NFL Football Odds Punters Should Know

While there are over/under and point spread odds, NFL football odds don't just stop at these. There are numerous other ways to bet on the NFL, including moneyline, first- and second-half betting lines, and futures.

In addition, throwing in fun fantasy-style prop bets and live bets (which allow players to bet on the next play and on odds that keep changing all game long) further underscores the fact that the NFL presents a whole world of opportunities for punters. This guide explores some of the most popular NFL odds found at betting sites online.

Moneyline Odds

NFL moneyline betting continues to gain prominence as more punters begin to understand the value of this type of bet, especially when it comes to betting long on shots. The moneyline is undoubtedly the simplest NFL bet anyone can place as the punter is simply picking the team that will win the match outright; there is no need to predict the points that will be scored.

The juice is the only number that the punter needs to focus on, where the positive value denotes the underdog, and the negative one means the favorite.

For instance, if the bettor picks a -120 favorite on a moneyline bet, they need to risk $120 to win $100. On the other hand, betting on the +120 underdog implies that one has to risk $100 to win $120 if the underdog wins straight up. In most cases, moneyline bets come with better value; they can deliver more significant returns for less risk.

Though rare, there are matches where both sides are assigned negative moneyline odds. The team with the lesser figure is considered the odds-on favorite in that case.

Point Spread Odds

Who doesn't like a good old-fashioned NFL spread bet? NFL spread betting odds are not only a favorite for both starters and seasoned punters, but they are also king when it comes to betting online sports betting. A common fallacy is that bookmakers set the point spread odds as a predicted margin of victory. Instead, it is the number bookmakers suppose would be a good balance between punters who want to wager on their favorite and those who wish to place their money on the underdog.

For instance, a negative value (-11.5) indicated next to a team means that many points favor it. Hence, to determine whether or not the team has won a match, the punter should deduct 11.5 points from the team's score.

Conversely, a positive value on the same game (+11.5) means the underdog has a head start of 11.5 points. In NFL betting, the odd-on favorite team must win by at least 12 points to cover the spread. The underdog can still lose by 11 points, but still have the spread covered.

One thing worth noting is that NFL matchups are not exactly unpredictable. The point spread is meant to balance and make things interesting for punters in cases where one team is heavily favored. By ''deducting'' points from the odd-on favorite and ''adding'' them to the dog, the point spreads encourage punters to bet on either side even when the matchup is very lopsided.

Over/Under (Totals) Odds

Wagering Over/Under is another popular way to invest in NFL games. Also known as Totals, over/under betting requires the punter to bet on whether the final score will exceed or remain under a number set by the bookmakers. If one places a bet on Under 37.5, they are essentially predicting a defensive battle and that the offenses will struggle. Betting on Over 37.5 means the punter predicts that the game will end with high scoring.

Totals betting has become reasonably popular in NFL games, more so when the spread is very tight. Nonetheless, it is also a good choice if the matchup is pointing to a particular game style. Notably, weather conditions like cold temperatures, wind, and rain can be significant factors that could sway the total.

Futures Odds

NFL futures allow betting fanatics to bet well in advance on noteworthy NFL events throughout the season. NFL future odds focus on both team achievements and individual player awards. From the offseason to preseason, NFL punters can wager on several aspects, including the NFC champion, Super Bowl winner, and teams that will make the playoffs. Regarding individual awards, punters can bet on Defensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player.

As they say, time is everything when it comes to Futures bets. The sooner one stakes, the higher the returns if their prediction becomes correct. However, Futures odds are not for impatient gamblers. Instead, it needs people who are ready to place a bet and wait patiently for the outcome, which may take up to several months.

Prop Bets

Rather than focusing on match results, Prop bets focus mainly on specific events within an NFL match. There are loads of Prop markets to bet on, including the player to score the first touchdown and whether a match will have a safety.