Betting on the NFL is becoming more and more popular each season but with its growing popularity, many have jumped in without have the NFL betting odds explained to them. This is because it has come commonplace in the country to discuss betting lines on the NFL, but there are not many outlets that detail what these pundits, experts, and analysts are actually saying. No longer is Las Vegas the only place to make a wager, as over a dozen states have legal sports betting and there are also a handful of offshore betting sites that service the needs of NFL bettors.

Betting lines have come to your home, right on your computer screen, and this page is here to explain NFL betting odds + wager types. From point spreads to over/unders, prop bets and more, we're going to cover the details behind these types of wagers. After reading this, you should feel comfortable walking into any sportsbooks (or logging into one) and laying your money on the line with confidence, knowing exactly what you are risking.

Nfl Betting Line

How NFL Betting Lines work Example of an NFL Line. Above, you can see several numbers to the right of both teams. These all represent the different. Because most NFL games are mismatches, bookmakers use a point spread to balance out betting action on the. How to Understand American Odds. If you're new to sports betting, the odds are usually listed in one of three ways: American; Fractional; Or Decimal; American odds work a little differently to the others. The odds for a favorite team to win the game are usually listed with a '-' sign, which indicates the amount a better would need to bet to win.

Why NFL Betting Odds Exist

Betting odds for the NFL are formed for several aspects of the league. They are based on outcomes for games, the season, and more. Oddsmakers research and install betting lines for a variety of outcomes relating to the season. A bettor can then search to see what they would like to wager on, and then make the bet. If they win, they get the designated payout. If they lose, the sportsbook takes the bet.

NFL Point Spreads Explained

Betting on the point spread for an NFL game might be the most common wager one thinks of when betting on the NFL. The point spread is a bet made on a specific matchup, as a favorite (-) and an underdog (+) are determined. With a specific number of points set on the line., the team in the role of the favorite must win by the number of points they are associated with.

For the underdog, they must lose by less than their associated points – which is the same number as the favorite – or win the game outright. This is a concept designed to hypothetically even the playing field, as oddsmakers thoroughly research every aspect of the game before coming out with the game line.

Point spreads are not just for the entire game though. In fact, oddsmakers install quarter, half, and fulltime betting odds for NFL games. These betting lines work just as they would for betting against the spread for the whole game.

Betting the spread on the first or second half is a popular betting strategy of NFL bettors. These are just like betting on the normal spread, but it only covers one of the halves. The line in the second half allows bettors to make a wage after oddsmakers see the first half of play.

NFL Moneyline Betting Odds Explained - Straight Up Betting Lines To Win

Betting on the NFL moneyline is quite easy, as it is the simplest form of wagering. For moneyline wagers, all you must do is select who will win the game. Point spreads, the number of points scored, and every other factor has no merit on the moneyline. This simplicity is often why it is called straight-up betting, as it only requires picking the winner. To keep things balanced, sportsbooks will offer odds on every NFL game, where the favorites (-) and underdogs (+) are represented by their moneyline betting odds. When betting on a favorite, you must lay more than what you would profit, while taking the risk on the underdog comes with a higher payout than what you wagered.

Article: Moneyline Betting Odds Explained

NFL Over / Under Bets Explained - Total # Statistical Wagers

Another straightforward way to bet on the NFL is through point totals or over/under bets. These can be broken down by each team, but the numbers you often here on sports betting shows and news is the combination of both teams. Often, these point totals are the most common style of wagering, as bettors can gain insight on certain team’s scoring abilities, defensive prowess, and offensive tempo. Payouts are typically right around 'Even' money (minus the juice) because there are just two choices... over or under.

Article: Over / Under Betting Odds Explained

Weekly Game + NFL Team Proposition Wagering

Outside of game lines, oddsmakers form what are called proposition betting odds. These are other types of betting lines formed that are not betting on the outcome of the game specifically. In fact, NFL team prop betting lines can range in nature quite a bit. For example, in an NFL matchup, a team prop line might be formed asking which team will score 10 points first. The wager would be made on one of the two teams and whoever reaches this mark first dictates the winner of the prop bet. After the proposition is met, the wager is done and the rest of the game does not matter. Other examples include how many total sacks both teams will tally, what the longest field goal of the game will be, and so on. Team Prop odds are a fun way for bettors to place wagers on outcomes outside of the game lines.

