How to Bet on Football

With the Super Bowl constantly being the biggest television event of the year, it’s no wonder that football is the most popular sport in America by a wide margin. Whether you prefer the incredible athletic feats of the NFL, or the boisterous gameday atmosphere of college football, the gridiron is beloved by basically every sports fan in the US.

Today, we’ll be going over the basics of how to bet on football. From how to read odds to essential tips to boost your profits, you’ll be making reads like Patrick Mahomes in no time!

How to Read Football Odds

Understanding football odds is essential for learning how to bet on football games. Start by signing up with a legal US sportsbook, completing registration, and considering any available bonuses. Afterward, deposit funds into your account using various payment options.

Once your account is funded, navigate to the football section to find a variety of betting options, often presented in American odds format. This format uses symbols like “+” and “-” to denote underdogs and favorites, respectively. The numbers attached to these symbols indicate how much you would win on a $100 bet for underdogs, and how much you would have to bet to make $100 in profit for underdogs.

For example, a bet on the Chiefs to win at -150 odds means for every $150 you bet, you would make $100 in profit. In contrast, a bet on the Jets to win at +220 means you would win $220 for every $100 you bet.

How Do Sportsbooks Set Football Betting Lines?

Sportsbooks have a multifaceted approach when setting football betting lines to ensure accuracy and fairness. Here’s a quick overview of how they establish these lines:

Historical Data Analysis: Sportsbooks analyze historical data, including past matchups between teams, player statistics, and team performance over time. This historical context helps in crafting initial lines.

Injury Updates: Key player injuries play a significant role in odds setting. Sportsbooks closely monitor injury reports, knowing that the absence or presence of star players can drastically impact game outcomes.

Team Dynamics: Sportsbooks assess team dynamics and chemistry. How well players work together, communicate, and adapt to various situations can influence odds.

Statistical Analysis: Advanced statistical models and analytics provide valuable insights into team and player capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. These data-driven approaches help in creating precise odds.

Betting Trends: Sportsbooks continuously monitor betting trends and public sentiment.

Is it Easier to Bet on College Football or the NFL?

Deciding whether it’s easier to bet on college football or the NFL depends on your familiarity with the leagues and your preferences. Both can be enjoyable and profitable as long as you understand the rules of football and sports betting.

In college football, you won’t typically find player props to contend with, which can simplify your betting choices. However, you’ll have a more extensive range of teams to consider, as college football involves numerous programs across the country.

On the other hand, the NFL offers a more structured and well-documented environment, making it easier for some bettors to analyze and predict outcomes. Player props and a wealth of statistical data are readily available, but the competition among sports bettors can be fierce.

Ultimately, the decision to bet on college football or the NFL should align with your knowledge and preferences. If you’re a fan of both leagues, you can choose which games to bet on based on individual matchups and your level of confidence in your predictions.

NFL and College Football Sports Betting Examples

Congratulations! You have the basics of football betting down. But, to truly understand how to bet on football, you’ll need to look at some examples first.

Football sports betting offers a diverse range of wagers that focus on nearly every aspect of the sport. Below, we’ve put together examples showcasing the most common bet types you’re likely to come across according to our betting guides.

Moneyline

Moneyline betting is as straightforward as it gets. It’s about predicting the winner of the game,simple as that. For instance, consider the college football Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn.

In this scenario, Alabama might be a heavy favorite at -250 odds, while Auburn, the underdog, could have odds of +350. Betting $100 on Alabama would yield a $40 profit if they win, while a $100 bet on Auburn could yield $350 if they pull off the upset.

Point Spread

Point spreads level the playing field when there’s an imbalance in team strength. Think of it as a handicap in golf, a way to give both teams a 50/50 chance at victory. For an example, let’s imagine the Super Bowl with the Chiefs favored by 3.5 points against the Cowboys.

This means the Chiefs must win by at least four points to cover the spread. If they win by three, they would still be Super Bowl champions, but they wouldn’t have secured the real victory, covering the spread. On the other hand, if you wager on the Cowboys, they must either win or lose by less than 3.5 points for your bet to win.

Over/Under

Over/under bets focus on the total points scored in a game or individual player/team statistics, allowing you to bet on whether the total would be over or under for the given category.

For example, you can bet on the total points in an NFL game between the Bengals and Ravens, with the over/under set at 48.5 points. If the combined score exceeds 48, the over wins; otherwise, it’s the under. This type of betting can also apply to player stats, like Lamar Jackson rushing for over 74.5 yards.

Parlays

Parlay betting combines multiple individual bets into a single, high-risk, high-reward wager. This type of betting is perfect for when you have a low bankroll but still want a chance at winning big. But remember, parlays by nature are hard to win, so you’ll need to bring your A game to secure the win.

Let’s look at a four-leg football parlay for our example. You might bet on Alabama covering the spread, Drake Maye throwing for 3+ touchdowns, Aaron Donald recording at least one sack, and the Rams winning their game.

If all these bets are successful, your winnings are significantly higher than if you had placed each bet separately. However, if any one bet in the parlay loses, you lose the entire wager. It’s an exciting way to amplify potential profits but comes with increased risk.

