It could be a single game, a player betting prop or NFL futures odds that bettors wager on in an attempt to cash in. All of these will be detailed in our How to Bet on NFL guide below.

Placing bets throughout the NFL football season can be a fun and profitable endeavor, especially if you put in the time and effort. When it comes to betting on NFL games, there are three primary bet types that you can choose from: the point spread, moneyline, and total.

Each of these betting types offers unique opportunities. Let's delve into each one and explore how to interpret the associated odds for a better understanding:. A point spread in football is a figure made by odds specialists with sportsbooks to provide an advantage or disadvantage based on the expected margin of victory or defeat for a given NFL team.

This means that the Saints are favored to beat the Falcons by 7 points or more. Bettors would need to determine before the game starts if they think the Saints will win by more than seven points or if the Falcons will win or keep the game within seven points.

The total in any NFL game is the projected final combined score of both teams. The total is set by oddsmakers based on how they envision a game will unfold from a scoring perspective.

As a bettor, you need to determine if the final score will go OVER or UNDER the set total and there are many factors that need to be considered before placing a totals bet. Before we look at research tips or online betting strategy, here is how a total would look for an NFL game at your online sportsbook:.

So, if the game ended for Dallas, that would add up to 47 points, meaning the game went UNDER the closing total. Here are some of the key variables that bettors need to research to feel comfortable placing a totals bet:. Some of the suggestions above are likely more important than others but all should be reviewed at least once before placing your bet.

The absence of a player at a key position like quarterback could influence how the game unfolds. An NFL moneyline bet is when you pick which team you think will win the game outright. This type of bet is often called a straight-up bet at the sportsbook because moneyline betting involves you choosing one squad to win over the other.

For example, if the New York Jets visit the New England Patriots, odds would look something like this:. Teams all have different tendencies and trends — slow starts or strong second halves — so recognizing those patterns is great for finding value in the NFL derivative odds markets.

NFL futures betting is rapidly growing among casual bettors. These are odds based around long-running results, such as odds to win the Super Bowl , rookie of the year odds , or season win totals.

Most futures odds open for betting before the season starts and run until a decision is graded as the winner, constantly adjusting to results, injuries, and betting action. You can bet on futures are any point in that span, and the odds you bet are the odds on which the wager will be graded.

The Super Bowl is the biggest single-game betting event of the year and billions of dollars are wagered on the annual NFL championship.

Get ready for the big game by learning how to bet on the Super Bowl. One of the most exciting and rapidly-growing ways to wager is NFL in-game live wagering — betting on the action as it happens. This is also referred to as live betting. Odds are constantly adjusting to the score, time, and field position.

In-game betting does come with higher vig than pregame odds — somewhat of an in-running tax — but allows bettors to jump into any game at almost anytime.

Bettors can capitalize on swings in momentum and any anomalies that may open up value on different markets — like betting the adjusted odds on the pregame favorite if it goes down early in the first quarter.

Now that you understand NFL odds, you can start making wagers. Follow these tips to sharpen your football strategy and make smarter NFL bets. NFL odds are constantly adjusting from the second the sportsbooks post them.

A team could be a 5-point favorite when the odds go up on Monday and close at You always want the best odds for your opinion, so determining the best time to bet is extremely valuable based on the line movement. If you like the favorite and see its spread growing, you want to bet them earlier in the week rather than wait until they're If you like the Under for a game and see a total getting bigger closer to game day, you may want to wait until just before kickoff to place your bet and see how high the total will climb, giving you a better number for your Under opinion.

If you see the odds on a game start to move at multiple sportsbooks, the rest of the sportsbooks will follow suit shortly.

See if you can get a bet in at a slower-moving sportsbook to get better odds for your wager. If you're wondering about the smartest ways to bet on NFL football, start with recognizing key numbers for point spreads and why betting on and around those numbers is important.

