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Expert Guide for How to Bet on the NFL and Make a Profit in 2024
There is no sports league in the world that draws as much betting attention as the NFL. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 70% of a sportsbook’s handle throughout the year comes from betting on NFL action. With 32 teams and a total of 285 games played throughout the season, there is no shortage of betting opportunities for everyone.
This NFL betting guide will teach you everything you need to know about betting on the NFL. This includes the types of bets you can make, how you can find value in your bets, tips for maximizing your success, and more.
Best NFL Bets Today
Looking to place your bets today? Take a look at our top picks below and get started!
Is NFL Betting Legal?
As you begin to read through this page, there may be one question floating in your mind.
The good news is that NFL betting is legal in the United States, and many legitimate sportsbooks are available to choose from to get started. This means you can enjoy placing your bets without the fear of breaking the law, as many states have regulated both in-person and online sports betting.
Better yet, sportsbooks have even started to sponsor NFL events, and odds for games can now be found on your TV while watching the game.
Types of NFL Bets
One thing you will immediately notice at sportsbooks is that there is a huge selection of bet types available for NFL games. Not only does this give you a greater variety to choose from, but it’s beneficial for bettors looking to find extra value on bets they have knowledge of.
The most popular types of NFL bets include:
- Moneyline bets
- Point spread bets
- Totals
- Prop bets
- Futures bets
- Parlays
Moneyline Bets
Moneyline bets on NFL games are the most straightforward. Simply choose who you think will win the game, and place your wager.
Moneyline bets are great for both beginners and experienced bettors, and avid fans of NFL football can find fair value by shopping around multiple sportsbooks to see who offers the most profitable odds for a matchup. While some games are easy to predict, others offer a tight matchup that can lead to profit if you’re able to successfully predict the outcome.
Point Spread Bets
The point spread is the anticipated score difference between the two teams by the end of the game. This figure is usually represented by ending in a half figure (.5) so that you can bet on the over or under for this figure.
The point spread bet is extremely common and is a favorite among NFL fans who follow teams closely and use recent historical data to better inform their decisions. The winner of the game does not affect the outcome of the point spread, unless you pair the two wagers together into a parlay bet.
Totals
Total bets are another simple and straightforward type of NFL bet. All you need to do is select over or under on a total score that is posted by the sportsbook.
You can gain an advantage when betting on the score total by doing proper research on the two teams playing and what weather conditions they will be playing in. If the game is between two weak offenses who will be playing in bad weather, then you can safely assume the total points will be under the total line that has been set.
On the other hand, a game between two high-powered offenses could lead to a shootout, resulting in an inflated score that soars over the total line that the sportsbook originally set.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are unique NFL bets that give bettors the opportunity to bet on specific outcomes within the game itself. These bets are not influenced by the final outcome of the game, and typically focus on a specific team or player within the game.
For example, prop bets allow you to bet on an individual player’s performance, such as the total number of passing yards that a quarterback will have throughout the game. Meanwhile, team-based player bets allow you to wager on the performance of one of the teams in the game, such as the total number of penalties they will commit in one half of the game.
NFL prop bets are extremely popular during the Super Bowl, which is where you can find the most exotic prop bets. This includes betting on the total amount of time the national anthem will take, the result of the coin toss, and even which celebrities may appear during the halftime show.
Futures Bets
When it comes to the ability to make predictions, there is no greater test than futures bets. As the name suggests, futures bets allow you to wager on an outcome long before it happens.
For example, many bettors like to place their bets on the future Super Bowl winner before the season even begins. While this is extremely difficult to predict, even the favorites to win the big game offer profitable odds. If you’re feeling confident about this pick, it can be a great way to make money.
Aside from just the Super Bowl winner, you can also make futures bets on the following:
- League MVP
- Rookie of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Division Winners
Parlays
If your ultimate goal is to put yourself in the position for the highest possible payout, then look no further than parlay bets. Parlay bets are the hardest to win, but offer extremely attractive odds the more legs you add to it.
When building a parlay bet, you are rolling multiple bets into one. While this dramatically lowers your odds of winning and boosts your potential earnings, but you must hit every leg of your parlay in order to win.
