NFL Betting tips: A beginners introduction

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The football season is officially back and we have already seen a slew of shock results and big plays after week one. As one of the most watched leagues in the world, there were also of course millions of bets placed on games all around the world. NFL futures are some of the most popular bets to be placed on the sport with many wagering on the eventual winners of the Super Bowl, MVP awards, Rookie of the Year and many more.

For those who are new to betting on the NFL, it may seem a little daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be. Here is a beginners guide to betting on the NFL.

To start with, let’s breakdown how the odds work. All betting lines are set by whichever sportsbook you are opting for. These lines are then priced with positive (+) or negative (-) numbers. A positive number tells you how much you would win from a $100 dollar bet while a negative number tells you how much you would need to wager to win $100. For example, a $100 bet on +200 odds would win you $200 plus your stake. The same wager on -200 odds would win you $50. It is a as simple as that. Now let’s take a look at the most popular markets.

Moneyline

This is the most straightforward bet to make and understand when betting on football. You are simply wagering on a team to win the game. While this bet is simple to understand, it is often less fruitful when backing favorites as their odds will be weighted on the negative side. Most all bets on football include overtime so whichever team comes out with the W goes down as the winner on the moneyline.

The Point Spread

This is one of the most popular wagers among NFL bettors. An easy way to explain this bet is that the sportsbook starts the favorite with a virtual points handicap. For example if the spread line is set at 3.5, the favorite will start with -3.5 points while the underdog will start with +3.5. So, if you backed the favorite they would need to win the game by at least 4 clear points for your bet to win. On the underdog, they either need to lose by no more than 3 or win the game outright. The reason this market is so popular among fans is because it is a great way to back favorites without giving way to the shorter odds that a moneyline bet would offer. Decimal’s are often used in the lines for this market to prevent the case of a push/tie, though in the case of a push the sportsbook will refund your stake. Following a good sports service like Doc's Sports can give you all the info you need to master these types of bets.

Total

The total is another straightforward bet to understand. You are betting on the total number of points to be scored in the game between both teams to go either over or under the line set by the sportsbook. For example, if the total line was set at 40.5 then at least 41 points would need to be scored in the game for the over to come in. In contrast, 40 or fewer would need to be scored if you backed the under. Like the spread, these lines also often feature decimals to prevent the case of a push.


Teasers/Parlays

Parlays are an exciting way to combine multiple markets/games in a single wager. They are made up of multiple legs that must all win for the bet to win. For example, you can bet on the moneyline for game one, spread for game two, total for game three and so on. Many sportsbooks now offer same game parlays too in which you can back multiple legs in a single game including player props. The more legs, the bigger the odds. Teasers are similar to parlays but you can move the lines. For example, if the total was set to 45.5 you could move to a more favorable 40.5 at shorter odds or move it out to 50.5 for bigger odds.

Player Props

Player props are some of the most exciting bets to make for fans. You are betting on particular events/stats of players in the game. For example, the total number of rushing yards (over/under) for a player or passing yards for a quarterback. These can also be combined with same game parlays in which you can back multiple player props in one game across both teams. These lines are also often decimals (e.g. 59.6 receiving yards). What makes these bets so exciting is that you can see your bet win with just one play and watch along as you inch closer to your chosen line.

This article should have given you a better understanding of NFL betting, allowing you to wager more confidently. Always do your research in the lead up to the game and have fun with your wagers!