Understanding How NFL Player Proposition Wagers Work

NFL player prop lines are another type of proposition betting line. And just like team props, these do not directly relate to the outcome of an NFL matchup. They can have an effect, but that is not what you are wagering on. A player prop NFL line is typically performance-based. For example, the total passing yardage for a quarterback, or the number of touchdowns a running back will have in a game, are two examples. A betting line would be set with an installed number, and the wager would be made according to the guidelines of the bet. NFL player props can be a lot of fun, with tons of them formed for the different games each week.

Understanding NFL Live Betting Odds

One of the newer types of betting onto the scene in NFL betting is Live Betting. Live Betting has become one of the more popular aspects, with the technology that online sportsbooks possess. Live Betting on the NFL can be done from your own computer, mobile device, or in-person at a sportsbook that offers it. In short, instead of placing your bet at the beginning of the game and awaiting the outcome, live betting allows you to place action on a game at any moment during that game. Odds, spreads, and point totals are all available but will constantly be changing as each second of the clock influences the betting lines. Live wagering on the NFL is the most interactive form of betting yet and can be very exciting. In this style, being informed and confident are requirements as getting in at the right time is half the battle.

Betting Odds For The Super Bowl + Online Wagering Guide

Super Bowl betting odds for the upcoming or current NFL season are up almost year-round at online sportsbooks. In fact, almost the day after the Super Bowl from the previous year is completed, oddsmakers form odds to win the next season's Super Bowl. And these odds remain up through offseason, preseason, and the regular season up until the Super Bowl matchup is known.

The different ways to bet on Super Bowl odds can be very simple or they can be slightly more involved. It's not always just betting on the team that you think will win the Super Bowl. No, no sir! There is much more to take in and even the odds to win the Super Bowl can change drastically from week to week.

Get More Help:Super Bowl Odds Explained

Nfl Betting Lines Week 4

NFL Wager Types

There are several different types of NFL bets that can be made on a game. Oddsmakers form game lines, but the type of bet you choose to make is up to you. There is the straight bet which is your basic bet on a game or prop. But then there are bets that link multiple games together like a parlay or and if bet. There are also bets that can switch up the betting lines like a teaser or a pleaser. Get more help learning about those here:

Parlays Teasers If-Bets Pleasers Straight Wagering

Bovada Sportsbook - Top SportsBook For NFL Games

With the games just now starting and the season just now beginning, the NFL is one of the most exciting sports that players look to watch and love to bet on. This is why all players on SportsBetting are cashing big on their accounts. The point spread and betting odds on NFL games are huge and shown to be very profitable. The banking methods here are also easy for players to deal with and makes it simple for them to transfer money on to their account and get them ready for NFL games.

Prop bets and point spreads stick out on SportsBetting as a few of the top betting options there for players as they get ready to make money. The NFL Season is so long so there is money that can be won a lot throughout the season and also throughout the game using the live betting option. SportsBetting is known to have a lot of sports to wager on but when it comes to NFL games, players' eyes get big and wallets get bigger as well.

BetOnline Sportsbook - NFL Games At The Top For BetOnline Players

Nfl Betting Online

Take the first step and sign up for BetOnline as you will not regret it! The NFL season is just now getting started so this is the best time for players to have their account created and be able to join in on the fun of making a lot of money. The betting odds are the best here on BetOnline as you will find great point spreads, and moneylines all the time with different games.

Prop bets and mobile betting features are here as well and players love to use these betting options. The money that can be one is huge and all players have to be is 18 and older to sign up for an account with BetOnline. When players see the point spread here and also the Moneyline, they are very excited because of how much money they can see themselves winning. BetOnline has it all and this is where all players come to play and win huge!

