How to bet on Football Online: Everything You Need to Know
This is your guide on how to bet on football. If you have ever been confused about how to read football odds or how to develop your own NFL betting strategy, we have you covered here. Read on for all the information and football betting tips you need!
How to Bet on NFL Games in 2025
We have been doing this for years, so we are able to distill for you all the tips you need to know how to bet on NFL games. Whether you are looking for betting tips for the NFL this weekend or looking forward to wagering on the Super Bowl, you will be able to bet on all the NFL games that you want after reading this guide!
Football Betting Explained: NFL Betting Lines
There are many types of NFL bets. Once you understand the mechanisms behind each one and how to read NFL odds, you will be good to go. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of NFL bets, followed by a more detailed look.
- Moneyline: A simple bet on who will win the game
- Point Spreads: A way to disadvantage the favorite
- Teasers: Adjust your spreads
- Futures: Make bets on future events
- Live betting: Bet in the heat of the moment
Moneyline: Bet on the Winning Team
Moneyline odds are the most recognizable bet in NFL football betting. They can be represented as three-digit or higher numbers or positive or negative values. Understanding this concept is essential for success in the sports betting world.
For example, if The Kansas City Chiefs have -500 moneyline odds on their chances of winning in the Houston vs. Kansas City matchup. This means they are the favored team, and a wager placed on them will earn you less than what is risked—$500 to win $100, for example.
Imagine if Houston had +350 moneyline odds, indicating they are the underdog. A wager of $100 on them would earn a cash payout of $350 if they win. That number is larger than what was initially risked.
Moneyline odds are a popular betting choice as they simplify the process of placing a wager on the team that is likely to win. Unlike other bet types, this form of betting does not require extensive research or consideration of point totals.
Point Spreads: Bet on the Winning Margin
NFL point spreads indicate the predicted point difference between a team winning and losing. Dependable and high-demand, betting on NFL point spread is a popular approach for legal NFL odds. Negative numbers are for the favorite to win, and positive numbers are for the underdog to lose. For instance, a betting line of Kansas City -10 indicates that Kansas City is favored to beat the opposing team by 10 points.
If you were to bet on the Chiefs, they would need to win by at least 11 points for your bet to be successful. Conversely, if you were to bet on the Texans, they could lose by up to 9 points and still trigger a payout.
Next to the point spread totals for each team, there are moneyline odds. These three-digit numbers indicate how much money can be won from wagering on the team; for example, betting $115 on KC yields a profit of $100 if KC covers the 10-point spread. This allows sportsbooks to profit through “juice” – the amount taken from accepted sports bets.
Teasers: A Flexible Bet
NFL teasers function similarly to standard parlays, but with one key difference: the sportsbook adjusts the point spread in your favor, typically by 6, 6.5, or 7 points. While this adjustment can reduce the overall value compared to traditional bets, teasers often come with higher potential payouts.
Teasing NFL lines can be especially useful when betting on teams that frequently cover smaller spreads. For example, the 2021 Minnesota Vikings were just 5–4 against the spread as underdogs but improved to 8–1 when included in a 6-point teaser, highlighting how line movement can create value in the right scenarios.
Teasers have gained popularity among sharp bettors as both bettors and oddsmakers have become more sophisticated. Once considered “sucker bets,” teasers are now widely used by respected sports bettors when applied strategically. A teaser leg wins if the final score falls within 5.5 points of the adjusted spread, offering an edge in tightly contested matchups.
However, teasers still carry risk. All selections in the teaser must win for the bet to pay out — picking five out of six correctly is treated the same as missing them all. In that case, you lose your entire stake.
Props: The Creative Bets
Proposition bets allow you to make wagers on almost any happenings during a game or broadcast. These typically include events that do not influence the outcome. Here, we explain common NFL prop bets available at top sportsbooks. Yes/no options, as well as multiple choice lists, are often offered for each bet.
NFL Player Props: A variety of bets can be made on individual player performances, such as stat totals, game starts, and wins, or even how likely they are to win NFL MVP or Super Bowl MVP awards.
NFL Team Props: Franchise-related prop bets may concern a team’s victory in their division, conference, or the Super Bowl. They can also focus on win totals, mascot or name changes, and whether the team will relocate to a new city.
NFL Super Bowl Props: Prop bets regarding the Super Bowl are highly popular, with over hundreds of wagering opportunities available. Punters can place odds on components such as the time it takes to sing the national anthem, which coach will be shown first on-screen, and whether or not a fan will rush onto the field.
NFL Draft Props: The NFL Draft offers bettors a variety of prop bets, such as predicting player options for each of the top draft spots and which positions will go in what order. Betting who will be the top player chosen at each football position can add fun to traditional NFL draft betting.
NFL Free Agent Props: When notable free agents become available in the NFL, prop bets present an opportunity for people to speculate which team the player will join and how long it will take them to sign.
Futures: Bet on the Big Games
Futures bets are any wagers on activities that occur later. NFL futures betting is available year-round and remains active during the off-season. Examples of futures betting include, but aren’t limited to:
- Super Bowl winners
- Divisional winners
- Playoff qualification
- Player awards
- Game Lines Occurring Tomorrow or After
- Season Win Totals
- Division Champions
- Conference Champions
Live/In-game Betting: Odds Change by the Minute
We recommend betting with offshore sportsbooks that offer live betting via NFL betting apps, which features odds that update throughout the game. With NFL live betting, there is no rush to ensure a bet is placed before kickoff; it enables you to bet until the game’s end. Additionally, if you made a wager that looks like a sure loser after the game has started, you can place another one.