Teasers

Teasers are a unique betting option that lets you adjust the point spread or total in your favor for multiple games. This increases your chances of winning each individual bet but combines them into a single parlay, providing more favorable odds with added risk.

For instance, if you favor the Seahawks and the Cardinals to win with point spreads of -3.5 and +6.5, teasing the games can move these spreads to +2.5 and +12.5. This boosts your probability of success, but all bets within the teaser must win to secure the wager. Teasers are a strategic way to navigate the point spreads in your favor.

Futures

Futures betting is all about predicting the outcome of an event, often long before it occurs. It’s not limited to single games but encompasses a range of competitions and award races. Futures betting is great for people who like to be invested in a bet over a long period of time, or those who like to diversify their bet types so they always have money down throughout the season.

A prime example is betting on the Heisman Trophy winner in college football, with candidates like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Michael Penix Jr. This type of wager allows you to invest in an outcome over a more extended period, making it appealing for those who enjoy season-long or even multi-season analysis.

Props

Proposition bets, or prop bets as they’re better known, offer a unique perspective on sports betting. Instead of solely focusing on the game’s final result, prop bets hone in on specific player or team performances within the event. They introduce diversity to sports betting, enabling enthusiasts to explore various aspects of the game beyond the ultimate score.

These bets demand an in-depth understanding of players and teams, making them particularly appealing to those who enjoy strategic wagering based on insider knowledge. An example in the NFL could involve betting on Joe Mixon to achieve over 64.5 rushing yards due to a star receiver Ja’Marr Chase getting injured, indicating a higher likelihood of the Bengals relying on their running game.

Live Betting

Live betting, also known as in-play betting, revolutionizes the way you engage with sports betting. It lets you place bets on a sporting event while it unfolds, breaking away from traditional betting, where you lock in wagers before the game begins. This means you can instantly react to the action on the field with constantly updated odds.

Consider an NFL Sunday where heavy rain starts pouring midway through the first quarter of a New York Giants game. Anticipating that the rain will impact passing plays, you decide to bet on Saquon Barkley rushing for 100+ yards, given the expectation of more running plays and the improved chance of Barkley going over his rushing yardage prop.

Live betting combines real-time analysis with strategic wagering like this, making it an exhilarating option for sports fans who crave dynamic and adaptable betting experiences.

Football Betting Tips

Now that you have some examples to go off of, you’re almost ready to get started as a football bettor. But, before you go out and start launching hail mary bets, we have a few more tips to help you make informed betting decisions for football picks.

We can’t promise that these are going to change your fortunes overnight, but they will help you put together a football betting strategy based on logic and numbers rather than vibes and gut feelings.

Memorize The Injury Report

Football’s intense and physically demanding nature often results in players getting injured. Being aware of who is injured and who is fit to play can provide a significant advantage to bettors. Injury reports are regularly updated, and players can sometimes be game-time decisions, forcing the team to make last-minute lineup changes that can have a profound impact on betting lines.

For example, imagine a star slot cornerback is ruled out due to injury just hours before the game. In this scenario, it might be wise to bet on the opposing team’s passing yards going over the set line. Similarly, if an elite left tackle suffers an ankle injury during pre-game warm-ups, you might consider betting on the pass rusher lined up against him to record a sack.

Keep An Eye on the Trends

Successful sports betting involves more than just luck; it requires a deep understanding of the game and the ability to analyze trends. Bettors should closely monitor trends that can potentially lead to profitable bets. These trends can encompass various factors, such as the time zone difference between east and west coast teams, a quarterback’s historical performance against a particular opponent, or the dynamics of divisional matchups.

However, it’s crucial to be selective when following trends. Not every trend is a guarantee of future success. For instance, if a quarterback has had an exceptional few weeks, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will maintain that level of performance. It’s essential to consider the context, such as the quality of the opposing defenses they faced, before placing bets based solely on trends.

Don’t Limit Your Options

A fundamental principle of successful football betting is to keep your options open. Bettors should avoid restricting themselves to betting exclusively on superstar players or high-profile matchups. Some of the most favorable betting opportunities can be found in overlooked games.

Diversifying your betting portfolio can be a wise strategy. You might allocate a portion of your betting budget to futures bets, reserve a substantial amount for weekly game bets, and set aside funds for live betting, which allows you to react to in-game developments.

By diversifying, you increase your chances of identifying profitable opportunities. However, always exercise moderation in your betting activities, and make sure to have a solid understanding of the teams and players involved before placing your wagers.

Always Manage Your Bankroll

Managing your bankroll is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of successful football betting. It’s crucial to establish a budget for your betting activities to ensure that you’re spending within your means and not risking more than you can afford to lose. This financial discipline provides a sense of security and confidence, even during challenging betting periods.

You can structure your bankroll management on whatever timeline suits you best, such as yearly, monthly, quarterly, or seasonally, depending on your preferences.

Use the Right Tools

When it comes to betting on football, having access to the right tools can significantly enhance your chances of success.

A variety of betting tools and calculators are out there to assist you in analyzing odds, tracking betting lines, and identifying the best value bets among different sportsbooks. These tools can be invaluable in ensuring that you make well-informed betting decisions.

One highly recommended practice is to use websites that aggregate and compare odds from multiple sportsbooks. This approach helps you secure the most favorable odds available, maximizing your potential returns.