MyBookie Sportsbook - NFL Fans Love MyBookie

When it comes to placing bets on the most exciting sport out there, MyBookie is the answer for most players. This online sportsbook has all the things that players look for an that is especially for NFL games. Fans have their favorite teams and most of the time there are a lot of prop bets for each game so this means that fans will stay happy with betting options here for players. This is just where the knowledge that they can spend money and have a chance to make more money while they watch their favorite team.

The live betting option is one that players do not need to look over. There always NFL games going on and these games turn once the second half starts. This is what makes games so exciting. Players can start off cold and get hot the next half and if a player puts the right bet down on them, the money will easily flow their way. MyBookie Sportsbook is known to many players as one of the better sportsbooks and the NFL games that they offer makes it even better!

Where Should I Bet On NFL Online? Who Can I Trust?

The sports betting industry is on a meteoric rise in this country and we’re approaching one of the first NFL seasons where it will be possible to legally wager on most games outside of Nevada. Even in a largely illegal market, the American Gaming Association estimated that bettors wagered over $4.3 billion on Super Bowl LV alone.

With ample time between games and a wealth of strategy to consider, football is an understandably popular sport for mainstream bettors. Using analytics to gain an edge in predicting how games will unfold can help the savvy bettor go against the grain to earn big paydays. Conversely, the popularity of NFL betting can help bettors isolate a potential winner by piggybacking on research conducted by the masses.

This page can serve as a reference for residents of states that have legalized online betting. It will break down the basics of NFL betting, from various types of bets, to strategy, to tips on how to predict trends and think independently. If you heed this advice and weigh your options and bankroll carefully, you could turn a consistent profit throughout the 2020 NFL season.

NFL team betting guides

Where is NFL betting legal?

When the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in May of 2018, it opened the door for individual states to legalize sports gambling. Beginning with New Jersey (the original plaintiff in the PASPA case), several states quickly moved to legalize and regulate the industry within state lines. Betting on the NFL and other professional sports is still not federally legal, but residents of the following states can place bets at live sportsbooks:

Nevada
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Delaware
Mississippi
West Virginia
Rhode Island
New Mexico
Arkansas
Iowa
New York
Oregon
Indiana
Illinois
Montana

Most other states in the US have introduced some sort of bill that would legalize sports gambling. Of course, some states are far closer than others to legalizing the industry. Visit our state betting pages at TheLines.com to get a look at the status in each state.

Best NFL betting sites and apps

There are a number of apps available for sports betting in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia and Nevada. Some of the best:

The top players in the industry are DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, and SugarHouse.

How does NFL betting work?

There are several ways to bet on NFL action. We’ll begin with the most simple type of bet: The moneyline. Taking the Moneyline means you’re betting on the winning team regardless of the margin of victory. Underdogs will get plus-odds on the moneyline and the favorites will have negative odds. For example, if a team is heavily favored they will be listed as Patriots (-230), meaning that a successful $230 bet on the Patriots pays out $100.

This differs from betting on the point spread, which accounts for the expected margin of victory. If the Patriots are heavily favored at home, they might be listed as -13.5, meaning a bet (likely at something close to -110 odds) on the Pats would only pay out if they win by 14 points or more.

Gamblers can also target the overall betting total of a game, which is usually listed as a number around 48.5 with the proposition of taking the Over or Under on a point total. Some sites offer the opportunity to bet on the expected point total of one team (23.5 points for example).

Then, there is often an extensive number of betting props (or propositions) where gamblers can wager on the individual performance of a player, the type of score to open a game, and the specific margin of victory. These options are often more expansive in prime time and playoff games.

Gamblers can choose to combine multiple propositions on a game, or multiple bets on different games, into a parlay. This wager is an all-or-nothing proposition which only pays out if all (anywhere between two and a dozen) bets are successful. The more bets added to a parlay, the greater the potential payout.

A teaser is a form of parlay that involves a combination of two to ten wagers in which you can adjust the point spread or total to your specifications. These bets are therefore more likely to succeed, but the payouts are smaller than in a parlay.

