How To Bet On NFL Games Online: The Complete Guide

The most important thing to remember when placing bets on NFL football games online is that there is no such thing as a sure thing. There are always risks involved when making bets.

How To Bet On NFL Games Online: The Complete Guide

However, there are things you can do to mitigate those risks. For example, you might want to avoid betting on teams that have been struggling recently.

You could also try avoiding teams that have just lost a game. These types of things can help reduce risk while still giving you a chance to win.

We also recommend taking advantage of free money bonuses offered by different sportsbooks. They often provide generous welcome bonuses for new players.

And even though these bonuses aren’t guaranteed, they usually come with terms and conditions that make them very easy to accept.

Best Sites 

Choosing the right side of the first step to successful betting. Let’s start off with one of the most popular and well known sportsbooks around – Bovada.

They offer live odds on every event happening during the entire season, including the Super Bowl. Whether it’s college basketball, soccer, baseball or even the NBA, Bovada offers the best odds.

Then there’s 888sports.com. This is another great option for those who want to bet on the NFL. You can find live lines on just about every major sporting event, including the Superbowl. 

Finally, we recommend betonline.ag. This site is run by William Hill US, so it’s no surprise that they have excellent odds. Their customer support is second to none, too.

Understanding The Odds 

Odds are often given for matches throughout the season, showing what the chances are of a particular outcome occurring. 

Odds are represented by a number from 1 -100 and next to the number will be a plus or minus sign.

If the number has a positive sign after it this indicates they are the underdog and by how much is indicated by the accompanying number.  Conversely if the sign is minus  it means they are the favorite to win. 

Betting Markets 

Moneyline 

Moneylines are the perfect option for those who don’t want to spend hours researching teams and odds, because all you really need to know is which team you fancy, and how much you wish to risk.

If you fancy the Philadelphia Eagles, for example, you could put $100 down on the Eagles coming out on top against the Kansas City Chiefs, with your bankroll receiving a payout should the Eagles triumph over the Chiefs.

You’ll find numerous online bookmakers offering moneylines, including Bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Coral, Unibet and many others.

All of these sites offer different types of money lines, with each having varying payouts depending on the amount wagered.

Spread

The NFL spread is one of several types of bets offered by online sportsbooks. A spread is essentially a  system where you place a wager on a side based on how much they are favored to win.

For example, if you think the Patriots are likely to cover the spread against the Bills, you’d lay $100 on them winning by three points or fewer.

This type of bet is popular because it offers even odds, meaning there’s no inherent risk involved. However, some sportsbooks offer “odds makers,” which give you a better chance of making money. These include totals, over/unders and prop bets.

Totals 

Totals are one of the simplest forms of betting to understand, but they do require some knowledge about the sport in question. If you want to bet on what the final score of an NFL game will be, you’ll need to know the rules of football.

What happens if both teams receive the same number of yards during a play? Do touchdowns count towards the final score? These types of questions are answered in the form of odds, where you’ll find yourself looking up the current spread for each matchup.

The lines offered by online bookmakers are generally set based on the expected outcome of the game. For instance, if there’s a high chance of a blowout, the numbers might be skewed towards the underdog.

How To Bet On NFL Games Online: The Complete Guide

But even though it’s easy to see why the line is set the way it is, you still need to understand the basics of the game in order to make smart bets.

If you don’t know anything about football, you could end up losing money (Check Out Bet Without Losing) on a big bet because you didn’t fully grasp the rules of the sport. 

Props

NFL prop betting is booming thanks in part to the popularity of fantasy sports and daily fantasy sports. And while it might seem counterintuitive to bet against your favorite teams, there are many different types of prop bets available.

Prop bets isolate certain aspects of a game, including team performance, player output or specific happenings and results throughout the contest.

For example, you could wager whether the star quarterback will throw more passes than completions or how many touchdowns one of his teammates scores. You could even pick an option from a list, such as players to kick a field goal or a quarterback to pass for 300 yards.

You can place prop bets on virtually anything that happens within a game, including the final score, turnovers, interceptions, fumbles, sacks, rushing attempts, rushing yardage, receiving yardage, receptions, receiving touchdowns, and much more.

Bettors can choose to focus on individual matchups or analyze trends over multiple weeks or months.

Player Props 

Player [rops  are bets that let you pick out specific players and predict how well they’re likely to perform during the course of the game.

For example, you could bet on whether quarterback Tom Brady throws three touchdown passes vs. Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders.

Or maybe you want to know which player scores the most points. In either case, you’d place a bet on a player prop, and if the player performs better than expected, you win; if he underperforms, you lose.

There are many different kinds of player props, including ones that cover everything from quarterbacks to wide receivers to running backs to defensive linemen.

And while you might think that betting on player props is something reserved for big-time college programs like Alabama or Oklahoma, you can find plenty of opportunities to use them at the professional level too.

Live Betting Markets 

Live betting allows you to make bets while watching the game. You can choose to bet on the spread, moneyline, total points scored, over/under, and many others. Sportsbooks offer odds on every aspect of the game, including halftime scores, injuries, weather conditions, etc.

You can use mobile apps like DraftKings to play live betting. They are simple to use; just pick a matchup, type in your bet amount, and hit submit. If you want to watch the game, you can do it too. Just log into your account and refresh the app.

Future Bets 

Futures bets are wagers on the future performance of a team or player. They are typically offered during the offseason, before players report to training camp, and settle at the end of the regular season. 

Many sportsbooks offer futures on both individual games and entire seasons. Some books even offer futures on specific events such as home runs, touchdowns, field goals, and interceptions.

Conclusion 

Betting on the NFL has never been easier. Whether you prefer to bet on the spread or the totals, you’ll be able to find a market that suits your needs.

Dave Selby