Post Action Betting

How to Bet on NFL games | The Complete Football Betting Guide

Find out how to bet on the NFL online with our in-depth betting guide on NFL. Check out how to place your NFL bets, as well as getting some useful tips and tricks ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

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More on How to bet on the NFL

The Moneyline


The moneyline bet is the simple and easiest bet in sports betting. Bet on which team are going to win.

TeamOdds
New York Giants+180
Philadelphia Eagles-150

Spread Betting

TeamPoints SpreadOdds
New York Giants+7.5-110
Philadelphia Eagles-7.5-110


Totals & Over/Under Betting

WagerOdds
Over47.5 (-110)
Under47.5 (-110)

NFL Live Betting

NFL live betting: You can wager along in real-time after the ball has been kicked off. Live betting has exploded in popularity in recent times. Once the game gets underway, you’ll see new opportunities to bet based on the situation or segment of the game.

  • Halves: Focus on the first or second half with various bets, including which team will score the most points in that timeframe.
  • Quarters: Just like halves but from a quarter perspective, with options including the team to have the most rushing yards in the period.
  • Drives: Drill down into each drive and wager on the outcome, such as touchdown, field goal, turnover or punt. These are less common. 

You’ll also see a variety of props while live betting, many of which will be similar to what you would see before the game but with odds reflecting the current situation. The settlement of live bets often is based on official league data and statistics.

  • Check out the best live betting sites

NFL Futures Markets

These are wagers on season-long outcomes. The NFL futures market is very active, with odds coming out in the offseason and moving from there based on betting action.

  • Super Bowl winner
  • Division and conference champions
  • Team regular-season win totals
  • Playoff and non-playoff teams
  • Individual awards like betting on NFL MVP
  • Individual statistical accomplishments

Futures are long-term wagers, as they can’t be settled until the outcome is official. In the unlikely event of a season cancellation, the book will void and refund futures wagers. As always, check specific house rules before you place any wager.

If you placed a winning $110 bet at odds of -110, you’d receive back winnings of $100 plus your stake, or 90.9% of your initial wager. The difference between doubling your money and that is the vig of $10, or 9.1%.

Upcoming NFL Schedule

The NFL season follows a rigorous, tightly packed schedule in the Fall and Winter months, concluding with the Super Bowl which is often the last weekend in January or first weekend in February. Below are the season dates for the upcoming 2023-24 NFL season, which begins with pre-season games in August. 

DateEvent 
August 3Pre-Season begins
September 7Regular Season Begins – Week 1
November 23Thanksgiving Football
December 25Christmas Day Football
January 13-15Wildcard Weekend
January 20-21Divisional Round
January 28Conference Championships
February 11Super Bowl LVII 


How to research NFL bets

Given the magnitude and popularity of Football, there are no shortage of statistics and data sites for the NFL. Make sure to check some of these out, as they can go a long way to making sure you’re making profit in the long run.

SiteContent
pro-football-reference.comDeep dives into team and player statistics, NFL standings, predicted results.
ourlads.comNFL depth charts, injury reports, starting players
NFL.comYour go-to for all your NFL news. Trades, updates, plentiful information
actionnetwork.com/nflExpert picks, NFL analysis


NFL Betting Partnerships

There are a number of partnerships between NFL teams and sportsbooks, and between the NFL and sports betting franchises themselves. In April 2021, the NFL made DrakftKings, FanDuel and Caesars the official sports betting partners of the NFL. A full list of sponsorship deals between teams can be found below.

TeamSportsbook
Arizona CardinalsBetMGM
Baltimore RavensBetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel
Buffalo BillsCaesars, FanDuel
Cincinnati BengalsBetfred
Chicago BearsBetRivers, PointsBet
Cleveland BrownsBally Bet, FanDuel
Denver BroncosFanDuel, BetMGM, Betfred
Detroit LionsBetMGM
Houston TexansCaesars
Indianapolis ColtsPointsBet, Caesars, FanDuel, PointsBet
Kansas City ChiefsBetMGM
Las Vegas RaidersBetMGM, Caesars
Miami DolphinsHard Rock Sportsbook
New England PatriotsDraftKings
New Orleans SaintsCaesars
New York GiantsDraftKings
New York JetsBetMGM, FanDuel
Philadelphia EaglesCaesars, Unibet
Pittsburgh SteelersBetMGM, DraftKings, Unibet
Tennessee TitansBetMGM
Washington CommandersFanDuel

Betting on the NFL?


Whenever possible, have long-term goals in mind. This means that you manage your bankroll efficiently, scout future games as early as possible, and avoid overreacting to losses.

One good thing about planning is that it helps instill a level of discipline that many bettors lack. So you can lose a bet this weekend, but since you’ve already planned adequately and have a certain level of discipline, you won’t tilt and make an emotional or drunk bet.

Limit The Number Of Selections In Your Parlay

Parlays are fun; there’s no doubt about that. The feeling of a 10-game parlay winning with the last play of a game is unmatchable.

However, the truth is that parlays with many selections have a lower chance of winning, a statistical truth that many bettors avoid facing.

Try limiting parlays to as few selections as possible; between 2-5 seems reasonable. You can still have parlays that exceed this recommendation, but if possible, reduce the stake on such parlays and consider them as fun side wagers that you don’t expect too much from.

NFL Betting Do’s & Don’ts

DO’s

Stay up to date with NFL news – There’s plenty of media attention surrounding NFL, meaning you’ll always be able to find out any news surrounding upcoming games that may affect your NFL bets. 

Take advantage of underdog opportunities – Whilst not easy to spot, there’s plenty of upsets in the NFL. Keep a look out for underdog opportunities, and make sure you capitalize. 

Parlay your bets – Many games will often have heavy favorites, and parlaying your bets is a great way to return bigger profit. are set by the sportsbooks, but the odds often remain the same. You can combine legs to create one large bet, at increased odds. Parlay betting is available at most of the best online sportsbooks, and is a fantastic method of betting. 

DON’TS

Bet with Emotion – Everyone’s got their favorite team, but it’s not always worth backing them. Think of the bigger picture, and perhaps think with your head rather than your heart. 

Always back the favorite – NFL odds are very difficult to set. It is not uncommon to see favorites lose during the regular season. Check out the underdogs, and look for opportunities. 

Make bets based solely on their record – Whilst a winning record is a good measure of a team, it’s not everything. This fails to consider the injury report, the opposing team, and any other factors that may affect the result.

The best NFL betting apps

Betting on the NFL can also be done from mobile devices, with the best sportsbooks all offering fantastic mobile apps for you to wager on. The following apps are the best to bet on the NFL with: 

RankAppNew User PromoT&CsiOS?Android? 
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How to bet on NFL FAQs

Is it legal to bet on the NFL?

Yes, it is completely legal to bet on NFL games at licensed online sportsbooks. Like other sports, there are no restrictions on placing real money bets on NFL, as long as online sports betting is legal in your state. 

Where can I bet on the NFL?

You can bet on NFL at many of the best online sportsbooks.

What are the best NFL bets?

The best NFL bets are different for each bettor. Many would consider prop and futures bets as the best, as these can generate larger odds compared to traditional betting options. Moneyline and round betting are still strong ways to bet, but the odds are generally shorter. 

Are there NFL prop bets?

Yes, there are NFL prop bets. Some of these include receiving yards, touchdowns, quarter by quarter scores. Prop bets with NFL often have longer odds, meaning larger potential payouts. 

How much can you make betting on NFL?

The money you make from betting on NFL depends on many factors. To give a simple answer to this question, the quality of selections and betting strategy are arguably the two most important factors.