NFL Betting - Odds & Betting Lines

Fact Checked by PJ Wright

NFL Betting 2024

NFL Sundays are synonymous with excitement, but betting on the gridiron adds another layer of intensity. With a plethora of point spreads, moneylines, and prop bets, the possibilities are endless. 

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How to Bet on NFL Games

No matter what kind of NFL bet you're itching to make, it all starts with signing up for a legal online sportsbook. Every top legal betting app offers odds on NFL games, but let's use BetMGM as our example.

  1. Click the banner above to sign up with BetMGM Sportsbook and claim the welcome offer.
  2. To take advantage of the offer, be sure to enter bonus code USBETTING.

Once you register your account and claim your promo, you’re good to go!

NFL Betting Types

The NFL betting landscape offers a buffet of options to tempt even the most casual fan. Point spreads let you predict the margin of victory, while moneylines simply ask you who wins. Feeling adventurous? Prop bets delve into the minutiae, offering wagers on everything from individual player stats to the color of the winning Gatorade shower. You can even parlay multiple bets for potentially bigger payouts (and higher risks!). Now, let's go into further detail about these different kinds of bets.

NFL Moneyline Bets

In the NFL betting jungle, moneyline bets are like the straightforward lions - easy to understand but potentially fierce in outcome. Here's the deal: you simply pick which team will win the game, outright. No need to worry about point spreads or margins, just who crosses the finish line first. But don't be fooled by its simplicity! Underdogs often come with juicy odds, meaning a bigger potential payout if your gut feeling proves right. But remember, favorites are favored for a reason.

NFL Spread Bets

NFL spread bets challenge you to predict not just the winner, but the margin of victory. The favorite will have a negative number (e.g., -6.5), meaning they need to win by more than 6.5 points for your bet to win. The underdog has a positive number (e.g., +6.5), needing to win outright or lose by less than 6.5 points for your bet to hit. Here are a couple of examples:

  • If you bet on the Packers -7.5 and they win 27-20, you lose because they didn't win by more than 7.5 points.
  • If you bet on the Lions +7.5 and they lose 24-20, you win because they lost by less than 7.5 points.

NFL Over/Under Bets

NFL Over/Under bets are all about predicting the total combined score of both teams, regardless of who wins. The sportsbook sets a number (e.g., 48.5 points), and you wager whether the final score will be "Over" or "Under" that number.

  • For example: If you bet "Over 48.5" and the final score is 30-24 (total of 54 points), you win! But if it's 27-21 (total of 48 points), you lose.
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NFL Parlay Bets

Parlay bets combine multiple individual wagers into one high-risk, high-reward package. You win only if all your chosen bets hit, like predicting the winner of three different games or the point spread for two. While potential payouts can be massive, remember: the more picks you add, the harder it is to win, so choose wisely.

NFL Prop Bets

In the NFL, prop bets let you dive beyond the basic winner/loser and delve into individual player performances or game events. They can be specific (e.g., "Lamar Jackson throws for 3 touchdowns") or more general ("Will there be a safety?"). Here's another example:

  • You bet on "Travis Kelce scores the first touchdown of the game." If he does, you win! But if another player scores first, or Kelce doesn't score at all, you lose.

Author

Peter has more than 15 years of experience as a copywriter and a sports reporter. Other specialties include email marketing, proofreading and copy editing.As a user of ESPN BET, DraftKings, FanDuel and other online sportsbooks, he writes reviews for US Betting Report using firsthand experience. He also reports on market launches in the gambling industry.Peter resides in Massachusetts with his wife and son.