Welcome to the ultimate guide to understanding NFL (National Football League) betting! Whether you're new to wagering on America's most popular sport or looking to sharpen your skills, this guide will walk you through the most common types of NFL bets, how odds work, and what you need to know to place informed wagers.
NFL betting offers a dynamic range of options, from predicting game winners and score margins to betting on individual player statistics. Familiarizing yourself with different bet types is crucial for building a successful betting strategy throughout the football season.
Understanding NFL Odds
NFL odds represent the probability of an outcome and determine your potential payout. They are most commonly displayed in American odds format (+ or -).
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Negative Odds (-): Indicate the favorite. The number shows how much you need to wager to win $100 profit. E.g., -150 means you bet $150 to win $100. For point spreads and totals, odds are often around -110, meaning you bet $110 to win $100.
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Positive Odds (+): Indicate the underdog. The number shows how much profit you win if you wager $100. E.g., +130 means you bet $100 to win $130 profit.
Understanding odds is crucial for calculating returns and finding value, especially when considering factors like team matchups, injuries, and weather.
Common NFL Bet Types
Moneyline
The most basic NFL bet: simply picking which team will win the game straight up, regardless of the margin of victory. Overtime is typically included. Odds are set for each team, reflecting their perceived chance of winning.
Example:
Kansas City Chiefs -180
Buffalo Bills +150
To win $100 on the Chiefs, you bet $180. A $100 bet on the Bills wins $150 profit.
Point Spread
The most popular way to bet on NFL games. The sportsbook sets a point spread, handicapping the favorite (-) and giving points to the underdog (+). The favorite must win by more points than the spread to 'cover'. The underdog covers if they win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread. If the favorite wins by the exact spread number, it's a 'push' (bet refunded).
Example:
Dallas Cowboys -6.5 (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles +6.5 (-110)
If you bet on the Cowboys, they must win by 7 or more points. If you bet on the Eagles, they can lose by 6 points or fewer, or win outright. (-110 odds means bet $110 to win $100).
Total Points (Over/Under)
This involves betting on the total combined number of points scored by both teams in a game, including overtime. The sportsbook sets a line (e.g., 48.5 points), and you wager whether the actual total score will be over or under that number.
Example:
Total Points: O/U 48.5 (-110)
If the final score is 28-24 (total 52 points), the Over wins. If the final score is 21-17 (total 38 points), the Under wins.
Player Props
Player Proposition Bets (Props) are wagers on individual player statistics or specific events within the game. These are often independent of the game's final outcome. Common NFL player props include:
- Passing Yards for a QB (e.g., Patrick Mahomes Over/Under 295.5 Passing Yards)
- Rushing Yards for an RB (e.g., Christian McCaffrey Over/Under 85.5 Rushing Yards)
- Receiving Yards for a WR/TE
- Player to Score a Touchdown (Anytime, First, Last)
- Total Receptions for a player
- Total Tackles + Assists for a defensive player
- Quarterback Interceptions or Sacks
Example:
Justin Jefferson Over/Under 90.5 Receiving Yards
Lamar Jackson Over 0.5 Interceptions
Travis Kelce to Score an Anytime Touchdown
Explore detailed player markets on our NFL Player Props page.
First Half / Quarter Bets
These bets focus only on the outcome within a specific period of the game, usually the first quarter or the first half. Common options include Moneyline, Spread, and Totals for just that period. These bets isolate performance early in the game, often influenced by game scripts and coaching strategies.
Example:
San Francisco 49ers 1st Half Moneyline (-150)
Miami Dolphins 1st Quarter +0.5 Spread (-110)
1st Half Total Points O/U 24.5
Futures
NFL Futures are long-term bets on outcomes that will be decided later in the season or postseason. Popular futures include:
- Super Bowl Champion
- AFC / NFC Conference Champion
- Division Winners
- Regular Season MVP
- Offensive / Defensive Player of the Year
- Offensive / Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Team Regular Season Win Totals (Over/Under)
Example:
Cincinnati Bengals to Win Super Bowl
Josh Allen to Win NFL MVP
Green Bay Packers Over 9.5 Regular Season Wins
Live Betting (In-Play)
Live betting allows you to place wagers on NFL games while they are actively being played. Odds and available markets (like next team to score, updated spreads/totals, result of current drive) change rapidly based on the current score, time remaining, down and distance, and other in-game developments.
Elevate Your NFL Betting Knowledge
Understanding the different NFL bet types is key to becoming a more informed and strategic football bettor. By knowing how Moneyline, Point Spread, Totals, Props, and Futures work, you can better identify value and apply different approaches to your wagers based on matchups and game dynamics.
At Bet Better, we provide data-driven insights and expert NFL picks to help you make smarter decisions. Our AI models and analysts break down matchups weekly throughout the season.
Ready to apply your knowledge? Check out this week's NFL Best Bets or delve into NFL Player Props. Always remember to bet responsibly.
More Resources from Bet Better:
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