For example, let’s say that you place a three-leg parlay that includes the moneyline for the game, the point spread, and the first player to score a touchdown. If you accurately predicted the moneyline and point spread but were wrong about the first player to score, then you lose your bet and your wager.
It’s important to keep track of your parlays during the game. If you have a parlay that is hitting all its legs, the sportsbook will offer you a payout to withdraw your bet in an attempt to avoid losing more money. This is a risk, of course, as choosing to accept the payout could cost you in the long run. On the other hand, declining the payout could lead to your losing your entire bet and getting no return for it. Be sure to do plenty of research when placing an NFL parlay bet, as they are not intended for casual fans and bettors.
How to Find NFL Betting Value
One of the most important aspects of learning how to bet on the NFL is learning how to find the best value possible. This isn’t always as easy as finding the best odds possible. Finding betting value can take time, but it’s worth the effort in the end.
Consider Advanced Statistics
There is no shortage of statistics and historical data out there for NFL games and their outcomes. Ignoring this data puts you at a greater disadvantage to the sportsbook since most of their betting lines are based on this data.
The great thing about advanced statistics is that they get very granular. This means you can review data for almost any scenario, such as the average number of points scored during games with snowfall.
Having this additional context makes you a more informed bettor, making it easier to identify valuable odds for specific bets.
Join an NFL Betting Forum
With the popularity of NFL betting, there are many great forums out there specifically for NFL betting discussions. Join these forums and read through the discussions and bets that people are talking about.
Not only is this a great way to gain additional context on certain bets, but it can also save you the time of shopping on multiple sportsbooks if other users are talking about the bets available at them.
Many NFL betting forums are free to use, such as ones on Facebook and Reddit. We highly recommend joining these groups and forums so that you can read and join the discussions that other bettors are having.
Set Up Notifications for Breaking News and Player Social Media Accounts
The last thing you want to do is place a bet and then learn about some breaking player news that you didn’t know about before. For example, you may regret placing a prop bet on a running back performance after learning that one or more of their linemen are going to miss the game due to an injury.
News alerts and even player social media accounts are a great way to stay on top of this. Be sure to turn on notifications so that you get the updates as soon as they break.
Read Professional Picks and Predictions
There are many professional NFL bettors out there that can help you win more of your bets. Finding professional picks and predictions is easier than ever before, and many of these picks and predictions are free to view.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t guarantee you a winning bet. Oftentimes, professional bettors lose just as many bets as they win to hit a huge payday. While we don’t recommend trying to keep up with the pace of professionals, they are great for gaining context and recommendations into bets they feel confident about.
Shop Multiple Sportsbooks
Sportsbooks are always competing with one another to gain new bettors. Take advantage of this and shop around to find the best value possible.
It’s extremely common for sportsbooks to offer different odds for the exact same bet or matchup. While they may not be huge differences, these little shifts can add up in a big way if you’re always taking the most valuable bet.
Sportsbooks also offer welcome bonuses for new users that help you build your bankroll when you make a new account. If you plan on using multiple sportsbooks, then you can take advantage of these bonuses to help you start off on the right foot.
The Largest NFL Betting Events
While every NFL game comes loaded with a huge selection of bets, there are specific events that take this a step further.
It should come as no surprise to anybody that the Super Bowl is a huge event for bettors and NFL fans in general. With so much viewership, there is a nearly endless number of bets that you can place.
However, this isn’t the only NFL betting event that you should follow this season.
Super Bowl Betting
As we mentioned above, the Super Bowl is the biggest betting event each and every year. Not only does the big game bring in millions of viewers, but it also brings in millions of dollars wagered.
During the Super Bowl, sportsbooks get really creative with the bets they offer. From celebrity appearances, to coin toss results, and even commercial bets, the Super Bowl is one event that every bettor should circle in their calendar.
NFL Playoff Betting
The NFL playoffs feature the best 14 teams in the league. As a result, the betting scene can get very interesting.
