Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced football bettor, there are a number of strategies that can help you win big on NFL games. These include moneyline bets, spreads, Over/Under bets, and future wagers.
Betting lines are dynamic and can change prior to kickoff, especially with injury news and weather forecasts. Watching line prices can be an excellent way to spot new value bets.
Spread bets
Football is a thrilling sport with millions of fans all over the world. It’s also a lucrative one, with more than $500 billion wagered on it every year. However, making consistent money from betting site football requires a clear strategy, sensible staking plan, meticulous record-keeping, and resilience to handle losing streaks.
Sportsbooks publish odds and numbers for each game, including the moneyline (which team will win), the spread, and the total. The number that appears in front of the spread is the key number for betting purposes. For example, a 3 point spread indicates that the favorite must win by 4 points or more to cover the spread.
In NFL games, three-point margins of victory are the most common, but six and seven-point margins also occur frequently. This makes -2.5 and -6.5 good spread numbers for betting on favorites.
Moneyline bets
A moneyline bet is one of the most popular types of wagers in sports betting. It focuses solely on picking the winner of a game, and it offers straightforward odds. This makes it an excellent option for newcomers to sports betting.
The amount of profit a bettor can expect from a moneyline bet depends on the type of bet and its total payout. The more expensive a bet is, the higher its moneyline odds will be.
A good way to maximize profits when placing moneyline bets is by identifying value opportunities. This can be done by analyzing teams and players and considering factors such as recent performance, injuries, and head-to-head history. It is also important to consider the expected scoring total for a particular game.
Parlay bets
Parlays are a great way to win big on football games. However, winning a parlay requires a clear betting plan, sensible staking strategy, meticulous record-keeping, and resilience to handle losing streaks.
Unlike other sports, NFL games feature one-on-one matchups that can make or break a game. For example, a weak offensive tackle should not be expected to perform well against top edge-rushers. Moreover, some coaches have recurring strategies that fare well against certain teams and flop against others.
In addition to the traditional parlay bets, sports books offer a variety of teaser bets that allow bettor to adjust point spreads and totals in their favor for a lower payout. Each leg of the bet must win in order for the parlay to cash. If a game is canceled before kickoff, the parlay will still be valid and the payout will be adjusted accordingly.
Futures bets
A futures bet is a wager that won’t be settled until after the event has taken place. It is available for most major league sports and includes wagers on team winners, division champions, and individual player awards such as the NBA MVP and Heisman Trophy.
These bets offer long odds and the opportunity to earn a substantial return on small bets. The odds for a futures bet change throughout the season and are affected by events that affect a team or player’s chances of winning. This type of betting is popular among sports fans who want to take a longer view of the sport than a game-by-game basis. However, it is important to be aware that futures bets will tie up your bankroll for a longer period of time.
Over/Under bets
Over/Under bets are a popular betting option for sports games. They are based on the expected total score of teams or participants in a game and can range from simple game-specific totals to season totals. The oddsmakers make their predictions using a variety of factors, including how fast teams play, how many points are scored in previous matches, weather conditions, and more.
If a game ends in overtime, the final combined score is included in the over/under total. The over/under totals are also adjusted for key numbers, such as 3 and 7. Over/Under bets can be placed on a single game or in parlay bets with other wagers like point spreads and moneylines. They have a lower probability of winning than other types of bets, but they offer a fun alternative to picking winners.
In-game bets
With NFL games happening almost every day of the week, sportsbooks offer a wide variety of in-game betting options. These betting markets can be profitable if you know what to look for. The first step is to understand the betting odds for a particular game. This can be done by analyzing the pregame odds and assessing any changes that occur during the course of the game.
It is important to recognize key numbers for point spreads in football because of the sport’s rigid scoring system that makes field goals worth three points and touchdowns (plus the extra point) worth seven. This means that the majority of NFL games are decided by scores that fall around these key numbers, so betting on and around them can be profitable.
Teasers
Teasers are a popular way to change the point spread or total on a football game. They offer sports bettors more control over the lines but come with smaller payouts. The most common type of teaser is a two-team, six-point parlay.
Football is a team sport, but there are certain one-on-one matchups that make a big difference in the outcome of a game. For example, a poor offensive lineman should not expect to do well against a premier edge-rusher. It is important to pay attention to these matchups and understand how they affect the game.
If you find that the set lines on a football game are not ideal, it may be worth placing a teaser bet to improve your chances of winning. However, be sure to only tease through a number that is higher than -1.
