How Do You Bet on Football?

The sports betting industry just continues to get increasingly popular as new betting options emerge. You can place bets on all of the most popular sporting events out there, but football is easily the sport that attracts the most betting action.  The National Football League (NFL) is an absolute monster in the U.S., and sports betting has helped grow the league. Not only has sports betting helped make the game more popular, but it has also created a great way to win money on the sport.  Knowing how to bet on football is extremely important before you even look to make a wager. There are some terrific betting options available, and it’s up to you to choose the option that works the best for you. 

Top 5 Rated Sportsbooks For Football Betting

Betting Against the Spread

When it comes to betting on football, betting against the spread is easily the most popular option to choose from. The spread is typically what you are going to refer to when discussing an NFL matchup, and that’s because it’s the primary focus for most bettors.  Let’s look at a potential matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers to explore the spread: Kansas City Chiefs -6.5 Green Bay Packers +6.5 In the example above, the Chiefs would not only have to win the game, but they would have to win it by at least seven points to cover the spread. Green Bay would be the right pick if they won the game outright or if they were able to lose by six points or less. 

Moneyline

Most bettors tend to agree that betting against the spread is a bit advanced compared to betting on the moneyline. Moneyline odds are going to be available for every single football game, and it’s a pretty simple wager to make.  All you have to do when betting the moneyline is pick the winner of an NFL game. The odds are going to be different for each team in the matchup, but there aren’t really any tricks or hard questions when making this type of bet.  Betting on the favorite will come with a much smaller payout than if you were making a bet on the underdog and that team was able to come away with a win. 

Totals Betting

There are three main betting types when it comes to the NFL, and betting on the over/under is the third of those options. This type of bet is also known as a totals bet because it refers to the total number of points that are scored in an NFL game.  One nice thing about betting the total is that you don’t have to pick the winning team, and that takes some of the pressure off when making a bet. You can still get a nice payout with this type of wager, and there are only two options to choose from.  If the teams combine for more points than the totals line, then the over would hit, but if they combine for less, then the under would be the correct play. 

Futures

Another great betting option when it comes to football and the NFL is placing a futures wager. This type of bet doesn’t focus on just one individual game at all but instead takes a look at the complete season. The most popular futures bet to make is picking the team that will eventually win the Super Bowl during that particular season. You can also make a futures bet on individual player awards, and there are plenty of those handed out in the NFL.  One nice thing about betting on futures is that this type of bet’s potential payout is always pretty large. Futures odds come out well before the season starts and will remain open throughout the year. 

Parlays

Another great way to get a nice payout when betting on the NFL is to put together a parlay. A parlay is a bet in which the bettor has complete control, and it is a combination bet made up of a number of individual bets.  When you are putting together a parlay for football bets, you can look at all of the different betting options that were discussed above. You can also look at prop betting options for your parlay, which could increase the potential payout. 

Same Game Parlays

The same game parlay is another great option when betting on the NFL, and it’s also a newer option that has emerged. The same game parlay is similar to a traditional parlay, except all of the legs are going to come from just one single contest.  When putting together a same game parlay, you are going to have to include some prop bets to round out your wager. Those prop bets are also going to make the odds increase for the parlay, which can lead to an even better win. 

Prop Betting

Prop betting is now popular in all sports, but it really all started with football and the NFL. The Super Bowl is known for having a long list of prop betting options available, but those same options are now available during the regular season games as well. When it comes to prop betting, you are going to find both individual and team props that are offered. If you look hard at all of the options, then you will find that there are some very valuable prop betting options available, and you can make some serious money if you bet on these types of wagers. 

Live Betting

The final terrific betting option when it comes to betting on the NFL is live or in-play betting. This type of wager is placed while a football game is in action, and the odds are going to be posted in real time.  You have to be quick when making a live bet, though, as the odds are going to come and go in a hurry. The betting options are typically wide open regarding live betting, but the most common betting options will be spread, moneyline, or totals.