Last updated on December 4th, 2023 at 11:03 pm
American sports have a unique style of odds and bets, and none more so than the NFL. Sports betting on American football lives and dies on point spreads and betting lines where the odds focus on leveling out the playing field between the favorites and the underdogs, creating a uniquely thrilling line to the betting experience.
To any gambler new to this style of betting, the whole thing can be rather mystifying. Below, we’ve gathered a comprehensive guide on NFL point spreads and betting lines, nailing out terminology and exploring the best strategies that will take you from a sportsbook novice to a savvy NFL bettor.
The essentials of points spreads
What are NFL point spreads?
After a first gander around the best NFL betting sites, any inexperienced gambler will realize that NFL sports betting is built on point spreads. Effectively, point spreads serve as levelers, introducing handicaps to level the playing field between favorites and underdogs. Generally, the handicap or spreads are expressed as whole or half numbers with the appropriate sign, for example -3 or +3.5.
How do point spreads function?
Once you get your head around it, point spread functionality is pretty simple. Rather than your basic win/loss bet, point spreads introduce a new dynamic to the odds where either team must win by a given margin to win the bet. Alternatively, if your team loses by less than a given number of points, you still win the bet. Negative spreads mean your team has to score more whereas positive spreads mean they can lose and you still win.
Let’s break that down:
- If you bet on the favorite with a point spread of -3, they must win by more than three points for your bet to be successful.
- If you bet on the underdog with a point spread of +3, they can either win the game at any margin or lose by fewer than three points for your bet to win.
If the final margin aligns exactly with the point spread, then this is a called a push and your bet is refunded.
Diving into betting lines and odds
Now that you’ve got all this point spread knowledge under your belt and you’re raring to place that bet, the next step is to understand all the different options you have. These are called betting lines, and we’ll also discuss the odds format for American sports betting.
Let’s jump right into it!
Moneyline betting
Moneylines are the type of betting we’re all most familiar with. This involves placing a wager on the outright winner of the game. When it comes to the odds on these, we’re looking at positive (+) or negative (-) odds, much like the point spreads.
- Positive (+) odds indicate the potential profit gained on a $100 wager
- Negative (-) odds reveal how much you need to bet to win $100 back
The team with positive odds is the underdog and the team with negative odds is the favorite.
Over/under (total) betting
Now, it’s time to get into something a bit more complex. Over/under betting hinges on predicting whether the total points scored in a game will exceed or fall below a given number. The sportsbook sets the total, then it’s up to you to wager on either over or under.
The winner doesn’t matter in over/under betting — only how prolific scores are in the game!
Parlay betting
Parlay bets are also known as accumulators. You combine two or more individual bets into a single wager for substantially increased odds. The downside is that each one of your bets in a parlay must win for you to collect the winnings.
Teaser betting
Teasers are a special form of parlay, but bettors can adjust the point spread or total in their favor. This generally makes the payouts lower than standard parlays due to the altered odds. Teasers are a favorite among NFL bettors.
Strategies for success in NFL betting
By now you’ve learned the ins and outs of betting lines and spreads, you’ve got your game streaming and you’re ready to place that winning bet. This means it’s time to take a closer look at betting strategies, and what it takes to implement these strategies successfully. Any savvy sports analyst can still fall flat on their face when gambling if they fail to abide by some basic tenets.
Thorough research and analysis
To succeed in NFL betting, stay up to date on team news, injuries and performance trends. It’s also helpful to dive into the statistics such as scoring offense and defense to make informed bets. Doc’s Sports can be a great resource for this kind of information.
Effective bankroll management
Gambling doesn’t always mean a win. Make sure you establish a budget for your betting and stick to it. Don’t chase losses and don’t ever bet more than you can comfortably afford to lose.
Line shopping for value
Odds and spreads vary from one sportsbook to the next. Make sure you shop the market to maximize your potential returns. Even the tiniest variation in odds can make a difference when the win comes in.
Steering clear of emotional betting
We all have our own strong opinions when it comes to sports, but passions don’t have a place in the world of sports betting. Keep your personal biases and emotions at bay, and base your choices on data and analysis, not team loyalty.
Common NFL betting strategies
For the final hurdle, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common strategies to help you succeed in the world of NFL sports betting. None of these techniques will guarantee a win, but they’re all top tips to give you an edge in making your predictions and finding the best odds.
Betting against the public
Even bookies can be swayed by public sentiment, which can skew point spreads and totals. By placing a bet against public opinion, you’re likely to get much better value odds than usual.
Home field advantage
It’s a known fact that teams perform better playing at home. Generally, sportsbook odds will reflect this advantage, but sometimes it works in your favor to bet along pre-existing trends.
Monitoring injuries and player news
Injuries to key players can significantly influence a team’s performance. Stay updated on injury reports and player news before placing bets.
Understanding line movement
Pay attention to line movement, as it can indicate where sharp bettors are placing their money. Following line movement can help identify potential value bets.
