How To Bet On The NFL

Identifying and explaining NFL bet types

By BetQL Staff - May 8, 2020, 1:32pm EDT

Let's take a look at all of the ways you can get action on America's most popular sports league.

NFL Single-Game Bet Types

Betting NFL Point Spreads

In spread bets, a team must cover the listed margin. Negative numbers indicate the favored team. For example, if the spread is listed as Ravens -7, the Ravens must win the game by at least 8 points in order to cover the spread. Conversely, if the line is listed as Miami Dolphins +7, the Dolphins must lose by 6 or fewer points, or win the game outright, in order to cover the spread. In this case, if the Ravens won by 7, the bet would be a push.

Visit BetQL’s NFL Spreads Dashboard for more information.

Betting NFL Moneylines

When betting the moneyline, you are betting on the side to win the game, regardless of the final score or margin. A negative moneyline denotes the favored side. A positive moneyline denotes the underdog. You may calculate your potential return before placing a moneyline bet by using the following guidelines:

Favorites: The amount of money you must bet in order to return $100 on a successful bet. Example: Seahawks -450: a $450 bet will return $100 if SEA wins.

Underdogs: The amount of money you will win if your $100 bet is successful. Example, Bengals +350: a $100 bet will return $350 if CIN wins.

Visit BetQL’s NFL Moneylines Dashboard for more information.

Betting NFL Totals (Over/Unders)

Total bets are won and lost depending on the total number of points scored by the two teams combined. An Under bet is successful when the two teams combine to score fewer than the listed number of points and an Over bet is successful when the two teams combine to score more than the listed number of points.

Example: Broncos vs. Raiders O/U 42.5

The Under is successful if the two teams score 42 or fewer combined points.
The Over is successful if the two teams score 43 or more combined points.
If the O/U is a whole number, the bet is a push if the two teams score exactly that amount.

Visit BetQL’s NFL Totals Dashboard for more information.

Betting Single Half Lines

Single half bets may be offered as spread, moneyline or total bets. Single half bet definitions are identical to their full-game counterparts, with the caveat that single half bets are graded after one half of action. If the Lions are leading the game at halftime in the example above, they'd win the bet.

Visit BetQL’s NFL First Half Spreads Dashboard for more information.

NFL Multiple-Game Bet Types

Parlays

Using parlays, you can combine multiple individual bets in order to increase your potential return. In order for a parlay bet to be successful, each individual bet must hit. If any single component is unsuccessful, the entire parlay will be graded as a loss. This style of betting appeals to bettors who eye exponentially-larger payouts, but have much lower odds of winning.

Example: You place the following parlay bet: Eagles -6.5 (-120) + Giants -4.5 (-112) + 49ers -8.5 (-110). If the Eagles don't win by seven or more points, the Giants don't win by five or more points and the 49ers don't win by nine or more points, you won't win the bet. To win, all three outcomes need to occur.

Teasers

A teaser is a type of parlay that has a line that is more favorable to the bettor, at the cost of a lower potential payout when the bet is successful.

Example: In the example above, the sportsbook might give a three-point teaser to the favorites to make the bet more appealing and decrease their risk of a large payout. Therefore, the teaser would look like this: Eagles -3.5 + Giants -0.5 + 49ers -5.5 with the same odds. While the upside of placing that bet doesn't compare to a traditional parlay, the odds of it hitting are higher, thus creating more safety.

Other NFL Bet Types

Futures

DraftKings Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook

A futures bet refers to any bet that will be settled in the future.

Examples: team accolades (championship winners, etc), player accolades (MVP, etc) and over/unders (team win totals, player statistics, etc).

Prop Bets

A prop, or “proposition”, is a bet made regarding the occurrence or non-occurrence of a given event during a game. Sportsbooks attach moneyline odds to these bets and they can be settled before the game goes final.

Examples: a quarterback to throw for more than 299.5 yards (-110), a running back to score a touchdown (+150) or for a wide receiver to score the first touchdown of the game (+300).

Live Betting

Live betting takes place after the game has started and features in-game props and other bet types. This style of betting features the quickest payouts in the industry and puts bettors right in the action.

For the latest NFL parlay, teaser, prop, future and live betting opportunities, visit BetQL’s Exclusive Sportsbook Offers Page.