How To Bet on NFL
NFL football is the most popular sport on which to wager, and rightfully so. The players are larger than life, and the season only lasts a few months, culminating in the biggest single-day sporting event on the planet – the Super Bowl. This article will explain all the ins and outs of how to bet NFL point spreads, moneylines and totals.
How to Bet NFL Point Spreads
The appeal of wagering on underdogs is widespread among NFL bettors, mostly because it involves going against public perception. The underdog can win you money simply by covering the pointspread and earn you even more with a straight-up victory on the moneyline.
Favorites are a riskier bet because they have to win by a certain number of points or more. Bettors also pay a steeper price on the moneyline with favorites rather than getting plus-money back, which will be covered more later.
How to Bet NFL Key Numbers
Key numbers are important to remember when betting on football point spreads. Key numbers are numbers attached to common final score spreads. The most important key numbers are “3” (field goal) and “7” (touchdown). Ten and 14-point lines will draw the attention of sharp bettors as well, but these numbers aren’t as commonly attached to the final score.
A point spread of -2.5 or -6.5 opposed to -3.5 or -7.5 is better if you’re backing the favorite. Three and seven-point differentials are the most common margins of victory in the NFL. Getting on the right side of those key numbers is a practice for NFL bettors.
Oddsmakers often open lines on, or close to, one of those key numbers. A sportsbook manager will sometimes play with the vigorish instead of moving off a key number.
Imagine the Dallas Cowboys are 7-point faves against the San Francisco 49ers and the majority of money being bet on the game is on the Cowboys. A book will often change the juice (or vigorish) before the pointspread. Dallas is still a 7-point fave, but the odds attached are -125 instead of -110. San Franciso fans can grab the Niners at +7 on the spread with +105 odds. (Earn $105 on a $100 wager).
How to Bet NFL Moneylines
There are other options for bettors who don’t want to worry about the spread. The moneyline is the easiest way to get action on a team. All you need is for your side to win the game outright for you to cash your ticket.
Of course, there is a method to the madness here to be successful. The problem with betting favorites on the moneyline is that you need to lay money or pay a price, and sometimes that can be very costly.
For example, a huge favorite might be listed at -1000. That means you would have to bet $1,000 to win $100.
While betting favorites on the moneyline might appear to be more stress-free without the worries of covering a pointspread, losing games straight up can burn your bankroll.
Then again, betting on the moneyline with underdogs can be very profitable. You don’t need to cash nearly as many to come out ahead in the ledger. Wagering on a big underdog (+1000 pays $1,000 on a $100 bet) is like hitting the jackpot. That said, underdog bettors can keep their bankroll going a lot longer with less risk.
How to Bet NFL Totals
Another fun way to wager on NFL football games is taking the Over or the Under on the total number of points scored.
Betting NFL totals can be a roller-coaster ride if the pace of the game changes from quarter to quarter. A team’s offense can be severely affected by an injury to the starting quarterback.
When betting the Over, injuries can also work for you from a defensive perspective. A quarterback will look to take advantage of a hobbled starting cornerback. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out a defense, ravaged by injuries, will probably give up a lot of points.
Weather is an important factor for Over/Under bettors. Bad weather games normally lead to lower-scoring contests. Cold weather is one thing, but the wind is another equally important part of the forecast because of how it affects both the passing and kicking games. The worse the weather is, the better chance a game has of finishing under the total.
How to Bet NFL Parlays and Teasers
Straight single bets on sides and totals are just one particular means to wager on NFL games.
Many bettors who do not have a huge bankroll to wager solely on individual games choose to increase their chances of hitting a big payoff by grouping single wagers together in what is called a parlay or teaser. Both bets are more profitable, but also more unlikely to cash.
With parlay and teasers, the odds increase depending on how many different teams, or bets, are grouped together. The difference is a parlay often keeps the same point spreads, moneylines or totals as a single bet. Meanwhile, a teaser offers the bettor additional points to play with.
The exception to this is a parlay card, which may have better lines, such as a half-point either way, seemingly helping bettors improve their odds of winning.
Betting NFL In-Game Live Lines
The latest sensation with sports gambling in general is in-game wagering or live betting. Many sportsbooks today will open revised lines after NFL games kick off, giving bettors the opportunity to get action while they are actually being played.
Not all games may be available, but more and more sportsbooks are at least expanding their wagering menu to include the most popular matchups played in prime time and during the playoffs.
The advantage of in-game wagering is obvious and most beneficial to those bettors who believe in comebacks or dramatic turnarounds with regards to scoring. Anyone who had the Patriots to win Super Bowl LI when they were trailing by 25 points or at least double digits probably made a fortune.
In addition, the ability to lock in a number as soon as possible becomes more critical with live betting. Not only can a number change within a few seconds, but one single play can make a dramatic impact, keeping both bettors and the oddsmakers on their toes.