Football has a very rigid scoring system with field goals worth three points and touchdowns plus the extra point worth seven. Because of this, we see most NFL games decided by either three, six, or seven points. Point spreads are commonly set at those key numbers. Line movement around those key numbers is very significant, depending on which side of the point spread you favor.

Betting a favorite at While football fans cheer for different teams, there is a standard thought process for betting on an NFL game. With the popularity of the NFL betting soaring, sportsbooks are collecting a lot of bets by recreational gamblers — also known as the betting public — who are influenced by common opinions and their favorite teams.

For example, one team could be against the spread in the last 12 games as an underdog. Bettors often dispute the validity of betting trends, especially as it pertains to short-term results or limited sample sizes. However, long-term betting trends can hint at possible patterns worth following, especially if those trends have a narrative explaining the results rather than random occurrences.

Home-field advantage is commonly perceived to be worth three points to NFL spreads, although this value is more public perception than a calculated impact. We've seen the success of home teams decline in recent years , especially during the pandemic-plagued season, in which most stadiums had little to no fans in the stands.

For , we calculate home-field advantage to be worth 1. The most significant outside factor in NFL football betting is the weather and how it could impact your wagers. Weather can have a major influence on the final results of a game. The autumn months bring plenty of cold, wind, and rain to outdoor venues in northern cities.

Rain and snow can play a big part in how teams perform, especially considering where those teams are from, but the wind is the most disruptive element to play in and can influence passing and kicking.

Keeping an eye on the forecast for the week and games scheduled during poor conditions is a great NFL betting tip to follow. Due to the physical nature of the sport, injuries have a considerable influence on the odds and the outcome.

Keeping track of who's in and out is vital when learning how to bet on NFL spreads and totals. Regarding the odds, quarterback injuries have the largest impact, while select skill players, like star running backs and receivers, can also move a spread up or down.

Outside of those key positions, injuries to individual players don't affect the odds much at all. However, an intelligent NFL betting strategy is spotting cluster injuries at certain positions or units. Having some starting offensive linemen missing or several members of the secondary out can play a role in the outcome of the game.

Our NFL scores and matchup page lists that week's game in order of kickoff time. You can sort the games by spread and total size, and line movement. Each game gives a snapshot of the opening odds, current odds, team records SU straight up and ATS against the spread , as well as the percentage of picks being calculated by our Covers Consensus.

From there, you can dive deep into our detailed matchup pages for each game, track line history, view the most popular spread and total picks, as well as analyze unique betting trends for every team.

Making smart bets on NFL football isn't always about betting the best team, but betting the best odds. Signing up for a new sportsbook is simply a few clicks away. Once you have identified a football betting site that provides everything you want, you can sign up for an account and quickly deposit using various banking methods, such as credit cards and e-transfers.

Most sportsbooks also offer great bonuses and sign-up promotions to new users. After doing all your research for your best NFL picks on Covers.

com, you can place those bets at the sportsbook by selecting NFL football from its menu and searching for the game or market you want to bet.

From there, select the wager to add it to your bet card and enter the amount of money you wish to risk. After that, click submit, and you'll get a receipt or e-ticket for that bet, showing you the odds you bet and the amount you can win. Here are the latest NFL odds for upcoming matchups.

Use our odds comparison tool to shop for the best odds on upcoming NFL games. The difference between betting NFL and college football is that there are only 32 teams in the NFL compared to the schools playing FBS NCAA football. It's much easier for books and bettors to track stats, info, and breaking news on the NFL than keeping up with all those college teams.

The level of parity is also closer in the NFL than college football, which means spreads are much smaller than those sometimes seen when betting on NCAA football. It's rare to see NFL favorites of more than 20 points while prevalent in the college ranks. Think you're ready to place bets on NFL games?

To learn more, check out our detailed guide to moneyline bets. Instead, your focus is strictly on how many points will be scored overall. Again, the half-point hook is present to prevent a push. You have two options when betting totals: over more than Odds will generally be the same for betting either the over or the under, and the total set by the sportsbook can change throughout the week.

