Football Betting Guide

Betting Guide

Betting on the NFL is an exhilarating experience that adds a new layer of excitement for fans. In this guide, you will learn how to comprehend odds to decipher key betting terminology like props or spreads, football offers a plethora of opportunities to make a profit. Here, we will explore some fundamental aspects of football betting, allowing you to confidently place your wagers.

Understanding the Odds

When it comes to football betting, American odds are the default choice. For those unacquainted with this system, each number can be translated into a ratio. For instance, +100 odds equate to a 1:1 ratio. This means that for every $100 you wager at these odds, you would win $100, along with your original bet back. As odds increase (indicated by larger numbers following the + sign), your potential winnings also rise. Conversely, negative (or favorite) odds, denoted by a negative (-) number, represent the favored outcome and offer lower payouts if you win. For instance, you’d need to bet $120 to win $100 on a bet with -120 odds.

Choose Your Bets

Moneyline

Betting on the Moneyline is straightforward as you’re simply picking a winner. Due to various factors, such as talent disparities and home/away conditions, nearly all NFL games have a favorite and an underdog. Favorites are marked by negative (-) odds, while underdogs sport positive (+) odds. The larger the numbers following the + or – symbol, the wider the perceived gap between the two teams. For example, if the Moneyline shows the Jets as -450 favorites against the Texans, you would need to wager $450 to win $100, highlighting the heavy favoritism towards New York.

Point Spread

Spread betting is another highly popular form of football wagering. In regular season matchups, spreads typically range between 3 to 7.5 points, but this figure can vary based on the talent disparity between the competing teams. When you choose a team to cover a negative spread, it implies that they must win the game by a greater margin of points than the specified total. For instance, if Cincinnati is a -3.5 favorite against Chicago, Cincinnati must win by at least four points to cover. Conversely, Chicago must lose by three points or less to cover the +3.5 spread on their side.

Over/Under

In football, the totals are bets based on the total number of points scored in a single game. Bettors must decide whether the total will exceed or fall below the number set by DraftKings Sportsbook. Typically, NFL game totals range between 40 to 50 points. For instance, if the total for the Jaguars-Colts matchup is set at 43.5, the under wins if the teams combine for fewer than 44 points, while the over wins if they accumulate 44 points or more. In case the total is a whole number like 50, and exactly 50 points are scored in the game, bettors receive refunds as there are no winners or losers in this scenario.

Props

Football prop bets add an exciting twist to the game, offering wagers on nearly every aspect imaginable. These bets aren’t limited to the final score and come in various forms. Examples include betting on the first touchdown scorer, the outcome of a specific drive, over/unders on receiving and rushing yards, and much more. Props provide bettors with a unique perspective to analyze games.

Parlays

If you have confidence in multiple outcomes for a specific day or week of football games, parlays are an excellent choice. Parlays allow you to combine various results into a single bet with enhanced odds. For example, you can create a parlay consisting of Moneyline picks for every winner in a particular week of regular season games and place one bet on the entire selection. Parlays offer significantly higher odds, resulting in substantial payouts if all legs (individual bets within the parlay) succeed. However, if just one outcome falls short, the entire bet is lost. Parlays enable you to amalgamate different bets to increase potential payouts if all legs are successful.

Same Game Parlays

For those confident in predicting the outcome of a specific matchup, Same Game Parlays (SGPs), also known as SGPs, are ideal. SGPs provide users with flexibility to tailor their bets. For instance, when building an SGP for Bengals vs. Browns, instead of being restricted to standard receiving yards lines for Tee Higgins or a basic alternate. There are countless ways to craft Same Game Parlays, so feel free to explore all the possibilities.

Futures

Future bets can be placed on upcoming football events, whether it’s division winners or individual awards. If you believe a team has the potential to win the Super Bowl, you can place a futures bet on them. For instance, if a team’s odds to win the championship currently stand at +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 in football is self-explanatory: you place bets as the game unfolds. Sometimes, you may want to observe part of the game before wagering or place bets later in the match. Odds can fluctuate rapidly during live betting, continuously updating throughout the contest. If you feel confident in a team’s ability to mount a comeback after trailing 0-7 early in the first quarter, consider placing a live bet and seizing the opportunity for rewards.

Additional Football-Specific Betting Markets

Teasers

Teasers are a form of parlay bet where you can adjust the point spread or over/under line to your advantage in exchange for slightly lower odds. These are popular in football due to the increased control they provide.

