Complete NFL Betting Guide for Beginners

Football Betting Guides: How to Bet on the NFL

Our football betting guides covers essential aspects of betting on NFL games from the perspective of first-time players. We have a selection resources if you’re looking to expand your NFL betting expertise.

• Best NFL Betting Sites: Comprehensive reviews and rankings of top NFL betting platforms to help you choose where to place your bets. 
• Football Betting Strategies: Essential football betting tips and strategies for both beginners and experienced bettors.
• Using Statistics for Football Betting: Detailed guide on leveraging game statistics to make informed betting decisions in NFL games.
• Super Bowl Betting Guide: A Super Bowl-specific guide to help you choose the best sites and markets, alongside expert tips and the latest trends.

Types of Football Betting Wagers

NFL Moneylines

Moneylines in the NFL are as straightforward as betting gets. You simply choose who you think will win the game. There are no points to worry about, just winners and losers.

For instance, imagine the New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets. The Patriots might be listed as -150, which means you’d need to bet $150 to win $100 if they’re victorious. On the other hand, if the Jets are +130, a $100 bet would net you $130 if they pull off the upset.

NFL Point Spread

This market levels the playing field between teams, assigning a virtual deficit or surplus of points to each. Let’s say the Los Angeles Rams are 7-point favorites against the Chicago Bears. If you bet on the Rams, they need to win by more than 7 points for you to cash your ticket. Bet on the Bears, and as long as they don’t lose by more than 7 points—or they win outright—you’re in the money.

Expert Point Spread Tip: Consider the teams’ recent ATS (Against the Spread) records. Betting on those who consistently beat the spread can be profitable, especially when they’re underestimated by the public.

NFL Totals

Also known as the over/under, this bet focuses on the total points scored in the game by both teams combined. Let’s say the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills racked up a final score of 27-24, respectively, making a combined total of 51 points. If the over/under for this game was set at 49.5, betting on the over would have been the winning move, as the actual total exceeded the predicted line.

NFL Parlays

A parlay lets you combine multiple bets on one ticket. You need all parts of your wager to hit to win anything—it’s all or nothing. For example, you could bet on the Philadelphia Eagles to cover the spread, the total to go over in the Steelers game, and the Packers to win outright. Hit all three, and your payout is calculated by multiplying the odds of each pick, which comes out significantly larger than any single-game bet.

Expert Parlays Tip

Got a strong feeling about a particular game? Sites like BetOnline let you build same-game parlays where you can mix different types of bets—like point spreads, over/unders, and player props—all from a single matchup.

NFL Prop Bets

Props essentially cover almost anything in the game outside of the final score. You could bet on anything from how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw to the number of field goals in the first half. Say it’s the Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers; a prop bet would be wagering on Ezekiel Elliott to score the first touchdown.

NFL Teasers

A teaser bet is like a parlay, but it gives you the advantage of adjusting the point spread for two or more games. Odds become shorter, yet it’s easier to win since you move the line in your favor.

For example, if the Raiders are favored by 9 points against the Broncos, and the Bengals are 3-point underdogs against the Browns, you could tease 6 points, so the Raiders only need to win by more than 3 points, and the Bengals could lose by up to 9 points for you to still win your bet.

NFL Futures

Futures are all about the long haul, like wagering on who will win the Super Bowl before the season even starts. Football betting sites typically release these markets well in advance, and they are constantly updated based on team performances. Other popular futures markets include Regular Season MVP, Total Season Wins, Division Champions, and Conference Champions.

Expert Futures Tip: Monitor public betting trends and avoid heavily-favored picks where the value is diluted. Track offseason moves closely; sign up for alerts on trades, draft picks, and coaching changes. Look for undervalued teams that might be flying under the radar but have strong potential to exceed expectations.

Best Football Betting Site for Beginners

Bovada is one of the best online gambling sites for beginners. On top of its excellent odds, spreads, and prices on NFL and collegiate football wagers, it presents itself in a clean, uncluttered interface with helpful touches that make it very easy to get accustomed to using.

To start with, you can find over 12 different betting guides, two of which focus exclusively on the NFL and NCAAF. There’s a 50% match bonus up to $250 available to be used exclusively on sports betting, with just a 5x rollover requirement to turn winnings into cash. Several tools, such as the Props Builder, are readily available. And, for any markets not present on the site, you can request them through X (formerly Twitter) by using the hashtag #WhatsYaWager.

How to Bet on NFL Games 

Haven’t placed a bet on football before? No problem. Platforms like Bovada make it incredibly easy to set up an account. Here’s a quick, step-by-step guide on how to get started:

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1

Create Your Bovada Account

First things first, you’ll need to set up an account on Bovada. This should take you at most three minutes to complete. Head to their website and look for the “Join” button at the top right of the homepage. Click on it, and you’ll be prompted to enter some basic information like your name, date of birth, ZIP code, email, and password.

