Your NFL betting guide: All you need to know

We’ve taken an in-depth look at the world of NFL betting and what bets you may want to look out for over the coming weeks and months so that you know all there is to know on how to bet on American football.

Understanding NFL betting

The three most common bets when it comes to American football betting are the moneyline, point spread and total points markets.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is the simplest of all the NFL bets: it’s when you simply pick which of the two teams will win the match outright. As with other sports such as football, the odds typically come at a premium for the ‘favourites’ as there’s less risk of them losing to the ‘underdogs’.

To find out how much you’d win based on what you choose to bet, check out our Bet Calculator.

Points spread

The points spread market in NFL betting involves a points figure devised by our odds specialists which provide either an advantage or disadvantage to each team playing based on how they are expected to perform against each other in their match.

The team that are the ‘favourites’ for victory would be given a points figure that would leave them at a disadvantage as they would need to win the game by more points, while it would be the opposite for the ‘underdogs’, who would be at an advantage to not lose the game by a set number of points.

For example, if the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs clash, favourites the Chiefs are -9.5 in the points spread, with the Texans +9.5. Bettors need to decide whether they believe that Kansas City Chiefs will win by more than 9.5 points or if the Houston Texans will either win or keep the score within 9.5 points if they lose. If you bet on Kansas -9.5 and they win 30-25 it means your bet will have lost as Houston will have covered the +9.5 spread.

Total points

The total points market in NFL betting is another simple one: you have to decide whether the final score in an NFL match will be over or under the total projected ahead of the game by our odds specialists, which is based on how they envisage the game proceeding.

Other types of popular NFL betting

As well as the three most common bets when it comes to the NFL there are also a number of other markets you can get involved in during the season.

Outrights

As with other sports, as well as betting on specific matches you can also bet on certain events that could happen during the NFL season. For example, ahead of the new season there are a host of options such as who will win the Super Bowl, who will be the respective Conference winners, who will make the play-offs, as well as who will win the regular season MVP or who will win the Coach of the Year award.

Prop bets

As well as betting on an NFL game in the ways already discussed, there are also prop bets for each match, which do not typically determine the final outcome of the clashes. You can bet on a range of different things, including who the team will be with the most punts, who will be the first team to turnover or which team will score the first touchdown.

NFL betting tips

Before wagering your money, it is always a good idea to do some research into the fixture you are betting on. For example, how has the team’s form been over the last few games and how have they fared in previous match ups against their opponents? Have there been any key injuries or substitutions which will impact the game?

Another top tip is to check the enhanced odds offered, they are often the best prices available and usually provide good value. Alternatively, if you want to put your research to work you can build an acca of multiple selections, with the hope of making a large return from a small bet, if constructed correctly.

Check out all the latest American football betting odds at William Hill