For instance, if we consider a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears:

Original lines:

Spread: -9.5/+9.5

Over/Under: 42.5

A 6-point teaser on the spread and the over/under would result in the following lines:

Teaser lines (6 points):

Spread: -3.5/+15.5

Over/Under: 36.5/48.5

In this example, a successful teaser bet would require the 49ers to win the game by 4 points or more and a combined game score of 37 points or more. The exact payout for a teaser depends on the number of points adjusted and the number of games involved. Typically, a 2-team, 6-point teaser offers odds of -120. Therefore, a $120 bet would yield a $100 profit along with your $120 stake returned, totaling $220.

Quarter/Half Bets

These bets break down the game into segments, usually quarters or halves. You can wager on aspects like which team will score more in a particular quarter or the total points scored in a half.

For example, in a game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints:

Second Quarter Spread

Atlanta Falcons: +0.5 (-120)

New Orleans Saints: -0.5 (+100)

If you place a $120 bet on the Falcons +0.5 spread, they only need to score as many points as the Saints in the second quarter to earn a $220 payout ($100 profit + $120 stake). Conversely, a $100 bet on the Saints -0.5 spread, meaning they need to outscore the Falcons by 1 point in the second quarter, would result in a $200 payout ($100 profit + $100 stake) if successful.

First Scoring Play

This bet involves predicting the first scoring play in the game. For instance, in a matchup between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts:

First Scoring Play in the Game

Touchdown: -160

Field Goal: +140

Safety: +4000

A $160 bet on the first scoring play being a touchdown, if successful, would yield a $260 payout ($100 profit + $160 stake). Conversely, a $100 bet on the first scoring play being a field goal could return $240 ($140 profit + $100 stake), while a $100 bet on the first play being a safety could result in a whopping $4,100 payout ($4,000 profit + $100 stake).

Player Performance Doubles

These bets involve predicting both the player to score a touchdown and the outcome of the game, offering enticing payouts.

For example, in a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams:

Player X from the Buccaneers to score a touchdown and his team to win the game: +600

In this scenario, a successful $100 bet would pay out $700 ($600 profit + $100 stake).

Anytime Touchdown Scorer

These bets involve predicting whether a specific player will score a touchdown at any point during the game. For instance:

Player X to score a touchdown: +200

A $120 bet on the selected player to score a touchdown at any time during the game would result in a $360 payout ($240 profit + $120 stake).

*Note: Anytime touchdown bets do not include passing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Total Team Points

These bets involve predicting whether a team’s total points will surpass or fall short of a certain threshold set by the bookmaker.

For instance:

Total Points Scored by Kansas City Chiefs – Over/Under

Over 28.5: +100

Under 28.5: -110

A $100 bet on the Chiefs to score 29 points or more would pay out $200 ($100 profit + original stake), while a $110 bet on them to score 28 points or less would result in a payout of $210 ($100 profit + original stake).

Race to Points

This bet involves predicting which team will reach a certain number of points first. For example, in a game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders:

Race to 20 Points

Los Angeles Chargers: -130

Los Angeles Chargers: -130

A successful $130 bet on the Chargers to score 20 points first would return $230 ($100 profit + $130 stake). Conversely, a successful $100 bet on the Raiders to score 20 points first would result in a $210 payout ($110 profit + $100 stake).

Always Wager Responsibly

At Parlay Pimps, we believe that the Football Betting Guide adds excitement to life, and we want it to remain enjoyable. It’s crucial to remember that you should only bet what you can afford and set reasonable limits for yourself. Here are some important points to keep in mind when using the Football Betting Guide for engaging in gambling

Research

Staying informed about the latest injuries, depth chart changes, and betting trends can be beneficial for those using the Football Betting Guide. Since the NFL schedule is week-to-week, injury news often comes in just days or even hours before kick-off. On game days, there is usually an abundance of injury-related information, so consulting the Football Betting Guide for insights on players and teams involved in your bets can significantly enhance your decision-making. Consider analyzing trends, such as a team’s performance in specific weather conditions, with the help of the Football Betting Guide before placing your bets.

Conclusion

With 32 NFL teams participating in 17 games each season, the Football Betting Guide provides countless opportunities to engage in football betting. Now that you have a fundamental understanding of how to bet on football, thanks to the Football Betting Guide, you’re better equipped to place your bets. As always, it’s essential to wager responsibly, only bet what you can afford, and set reasonable limits for yourself. Enjoy the excitement of football betting while keeping your gambling experience safe and enjoyable.