Sign up now at Bovada

2

Deposit Funds

Once your account is ready, you’ll need to add some money to it in order to bet. Look for the ‘Deposit’ option in your account menu and choose from the various payment methods. In Bovada’s case, you’ll find both traditional options like bank transfers and credit cards, as well as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.

Remember: The first deposit usually qualifies for a welcome bonus, so check if there’s a promo code or a minimum requirement in order to claim.

3

Browse the Available NFL Markets

With funds in your account, click on the ‘Football’ option from the horizontal menu above the promotional banner. On the left, the top section shows the trending bet types and competitions—NFL Futures, Awards & Leagues, CFL, Preseason, and more. Below this, you’ll find the whole lot listed in alphabetical order. Choose the category that piques your interest to see all upcoming games and available betting markets.

4

Understand NFL Odds

You really can’t start betting on football online without a solid grasp of the odds. Offshore gambling sites typically use American odds as default; these show you which selection is the favorite and how much you can win if your bet is successful. For example, if the odds are +150, a $100 bet would return $150 in winnings plus your original $100 back. Negative numbers like -150 mean you need to bet $150 to win $100.

5

Choose Your NFL Bet(s)

Now for the fun part—building your ticket. In the NFL section, you’ll see a list of upcoming games. Browse through them and pick the one(s) you want to bet on.

You’ll need to decide what type of bet you want to make. Bovada offers various options like point spreads, moneylines, and totals (over/under). Each will have its own odds; click on the ones you want to go for, and they’ll be automatically added to your bet slip. This will show you the different permutations (singles or multiples) available, as well as the potential payout.

Note: At this point, you’re still allowed to play around with different selections (add or remove). No bets are yet confirmed!

6

Place Your Bet

Once you’re happy with your ticket, enter the amount of money you want to wager and click on ‘Place Bets’. You’ll get a confirmation message once it’s accepted.

7

Watch the Game and Wait

All that’s left now is to watch the game and hope for the best! You can follow the action live, and Bovada usually offers a way to track your bet in real time.

If your bet wins, your winnings will automatically be added to your account balance. You can either withdraw them or use them for further bets as you please.

NFL Betting Tips for Beginners

Now that you have a clearer understanding of the betting process, here are six essential tips to keep in mind when placing your first wagers:

Don't chase losses

NFL betting is meant to be fun; setting up a budget and sticking to it to make sure you keep it that way! If things go your way, that’s excellent. If not, do not get caught up trying to win back what you’ve lost in previous bets, as this can lead to riskier bets and further losses.

Take advantage of bonuses and promotions

Sportsbook bonuses and promotions are very common among betting sites, especially for new sign-ups. Go through the fine print to learn their true value and use them to your advantage to increase your starting bankroll.

Shop for the Best Lines

Different sportsbooks may offer different odds for the exact same market. Register with multiple sportsbooks like Bovada, BetOnline, BetUS, and Everygame to make the most out of the discrepancies.

Pay Attention to Team and Player News

Player injuries, trades, and other news can significantly affect the outcome of games and, therefore, the betting odds. Always dedicate some time to go through the latest news before placing your bets.

Analyze Historical Performance and Trends

Look at how teams have performed against each other in the past. Seasonal performance trends, such as how well teams do after a bye week or in certain weather conditions, can also be telling.

Choosing a Payment Method

Always consider your priorities when picking a payment method. Are quick transactions and privacy important to you? Or do you prefer the reliability of trusted banking options? If you’re thinking about claiming a promotion, make sure to check the eligible methods.

How to Bet on Football Online 

Getting into NFL betting is pretty straightforward, especially once you understand the basics of how sports gambling works and are familiar with the typical sportsbook layout. Begin by creating an account at multiple betting sites—we recommend Bovada for beginners, but if you’re still unsure, check out our list of honest reviews—go through their welcome bonuses, understand the different odds and markets, and deposit funds when you’re ready to wager. Always keep up-to-date with the latest team and player news, shop for the best lines, and manage your funds wisely. 

Charlon

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Content Specialist

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All the way from the renowned iGaming hub of Malta, Charlon has been contributing to the gambling industry since 2019. He began his career at Paddy Power™, but the onset of the pandemic led him to swap his nine-to-five for a life of full-time travel.

Throughout his journey, Charlon developed a successful freelance career, leveraging his prior industry knowledge and focusing on analyzing online casinos, sportsbooks, slots, payment methods, and current trends and strategies through the lens of an actual player.

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