Super Bowl Live Betting
The Super Bowl is one of the best events for live betting, offering a wide range of in-play wagering opportunities throughout the game. From standard bets like which team will score next to more specific props such as who will lead in rushing yards during a particular quarter, the variety keeps bettors engaged from kickoff to the final whistle.
As the NFL’s biggest stage, the Super Bowl typically offers a huge amount of live betting odds. With countless prop bets and constantly shifting odds, it delivers a dynamic experience that appeals to both casual and seasoned bettors alike.
Football Betting Glossary
| Football Betting Term | Definition |
| Dime | "A bet with a risk of $1 |
| No Action | A bet that cancels for any reason |
| Single Wager | A stand-alone bet |
| Multiples | "A string of bets |
| Hedging | Combining bets to limit potential losses |
| Juice | Commission collected by bookies from football bets |
| Even Wager | When each outcome to the NFL wager has an equal chance |
| Risk | The amount you wager on your bet |
| Bet Slip | Where you put your football wagers before placing them officially |
Best Football Betting Tips: NFL Betting Strategy
Check out the following football betting tips. Keep an eye on these factors as you develop your football betting strategy, and you will be well on your way to making real money all while having fun and injecting a little bit more passionate into the most watched sport in the USA.
NFL Betting Trends
Not only do you have to keep an eye on how different teams are progressing, but you should also know how NFL bettors are making their decisions. A way to get to know NFL betting trends is to keep an eye on futures markets. These lines will move even when nothing is happening within the sport itself. This is an example of NFL betting trends having an effect on which wager you should place.
Injured Players
Injured players can have a big impact on which bet you should make each week in the NFL. Make sure to check the injured players roster before placing a bet. If the star quarterback on the team is out and they have to use the second string, this could change the entire outlook. This becomes even more important with props, and spreads.
Weather Forecasts
Some teams play in climate-controlled domes, while others compete in open-air stadiums exposed to the elements. Weather can play a major role in game outcomes, especially in locations known for extreme conditions. For example, a team accustomed to warm weather may struggle in a cold, windy northern stadium late in the season. Always check the forecast before placing your bet — weather factors like wind, rain, or snow can significantly impact both performance and betting value.
Home-field Advantage
This is one of the most time-tested NFL betting tips: travel and crowd atmosphere can have a significant impact on team performance. Long-distance travel, time zone changes, and hostile environments can leave visiting teams flat or off-rhythm. The strength of this home-field advantage varies depending on the teams involved and the distance traveled. While some stories—like icy hotel showers for visiting squads—may be exaggerated, it’s still wise to consider how travel and crowd energy might affect the outcome before placing your bet.
Use Multiple Sportsbooks
A key part of any successful football betting strategy is line shopping — comparing odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the best value. But this only works if you already have accounts set up. By the time you register, complete KYC, and navigate to the market, the odds may have shifted. To stay ahead, make sure you’re signed up with at least two reputable sportsbooks in advance.
Bankroll Management
Bankroll management will provide you with a ruler by which you can measure your NFL betting strategy. One example is the unit approach. In this approach, you always place the same risk on every football wager. This way, you will be able to go back and measure concretely what the best NFL betting strategy has been for you.
Be Careful With Your Favorites
We all love betting on our favorites, and because we want so badly for them to win, we sometimes are blinded by what we most want. It makes it hard to place the best football wagers this way. Keep this in mind when betting on games where your heart is also on the field.
How to Bet on Football and Win
With these insights, you are ready to learn how to bet on football and win big! Here are the simple steps you need to take in order to put your newfound NFL betting strategy into action.
- Choose your sportsbook: Check out our guide to finding the best NFL sportsbooks
- Create Your Account: Sign up by entering your basic information and verifying verifying your identity
- Make a Deposit: Connect your banking method of choice and make your first deposit so you can place a bet
- Collect welcome bonus: A welcome bonus will help your NFL betting quite a bit. Check out the best bonuses
- Move wager into your bet slip: Find your wager and enter your risk
- Evaluate and execute: Review your risk and reward and click “place bet.”
For beginners, the process of signing up and placing a wager with a sportsbook is fairly straightforward. But beyond that, several habits separate casual bettors from seasoned ones — and one of the biggest is learning to tune out media noise. This can be especially challenging for passionate NFL fans who consume everything from podcasts and TV shows to interviews and training camp footage. Staying focused on the data, not the drama, is key to making sharper bets.
When betting on the NFL, research is key. Various sites provide valuable data for individual-versus-team match-ups. Generally, NFL teams and players are consistent, so the most statistically successful teams often have the best chance of winning trophies at the end of the season.
Betting against the public’s favorite team is a strategy known as ‘fading.’ This typically occurs when the public places so much money on one side that it causes the oddsmakers to change the odds and make a bet more profitable for betting the other team.
Oddsmakers are making the popular choice less attractive with lower value, away from the likelihood of that team beating the margin. This benefits bettors, who can spot these changes in the lines and bet on the team they like when the maximum value is available.
Think for yourself and stick to our basic guidelines, and you’ll put yourself in the best position possible to succeed when betting on football markets.
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