You will see the total listed twice in case the odds do differ between the two options. See our guide to totals betting to learn more. With anywhere from matchups to choose from, you may want to bet on more than one game each week. Parlays and teasers allow you to do just that, and they can be very profitable options for those who know how to use them.

In simplest terms, a parlay bet is one that involves more than a single event. For example, if you want to take the Cowboys to cover the spread from our example above , and are confident the game will end over You may also be interested in betting both the Cowboys and another team to win their respective games.

Parlays make this possible. A parlay can include a combination of moneyline, point spread, or totals bets from one or more games each week. However, most sportsbooks will not allow you to bet the moneyline and the spread in the same game. Some sportsbooks will allow unlimited events in a parlay, while others cap a maximum number.

NFL same-game parlays offer sports bettors a chance to correlate wagers and create more favorable odds for any given game.

When constructing a parlay, your potential payout is increased, as you need to get all events correct. This allows you to risk less for more winnings.

But keep in mind, there is no prize for getting seven of eight events in a parlay correct. Have a try with our parlay calculator to get a sense of the possibilities. A teaser is a type of parlay, in which all bets are against the spread or the total, and the bettor sacrifices potential payout for more favorable spreads.

This would result in Kansas City getting As mentioned, though, your potential payout is dramatically decreased because you are getting much more favorable spreads. You can also use teasers when betting on the total. Certain sportsbooks offer a long list of alternate spreads to choose from in each game.

This will allow you to work the spread in either direction for each game. As was the case with a parlay, you need to get all events correct in a teaser to win the bet. You can also bet on how well one player will perform, who will win team and individual awards, and even the outcome of a single play.

Propositions, or props, are most popular during the Super Bowl, but are available throughout the NFL regular season as well. Prop bets range from which team will score a field goal first to how many passing yards a given QB will throw for, and everything in between.

When props involve an individual statistic, the sportsbook will set a projected total, and you simply choose over or under. In any prop bet, the sportsbook will lay out your options very clearly and will include the odds for betting on each. These are only a handful of the props available to you for each game, and when the Super Bowl comes around, not all props will be football-based.

You do have the option of creating a parlay with props, as well, but most books force you to have only prop bets in the parlay.

Want to learn more? Find more prop bet details here. This is referred to as a futures bet.

Betting on the NFL brings a whole new level of excitement for fans. Let's dive into how you can approach the game on DraftKings Sportsbook The most basic way to bet on football is a straight bet on the pointspread. When making a straight bet, the team the player bets must cover the pointspread Learn how to bet on NFL & college football with this football betting guide from WagerTalk. Find out about how to bet the spread, over/unders, futures

Football betting guide - Learn how to bet on football for the season, understand NFL betting lines and get tips and strategies to make smart NFL bets Betting on the NFL brings a whole new level of excitement for fans. Let's dive into how you can approach the game on DraftKings Sportsbook The most basic way to bet on football is a straight bet on the pointspread. When making a straight bet, the team the player bets must cover the pointspread Learn how to bet on NFL & college football with this football betting guide from WagerTalk. Find out about how to bet the spread, over/unders, futures

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CHECK OUT OUR SPORTS BETTING GUIDE CLICK FOR DAILY FREE NFL PICKS. CHECK IT OUT. Football Betting Guide: Getting Started Wagering on college and pro football has never been easier and more enjoyable for the casual bettor. Here are a handful of helpful tips for first-time football bettors: Timing: Most ticket writers and sports book employees love talking with first-time bettors Just not at noon on a Saturday or Sunday.

Plan your visit accordingly. Apps: If the sports book that you are visiting has an app, get familiar with it before you go. You'll have a head-start on what types of bets they offer. Cash: Sports books are a cash-only operation.

You don't want to wait in line, then make your bets at the counter only to realize you don't have any cash on you. It happens more than you think. Football Betting Terminology You Need to Know.

