How to Bet Football

In football betting, the totals (or over/under) are wagers based on the combined points scored in a game. You need to predict whether the total points will be over or under the number set by the sportsbook. For NFL games, these totals usually range from 40 to 50 points. For instance, if the total for a Jaguars-Colts game is set at 43.5, betting the under means you win if the combined score is 43 points or fewer. Betting the over means you win if the combined score is 44 points or more. If the total is a round number like 50 and the game ends with exactly 50 points, the bet is a push, and all bettors are refunded as there are no winners or losers.

Types of Football Betting

Moneyline Betting

Betting on the Moneyline is quite simple, as it involves choosing which team you think will win the game. NFL games often feature a favorite and an underdog due to factors like team skill levels and whether the game is home or away. Favorites are represented by negative (-) odds, while underdogs are shown with positive (+) odds. The larger the number following the + or - sign, the greater the expected difference in performance between the two teams. For instance, if the Moneyline shows the Jets at -450 against the Texans, you would need to wager $450 to win $100, highlighting how strongly New York is expected to win.

Point Spread

Spread betting is another highly popular form of football betting. Typically, spreads for regular season games fall between 3 and 7.5 points, though the exact number can vary based on the perceived disparity in team strengths. When you bet on a team to cover a negative spread, they need to win by more points than the spread. For example, if Cincinnati is favored by -3.5 against Chicago, they must win by at least four points for your bet to be successful. Conversely, if you bet on Chicago with a +3.5 spread, they need to either win the game outright or lose by no more than three points to cover the spread.

Over/Under Betting

In football betting, the totals (or over/under) are wagers based on the combined points scored in a game. You need to predict whether the total points will be over or under the number set by the sportsbook. For NFL games, these totals usually range from 40 to 50 points. For instance, if the total for a Jaguars-Colts game is set at 43.5, betting the under means you win if the combined score is 43 points or fewer. Betting the over means you win if the combined score is 44 points or more. If the total is a round number like 50 and the game ends with exactly 50 points, the bet is a push, and all bettors are refunded as there are no winners or losers.

Props

Football prop bets add an exciting dimension to betting by allowing wagers on almost any aspect of the game you can imagine. Unlike traditional bets tied to the final score, prop bets come in many forms. Some entertaining props include betting on the first touchdown scorer, the outcome of a specific drive, over/unders on individual player stats like receiving and rushing yards, and much more. Props enable bettors to analyze games from entirely new perspectives, adding extra layers of excitement and strategy to the betting experience.

Futures Betting

Future bets allow you to wager on upcoming football events, such as division winners or individual awards. For example, if you believe a team has the potential to win the Super Bowl, you can place a futures bet on them. If a team's odds to win the championship are +800 and you place a $100 bet, you would earn an $800 profit if that team emerges victorious.

Live/In-Game Betting

Live or in-game betting on football is self-explanatory: bet on games as they are happening. Sometimes we place bets late or want to watch part of the game play out before wagering on it. Odds can change quickly when live betting and will continuously update throughout the contest. If you’re feeling confident in a team’s ability to come back after going down 0-7 early in the first quarter, place a live bet on it and take a chance at reaping the rewards.