However, the excitement reaches new heights as the playoffs approach and culminate in the highly anticipated Super Bowl.

Best Football Betting Sites and Apps

BetMGM

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BetMGM is a popular sportsbook known for its range of features, including live betting and the ability to edit bets. It is a great option as you are getting into betting on the NFL and college football.

FanDuel

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FanDuel is a top sportsbook that has great live betting and the popular same-game parlay. It has plenty of college football and NFL game lines to check out. It also has solid promotions such as No Sweat First Bets.

PointsBet

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PointsBet is a sportsbook that has managed to establish a strong reputation by offering unique betting options, such as “Points Betting”.

Moreover, the sportsbook provides attractive offers, such as second-chance bets and other promotions designed specifically for new users. For those interested in betting on football, PointsBet is an excellent option to consider.

DraftKings

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DraftKings is a widely-used and reputable sports betting platform that offers a variety of features, including a rewards program that allows users to earn bonuses, promotions, and odds boosts. Additionally, DraftKings is known for having solid betting odds for NFL including moneylines, spreads, totals, and more.

Caesars

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Caesars is known for having one of the best VIP reward programs in the sports betting industry. The rewards system helps bettors earn valuable rewards from each wager they place. In addition to this program, the sportsbook offers live betting, promotions, odds boosts, and other features.

Betfred

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Betfred is a reputable sportsbook with a variety of features, including live betting and the ability to edit bets. The sportsbook offers many football odds and promotions for new users.

Tipico

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Tipico is a trusted sportsbook that offers a range of features, including live betting and a rewards program. Additionally, the sportsbook provides users with solid football odds and promotions.

BetRivers

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BetRivers is a popular sportsbook with outstanding live betting options and exclusive football odds. The sportsbook also offers a rewards program that allows users to earn bonuses, promotions, and odds boosts.

More Online Football Betting Options

The fall is full of football betting options. There are also some times in the offseason to keep betting on your favorite NFL events. Here’s a look at a few more options for football betting throughout the year.

College Football

College football presents numerous exciting prospects for handicappers, offering the opportunity to bet on the best young talents in the game. With most teams playing 12 regular season games, it can be overwhelming to decide which game to wager on.

If you find yourself in this situation, there are several events to consider betting on, such as the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best player in college football. Additionally, the bowl season and College Football Playoff National Championship also offer exciting betting opportunities.

NFL Draft

The number of betting opportunities has grown quickly for the NFL Draft. There are NFL futures based around the draft as well as props on draft day. You can place wagers on which player will be drafted first, how many players from a certain team will be drafted, and more. It’s a fun way to watch the draft as your team is making selections to improve its roster.

How to Bet on Football FAQs

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