How to Read Football Betting Odds When looking to bet on a football game, there are four key pieces of information that you need to focus on: The rotation number, the point spread, the total, and the moneyline.

The Moneyline in Football Betting Some casual bettors don't want to worry about the point spread or the over-under, they just want to pick a winner. Parlay Bets in Football A parlay is a multi-wager bet that requires all of the legs to win in order for you to cash your ticket.

Football Betting FAQs. What does against the spread mean in football? How do football betting cards work? What is the moneyline in football betting? Learn More About Sports Betting:. Horse Racing Betting Sports Betting ALL CBB NBA NHL SOC.

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What is a Run Line Bet? What are Popular Prop Bets? What is a Teaser Bet? What is a Round Robin Bet? What is Spread Betting What is Futures Betting?

What is an Asian Handicap? How do Same Game Parlays Work? What are Sports Betting Units? What is a Push in Sports Betting?

What is Win to Nil Betting? What is the Vig in Sports Betting? What is Hedging a Bet? What are Sports Betting Sharps? What is a Sports Betting Exchange? Double Chance Soccer Betting What is a Walkover in Tennis?

What Does Mean in Betting? Public Betting Trends Huge Benefits of Shopping for Lines What is Reverse Line Movement? What is a Grand Salami Bet? What is Contrarian Betting? Indiana Self-Restriction Program NJ Bet with your head, not over it! WV If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call GAMBLER.

Copyright © WagerTalk. All rights reserved. WagerTalk is the home of daily sports betting updates and free picks. Here are some of the key variables that bettors need to research to feel comfortable placing a totals bet:. Some of the suggestions above are likely more important than others but all should be reviewed at least once before placing your bet.

The absence of a player at a key position like quarterback could influence how the game unfolds. An NFL moneyline bet is when you pick which team you think will win the game outright.

This type of bet is often called a straight-up bet at the sportsbook because moneyline betting involves you choosing one squad to win over the other.

For example, if the New York Jets visit the New England Patriots, odds would look something like this:. Betting on underdogs, in this case the Jets, is considered a riskier bet but you get a bigger reward.

Conversely, wagering on the Patriots is less risky, which means it comes with less reward. An NFL futures bet is made on events that could happen by the end of the NFL season.

Here are some of the most popular futures bets you can make before and throughout the regular season:. The knock on these bets is they can sometimes take weeks and even months for the Sportsbook to be determined but the odds are typically inflated so if you win your futures bet, the payoff is usually worth the wait.

As a bettor, you would need to determine if you think Mahomes would throw for yards or more or be limited to yards or less. If you bet the UNDER These are just the tip of the iceberg for NFL props available to bettors and it goes into overdrive for the Super Bowl.

Props like the coin toss , length of the U. national anthem and what color Gatorade will be used to drench the winning coach at the end of the game are just some of the plus props available for the Super Bowl. A parlay is when you make multiple picks like a moneyline, spread and totals bet in separate games but on one single ticket.

In order to win your parlay, you would need all bets to hit. You can also choose two events to occur within the same game for a correlated parlay. Like a parlay, you would need all your bets to hit to win your ticket; however, you get to adjust the preset point spread or totals lines from sportsbooks to lower your risk level.

Teasers often start at 6 points and can go as high as 15 points depending on the online sports betting site, but the most common varieties are selecting two or three teams and teasing NFL lines by 6, 6. Now, any Pittsburgh win and even a one- or two-point loss is a cover, and L.

is also covered in many more circumstances. However, this comes at a cost because teasers move the line so favorably in the direction of your choice. You are minimizing risk but also minimizing payout opportunities. In-play betting is when you wager on a football game after it has begun.

Live odds and lines will be available for each drive and almost every option in the props section above can be bet on in real time. These types of markets are meant for the more seasoned NFL bettor and would not be recommended for a bettor placing their first wager.

Now that you understand how to read football odds, and know how to bet on football, check out our NFL sportsbook review pages so you can feel comfortable with your online gambling. Best of luck betting on the National Football League!

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