American sports have a unique style of odds and bets, and none more so than the NFL. Sports betting on American football lives and dies on point spreads and betting lines where the odds focus on levelling out the playing field between the favorites and the underdogs, creating a uniquely thrilling line to the betting experience.
To any gambler new to this style of betting, the whole thing can be rather mystifying. Below, we’ve gathered a comprehensive guide on NFL point spreads and betting lines, nailing out terminology and exploring the best strategies that will take you from a sportsbook novice to a savvy NFL bettor.
Table of Contents
The essentials of points spreads
What are NFL point spreads?
After a first gander around the best NFL betting sites, any inexperienced gambler will realize that NFL sports betting is built on point spreads. Effectively, point spreads serve as levelers, introducing handicaps to level the playing field between favorites and underdogs. Generally, the handicap or spreads are expressed as whole or half numbers with the appropriate sign, for example -3 or +3.5.
How do point spreads function?
Once you get your head around it, point spread functionality is pretty simple. Rather than your basic win/loss bet, point spreads introduce a new dynamic to the odds where either team must win by a given margin to win the bet. Alternatively, if your team loses by less than a given number of points, you still win the bet. Negative spreads mean your team has to score more whereas positive spreads mean they can lose and you still win.
Let’s break that down:
- If you bet on the favorite with a point spread of -3, they must win by more than three points for your bet to be successful.
- If you bet on the underdog with a point spread of +3, they can either win the game at any margin or lose by fewer than three points for your bet to win.
If the final margin aligns exactly with the point spread, then this is a called a push and your bet is refunded.
Diving into betting lines and odds
Now that you’ve got all this point spread knowledge under your belt and you’re raring to place that bet, the next step is to understand all the different options you have. These are called betting lines, and we’ll also discuss the odds format for American sports betting.
Let’s jump right into it!
Moneyline betting
Moneylines are the type of betting we’re all most familiar with. This involves placing a wager on the outright winner of the game. When it comes to the odds on these, we’re looking at positive (+) or negative (-) odds, much like the point spreads.
- Positive (+) odds indicate the potential profit gained on a $100 wager
- Negative (-) odds reveal how much you need to bet to win $100 back
The team with positive odds is the underdog and the team with negative odds is the favorite.
Over/under (total) betting
Now, it’s time to get into something a bit more complex. Over/under betting hinges on predicting whether the total points scored in a game will exceed or fall below a given number. The sportsbook sets the total, then it’s up to you to wager on either over or under.
The winner doesn’t matter in over/under betting — only how prolific scores are in the game!
Parlay betting
Parlay bets are also known as accumulators. You combine two or more individual bets into a single wager for substantially increased odds. The downside is that each one of your bets in a parlay must win for you to collect the winnings.
Teaser betting
Teasers are a special form of parlay, but bettors can adjust the point spread or total in their favor. This generally makes the payouts lower than standard parlays due to the altered odds. Teasers are a favorite among NFL bettors.
Strategies for success in NFL betting
By now you’ve learned the ins and outs of betting lines and spreads, you’ve got your game streaming and you’re ready to place that winning bet. This means it’s time to take a closer look at betting strategies, and what it takes to implement these strategies successfully. Any savvy sports analyst can still fall flat on their face when gambling if they fail to abide by some basic tenets.
Thorough research and analysis
To succeed in NFL betting, stay up to date on team news, injuries and performance trends. It’s also helpful to dive into the statistics such as scoring offense and defense to make informed bets.
Effective bankroll management
Gambling doesn’t always mean a win. Make sure you establish a budget for your betting and stick to it. Don’t chase losses and don’t ever bet more than you can comfortably afford to lose.
Line shopping for value
Odds and spreads vary from one sportsbook to the next. Make sure you shop the market to maximize your potential returns. Even the tiniest variation in odds can make a difference when the win comes in.
Steering clear of emotional betting
We all have our own strong opinions when it comes to sports, but passions don’t have a place in the world of sports betting. Keep your personal biases and emotions at bay, and base your choices on data and analysis, not team loyalty.
Common NFL betting strategies
For the final hurdle, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common strategies to help you succeed in the world of NFL sports betting. None of these techniques will guarantee a win, but they’re all top tips to give you an edge in making your predictions and finding the best odds.
Betting against the public
Even bookies can be swayed by public sentiment, which can skew point spreads and totals. By placing a bet against public opinion, you’re likely to get much better value odds than usual.
Home field advantage
It’s a known fact that teams perform better playing at home. Generally, sportsbook odds will reflect this advantage, but sometimes it works in your favor to bet along pre-existing trends.
Monitoring injuries and player news
Injuries to key players can significantly influence a team’s performance. Stay updated on injury reports and player news before placing bets.
Understanding line movement
Pay attention to line movement, as it can indicate where sharp bettors are placing their money. Following line movement can help identify potential value bets.
