Betting Strategy Guide
How to Bet on Football
Key takeaways
- Most football bets are on the point spread, where the favorite must win by more than the line and both sides are usually priced at -110.
- In the NFL, 3 and 7 are the most common winning margins, so a spread on or near those numbers deserves extra attention.
- Besides full-game spreads, totals and moneylines, common football markets include half and quarter lines, player props and futures such as the Super Bowl winner.
To bet on football, you pick a game, choose a market such as the point spread, the total or the moneyline, and set your stake. Most bets on NFL and college games are on the spread, which asks whether the favorite wins by more than a set number of points.
The main football bets
| Market | What you bet on | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Point spread | The winning margin | Favorite -6.5, underdog +6.5 |
| Total | Combined points of both teams | Over/under 44.5 |
| Moneyline | The winner, no spread | Favorite -250, underdog +200 |
Each one has its own guide: the point spread, totals and the moneyline.
A worked example
Say the favorite is -3 at -110. A $110 bet wins $100 if the favorite wins by 4 or more, so a winning ticket returns $210. A 3-point win is a push and your $110 comes back; anything less loses. At -110 the implied probability is 110 ÷ 210 = 52.4%, the share of bets you need to win to break even. See how to read odds.
Key numbers: 3 and 7
NFL games end most often with a margin of 3 or 7 points, a field goal or a touchdown. Taking +3.5 instead of +2.5, or laying -6.5 instead of -7.5, changes how the most common results grade, so compare the number as well as the price. Teasers, a kind of parlay that moves the spread in your favor for a smaller payout, are built around the same idea.
College football
College football has far more teams and wider gaps in talent, so spreads can be much larger than in the NFL. Information on smaller programs can be harder to find. See the lines on the college football page.
Halves, quarters, props and futures
- Half and quarter lines: spreads and totals for one part of the game, such as the first half.
- Player props: bets on one player's numbers, such as passing yards or whether a player scores a touchdown.
- Futures: outcomes settled later, such as the Super Bowl winner or a team's season win total.
Availability varies by event. Check the house rules for how each market treats overtime.
Weather and injuries
Strong wind makes passing and kicking harder and tends to lower totals. A starting quarterback's status can move a spread by several points, so read the injury news before you bet. Follow the current lines on the NFL odds page.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does -3 mean in football betting?
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The team is a 3-point favorite. A bet on it wins if it wins by 4 or more, pushes on an exact 3-point win and loses otherwise.
Why are 3 and 7 key numbers in the NFL?
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A field goal is worth 3 points and a touchdown with the extra point 7, so those are the most common final margins. A half point either side of them changes how many results win, lose or push.
Does overtime count in NFL bets?
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Full-game spreads, totals and moneylines usually include overtime. Second-half and fourth-quarter bets vary, so check the house rules for the market you bet.
How much does a $100 bet at -110 win?
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$90.91. At -110 you risk $110 to win $100, so a $100 stake wins 100 × 100 ÷ 110.
