When it comes to betting on football, the NFL is undoubtedly the most popular league to wager on. However, with many other high-profile leagues out there, football betting should not be limited to the NFL. Here are the most popular football leagues to bet on, starting with the big one!
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is unquestionably the world’s biggest football league. As the leading football competition in the United States, the NFL boasts the strongest teams and the most talented players on the planet, making it hugely exciting to bet on.
The season typically starts in September and finishes in February, concluding with the world-renowned Super Bowl. Sportsbooks always dish up tons of unique betting opportunities when it comes to the Super Bowl, while the showpiece event attracts millions of viewers from across the globe.
NCAA Football
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) runs college football in North America. NCAA football is considered to be the second tier of American football, with the top players often going on to sign professional contracts with NFL teams.
In fact, college football is more popular than professional football in some areas of the US, with certain teams in the South and Midwest attracting unrivalled support. Thanks to the popularity of NCAA football, there is no shortage of betting options to take advantage of.
XFL
Founded by WWE executive Vince McMahon in 2018, the XFL is a professional minor football league in the United States. The league consists of eight teams located across the country, from the Seattle Sea Dragons in Washington to the Orlando Guardians in Florida.
The season runs from February through May, with each team playing ten regular-season games before the top four advance to the playoffs. Although the XFL is far less popular than the NFL, the best football sportsbooks always have plenty of XFL betting markets to choose from.
CFL
As the name suggests, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is Canada’s professional football competition. With five teams in the West Division and four teams in the East Division, the CFL is nowhere near as big as the NFL’s 32-team setup, but there are still lots of betting opportunities on offer.
While the NFL has the Super Bowl, the CFL has the Grey Cup. The season typically kicks off in June and ends in November with the iconic championship game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have featured in more Grey Cups than any other team, winning 12 and losing 15.
USFL
The United States Football League (USFL) is one of the newest and most exciting football leagues to bet on. The original USFL ran for three seasons between 1983 and 1985, but the current competition began play in 2022, bringing the league back to life after almost four decades.
Interestingly, all eight USFL teams carry the brands of teams from the previous incarnation of the league. The Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars to win the 2022 USFL title, while the New Orleans Breakers and New Jersey Generals finished as runners-up in their respective divisions.