Finally, there is an option to bet on NFL futures. Rather than betting on an individual game, Futures offer gamblers the opportunity to bet on the eventual Super Bowl champion, divisional champion, or the number of wins that a team will accrue during the regular season. There are also futures bets available on postseason awards and other ongoing storylines.

Super Bowl odds 2022

NFL live betting

Another method of wagering on the NFL is live betting, also known as in-play betting. No longer are gamblers required to place their bets before opening kickoff and ride out the storm. Now users can watch a game unfold for one, two, or three quarters and place their bets based on updated odds.

The odds on online sportsbooks will shift throughout games and sometimes it won’t be possible to place a live bet until a team finishes their current drive and the odds can solidify. This can be a very effective method for the experienced sports fan. Those who can read how a game is unfolding in the opening minutes can target a line aggressively.

For example, the most recent Super Bowl between the Patriots and Rams turned into an offensive quagmire where neither team appeared poised to rack up many points. Those viewers that read into game flow and placed a bet on the Under (even as it shifted lower) were rewarded by a comfortable payout in a game that ended 13-3.

NFL betting trends

There are several free sites that will disclose information on where the public is betting in terms of the moneyline, point spread, and point total. These trends can lead to a shift in the lines as sportsbooks try to adjust when too much money is coming in on one side or the other.

These trends can also indicate which side of the line is a better bet based on the sheer number of bets coming in. However, the percentage of bets coming in on one side or the other is often not as telling as the percentage of money coming in on one side of the line.

A ton of bets indicates that the reactive public expects a favorite to roll, but a ton of money on one side indicates that experienced gamblers or “sharps” have found something in their research to inspire confidence.

Following the money usually profits, but there is a high level of risk and reward in “contrarian handicapping” by going against the public and backing an underdog at plus odds.

NFL line shopping

How Do Football Betting Lines Work

With so many sportsbooks and platforms competing for your wagers, there’s no reason not to shop around for the best deal. Some sites might have a team with a line of -4 (-110) on a particular game, but another site could have the same team at -3.5 (+120). There is generally an industry standard, but even a sleight differentiation can lead to huge changes in dividends in the long run. It’s vital for bettors to shop lines on multiple sites even if they don’t have a huge bankroll. If that’s the case, simply decrease the amount you’re betting on each game.

You can also shop lines by timing when you place your bets. Oddsmakers will set an Opening Line early in the week, but that could change based on how the public bets the game. Sometimes it makes sense to hammer an Opening Line right away so that you get the best odds possible. For example, the Packers could open at -7 at home against a poor opponent, but after 90% of bets come in on Green Bay, that number could rise. Conversely, the underdog might become appealing late in the week if the spread rises to 13 or even 14 points. Waiting for the right line can create the perfect opportunity to bet against the public at even better odds.

NFL Betting Tips

Finding a betting formula

How Do Nfl Betting Lines Work Youtube

Consistent success in NFL betting is hard to come by, since sportsbooks are often eerily accurate in how they set Spreads and Point Totals. In order to turn a profit, bettors have to find their own formula for determining value and potential winners.

It’s possible to “follow the masses” by betting on favorites that are seeing a huge percentage of wagers, but it is far more reliable to analyze trends and look for value based on those raw numbers.

As the season progresses, it can become apparent which teams have a tendency to “play down” to their opponent. Certain teams tend to play better when going up against heavy favorites, and many teams tend to play better or worse in prime time games. Analyzing a teams’ recent travel schedule, results on the road vs. at home, and tendency to rebound after a loss (see Bill Belichick’s Patriots) can help bettors find a winning formula.