More often than not, playoff games are closer matchups than regular season games. With the season on the line, sportsbooks create a wide variety of opportunities for you to jump in on the action. You can also expect a significant increase in the number of promotions that sportsbooks run during this time as well.
Betting on the NFL Combine
The NFL combine takes place before the NFL draft and gives up-and-coming rookies the opportunity to showcase their skills in events such as the 40-yard dash, bench press, and vertical jump.
Sportsbooks like to take advantage of this event and offer odds on the results of these events. For instance, there are usually many available bets for big-name rookies competing in these events. Some examples include betting the over/under during a 40-yard dash, the over/under on the number of bench press reps a player completes, and more.
NFL Draft Betting
The NFL draft is a special event where the best of the college football stars get selected to play for an NFL team. While some of the early picks in the draft are easy to predict, there are many aspects of the draft that can be unpredictable.
This results in unique betting opportunities that you can’t find during the season, such as betting on which position will be drafted first, whether a trade will occur, and much more. If you’re a fan of both NFL and college football, then you should find a ton of value when betting on the NFL draft.
Preseason NFL Betting
Although the preseason is mostly seen as “boring” to viewers, there are many great betting opportunities that arise. This is because most preseason games feature a large selection of rookies who were selected in the draft. These rookies are competing for roster spots before the season begins, making things interesting whenever they get their opportunity to shine.
Betting on NFL preseason games gives you the chance to bet on these rookies’ performances. Unfortunately, this means you won’t have access to a ton of historical data. However, this results in more valuable odds that give college football followers an early advantage based on player knowledge.
The NFL preseason only lasts for three weeks total, so be sure to take advantage of these bets when they come around.
Other Winter sports to look out for include bobsleigh, luge, ski jumping, and speed skating.
Read More About NFL Betting News
NFL Betting Tips
While betting on the NFL can prove tricky at times, there are a few simple tips you can follow to help you maximize your earnings and have fun along the way.
Injury Impact on Betting Trends
Never underestimate the ripple effect that an injury can have on a team. For example, if a team’s starting quarterback is going to miss a game due to injury, then it’s likely going to cause a decrease in production from the wide receivers, and an increase in production from the running backs.
Even if you intend to place an individual player prop bet, it’s important to check the injury report for the team and see if any injuries may impact the team’s gameplay. More importantly, make sure that the player you want to bet on isn’t on the injury report themselves!
Check Weather Reports
Nothing can ruin a perfect bet faster than bad weather. On the other hand, you can also use this to your advantage if you aim to take the under on a total number of yards or points.
Poor weather often results in a lower score and a decrease in passing productivity. If you’re placing a wager involving these two things, then it’s absolutely critical that you’re checking weather reports for the game.
Bankroll Management
This may seem like an obvious tip, but it can never be overstated. Proper bankroll management is crucial for you to get the most out of your bets and avoid financial distress.
Never deposit or wager more money than you’re prepared to lose when betting on the NFL. Chasing your losses can result in a rapid loss of money, which can trigger depression or even compulsive betting habits out of some people.
If you think you have a problem, or find yourself stressing over money when betting on the NFL, then it’s important to stop immediately and seek help if needed. Betting should be fun and should never impact your financial stability.
Identify Betting Bias
One of the biggest mistakes a bettor can make is having a bias toward their own favorite team. Not only does this lead to impulse decisions, but it can lead to extra stress and frustration toward the game.
Always keep an objective mindset and look at matchups logically. Some professionals even recommend that you avoid betting on your favorite team to avoid this betting bias. However, it’s perfectly fine to bet on your favorite team as long as you do so with logic and sound reasoning.
After all, what better way to understand your value than betting on your favorite team? You’re likely up-to-date on their roster and have a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
Run the Distance with Advanced NFL Picks
Betting on the NFL can be extremely exciting and profitable for bettors who do their research. With so many teams and games to choose from, there is no shortage of bets that you can place.
If you’re looking to gain an extra advantage over sportsbooks, then we recommend checking out our premium handicapping service. This will instantly provide you with access to all the tools and data that you need to make informed betting decisions. Save yourself hours of research and let us show you the numbers instead.
