Football is America’s biggest sport. Earlier this year, 20% of the US population 50.4 million Americans spent $16 billion on Super Bowl LVII bets. The Kansas City Chiefs won the game in a close 38-35 battle against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The next Super Bowl will take place at the Allegiant Stadium in Nevada on February 11, 2024. Before then, you can bet on NFL pre-season, regular season and postseason games. Read our guide below to learn how to bet on NFL games like a pro.
Choose a Reliable NFL Sportsbook
The first step you need to take is to select a safe and reliable NFL betting website. Almost all top-rated bookmakers support American football, baseball, basketball, hockey and other North American sports.
Click here to find a betting site with amazing odds, sweet bonuses, a mobile app and responsive customer service. Good odds help you maximize your profits for every bet. Bonuses boost your bankroll so that you can afford to bet even when you don’t have money.
On the other hand, a mobile app is essential because everyone owns a smartphone. And if you own a smartphone, you probably use it more often than your desktop computer.
Another important feature to consider in a betting app is the user interface. A good app has a neat, user-friendly interface. You can spot upcoming NFL games easily. You can compare bet types and place your bets hassle-free.
NFL Bet Types
If you’re like many NFL fans, you watch football regularly. You probably have a favorite team and player(s). But do you know what exactly you can bet on? NFL bets come in a few types:
- Moneyline
A moneyline is the easiest bet in the league. You pick the winner of a match. Let’s say the Giants have +180 odds to beat the Cowboys -120. All you need is to predict the winner of this fixture.
- Spreads
A spread is a moneyline bet with a twist. Here, you pick the winner of a fixture and the team’s margin of victory. Let’s assume the Vikings have a game against the Chicago Bears.
You think Minnesota will demolish Chicago by 10+ points. You pick a +10.5 spread on the Vikings to win. The biggest benefit of this bet type is that it has better odds.
- Totals
A totals bet challenges you to predict the number of points scored in a game. As a result, your challenge is to analyze a fixture to see how the teams have been performing of late.
Let’s assume the Denver Broncos have been averaging 15 points scored and 10 points conceded in the past 10 games. They now have a game against Baltimore, a team conceding 12 points on average and scoring 16 points.
When these two sides meet, there’s a chance each team will concede a minimum of 10 points. In that case, you can place a +20.5 totals bet hoping there will be more than 20 points scored in the game.
- NFL Live Bets
Live bets let you predict NFL games while they’re taking place. You can bet on what will happen in the next quarter or before the first half is over. Odds change fast depending on what’s happening in the game.
Nonetheless, live betting is exciting and can help you make good money. The only challenge is that it’s difficult to bet on live games accurately unless you’re also watching a match.
- NFL Props
Props can be challenging to get right. But they have amazing odds. Examples include the first touchdown scorer, a player’s rushing yards statistics or the coin toss result.
- NFL Futures
NFL futures are exactly what they sound like. You bet on future results. For example, you can pick a Super Bowl winner long before the big game takes place. You can also select divisional winners or the regular season MVP at the start of the season.
Learn How to Find Quality Odds
It’s true—betting sites use sophisticated software to make odds as close to reality as possible. Still, if you want to be successful in sports betting, you must learn how to find high-value odds.
This means you shouldn’t bet on your favorite NFL teams. What’s more, you should shop around for odds before you pick a bet type. Look at all the fixtures offered by your preferred betting site.
Compare the odds for every fixture. Look for teams that look undervalued by the betting site. Maybe Kansas has a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bookies think Tampa Bay will win but records show the Chiefs have been dominant on home turf.
In such a fixture, you can bet on the underdog because you stand to win more money. Also, statistics show there’s a strong chance the Patrick Mahomes-led team could win.
Know How to Analyze Matches
One of the most essential skills you need to succeed in betting is to learn how to analyze NFL games. Knowing what to look for before you bet makes all the difference.
Statistically speaking, home teams win 57% of all NFL games. Knowing this, you want to prioritize home advantage unless the visiting side is in a better form. Another thing to consider is the head-to-head record.
Think about this. When two teams played in the past, which has had the better record? If one team has a history of dominating the other, it should be the favorite. Injuries, team lineups and the weather can also influence the outcome of a game.
Learn NFL Best Practices
In betting, you win some and lose others. Knowing this, you shouldn’t bet too much money on one game. Neither should you chase losses or bet with your emotions.
Create a budget to guide you on the money to spend on betting. Draft your short-term and long-term objectives. Then subscribe to a few newsletters related to NFL betting.
Now, don’t be quick to buy NFL picks. Focus on learning how to select match winners by analyzing data. Buy picks if they come from a source you trust.