There are certain analytics available for free on many sites that can help you predict how a game will unfold. Here are some of the key analytics that we use to predict game flow:

• Pace (the average number of plays a team runs per game) – This can primarily help you identify fast-paced games that are likely to go Over the total, or slow-paced games that will go Under.
• Offensive efficiency – Especially in the red zone, offensive efficiency can serve as a great indicator for which teams are capable of finishing drives with touchdowns and therefore covering the spread. Pass yards per attempt is another indicator of which teams are successful on offense in terms of controlling possession and creating points.
• Turnovers – On the other side of the ball, teams with great defensive efficiency in the red zone may help games stay under the point total. Teams that have shown an ability to create turnovers are far more bankable in terms of hanging close in games and potentially stealing a game when they’re underdogs.
• Win Probability – This is an advanced tool that can help tremendously with live betting. Algorithms can provide the likelihood of a team holding on for the win and that makes for a very safe bet.
• DVOA – There are comprehensive numbers on how defenses perform against specific position groups. There are also numbers on how an offensive line performs in terms of creating space at the second level and whether defensive lines are stronger on the right or left side. Match up the numbers from each team to consider whether star players will have more of an impact and sway the outcome.
• Home Field Advantage – Teams such as the Packers, Chiefs, Saints, and Patriots have a tremendous home-field advantage for several reasons. Lofty point spreads in those venues should be considered with more weight than a lofty point spread for a team like the Bengals, for example.

Each game brings its own criteria in terms of analytics and there is almost always ample time to crunch the numbers and find an edge.

NFL betting mistakes to avoid

Sports gambling can be a destructive force and should not be taken lightly or considered as a main source of income for anyone but the most experienced handicappers. Here’s a list of a few of the pitfalls that can turn a harmless habit into a money-draining problem:

• Chasing your losses: Gamblers can be overcome by a need to be “made whole” after losing their initial bet. This can be problematic during NFL Sundays since there is a new wave of games starting at 4 p.m. EST and two prime time games providing the opportunity to go “double or nothing” after an unsuccessful run in the early games.
• Managing bankroll: Again, the spreads and totals assigned by sportsbooks are often extremely accurate in terms of the final result, which means that few bets are a “sure thing.” Gamblers need to manage their bankroll wisely and avoid betting big on too many games regardless of their confidence level.
• Emotional betting: While gambling on NFL games should be fun, it’s not fun to lose your money because you were afraid to bet against your hometown team. Gamblers should always bet based on data, trends, and their gut feeling, rather than by their allegiances as fans.
• Hoping for longshots: It’s important to get good odds on a wager, but taking a bet that has little chance to come to fruition is not a reliable method. A horse with 50/1 odds would certainly pay out handsomely in the Kentucky Derby, but there’s a reason nobody expects that horse to have a shot at winning the race.
• Banking on favorites: Conversely, it’s unwise to always follow the public and take the more popular team with your wagers. Things change on a weekly basis in the NFL and teams always find a way to surprise. Remember that the other guys get paid too, and they’ll fight to the final whistle to post a more respectable score and potentially get under a lofty point spread.
• Betting while impaired: Again, NFL Sunday is a time to relax and enjoy a few adult beverages, but don’t get carried away while intoxicated. Accept losses when they come and avoid becoming overconfident because you’re feeling loose and unafraid of losing a few hundred dollars.

Nfl Betting Lines Espn

Online betting vs. retail sportsbooks

How Does Nfl Betting Spread Work

Few states have legalized online betting within state borders because it’s so difficult to regulate. But if you’re in a state with legal online betting, there are clear benefits to that platform. While retail sportsbooks will only accept bets before a game kicks off, online betting sites allow users to bet throughout the contest and adjust to live odds. The convenience of betting from your phone or laptop is hard to beat. That’s why live sportsbooks will offer promotions and try to enhance the in-game experience in order to draw in more numbers.

How to watch NFL games

Every Sunday select NFL games are broadcast on local TV. Viewers can watch any game by purchasing the Sunday Ticket through DirectTV, or the scoring highlights and exciting finishes compiled by the Red Zone channel. There are also options to stream NFL games through various online platforms. During the 2019-2020 season there will be Thursday Night Football games from Week 1 to Week 15 that will be broadcast on FOX and NFL Network. Sunday Night Football games are broadcast on NBC and ESPN carries Monday Night Football games.