Betting Football:
American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, captivating fans with its thrilling gameplay and strategic battles. Between NFL, NCAAF, and even CFL, understanding the various betting markets in American football is essential to make informed decisions and maximize the chances of success for avid bettors. In this detailed blog, we’ll explore some of the most common betting markets in American football, shedding light on their intricacies and providing valuable insights to enhance your betting experience. Let’s dive in!
Point Spread Betting:
Point spread betting is the one of the most popular forms of betting in American football. In this market, the sportsbooks set a point spread that aims to level the playing field between the favorite and the underdog. Bettors can choose to wager on either team, with the favorite having to win by a certain margin (cover the spread) and the underdog having to either win outright or lose by a smaller margin than the spread. This means that if the point spread was set to 7.5 as an example, the team that is the favorite would have to win the game by eight or more points, whilst the underdog team would have to either lose by seven or less points, or win the game outright. The point spread adds excitement and balance to the betting experience.
You can view the best NFL or other American Football Spread trends using our Angles tool.
Moneyline Betting:
Moneyline betting is straightforward and involves betting on the outright winner of a football game. Unlike point spread betting, there are no handicaps involved. Each team is assigned odds that represent their chances of winning the game. With an American odds format, favorites are denoted by negative (-) odds, indicating the amount you need to bet to win $100, while underdogs will typically have positive (+) odds, representing the potential payout for a $100 bet.
Use our Streaks and Profitable Teams tools to uncover some of the best NFL Moneyline plays.
Total Points (Over/Under) Betting:
Total Betting, also known as Over/Under betting, revolves around predicting whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a predetermined number set by the sportsbooks. The total is typically represented as a whole number with a decimal point (i.e. a half point added) to avoid ties, which are known as a push. Bettors can wager on whether the final score will exceed (over) or fall short of (under) the set total. This market adds excitement to games, irrespective of the outcome or point spread.
Prop Betting:
Proposition (prop) betting involves wagering on specific events or outcomes within a game that may not directly impact the final result. Prop bets can include team props such as the first team to score, or player props such as total passing yards for a quarterback, or the number of touchdowns by a specific player. Prop betting adds an extra layer of excitement and allows bettors to focus on individual player performances or specific game situations.
Player Prop Betting:
Player prop betting, sometimes referred to as performance betting, allows you to bet on the statistical performance of individual players. You can place wagers on specific player props such as passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, or touchdowns. These markets provide an opportunity to leverage bettors’ knowledge of player skills and matchups.
Defensive Player Performance Betting:
While most player prop bets focus on offensive statistics, defensive player performance betting allows you to wager on defensive statistics such as sacks, interceptions, tackles, or forced fumbles. This market allows you to showcase your knowledge of defensive players and their impact on the game.
Parlay Betting:
Parlay betting combines multiple individual bets into a single wager, offering potentially higher payouts. To win a parlay bet, all the individual bets within the parlay must be successful. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires all selections to be correct. Parlays can include point spread, moneyline, or over/under bets and provide an opportunity to maximize winnings with a single wager.
Teaser Betting:
Teaser betting is a variant of parlay betting that allows bettors to adjust the point spread or total in their favor. By “teasing” the lines, bettors can add or subtract points to create more favorable betting conditions. However, teasers come at the cost of reduced odds and potential payouts.
First-Half/Second-Half Betting:
First-half and second-half betting allows bettors to focus on specific periods of a football game. You can place wagers on the outcome of just the first half or second half, independent of the overall game result. This market offers an opportunity to capitalize on teams that tend to perform better in certain halves or to take advantage of halftime adjustments.
Team Totals Betting:
Team totals betting involves wagering on the total number of points scored by a specific team in a game. Oddsmakers set a line, and bettors can choose to bet over or under that total. This market allows you to focus on the offensive prowess or defensive strength of a particular team. Bettors may feel like they have an edge in this market compared to the normal total market which combines both teams’ scores.
Margin of Victory Betting:
Margin of victory betting involves predicting the winning margin of a football game. Sportsbooks set ranges of potential winning margins, and bettors can wager on whether the margin will be within a specific range or outside of it. This market gets bettors to try and anticipate how closely contested or lopsided a game will be.
Combination Bets:
Combination bets involve combining different types of bets into a single wager. For example, you can create a combination bet by selecting a team to win (moneyline) and also predicting that the total score will be over a certain number (over/under). This market allows you to customize your betting strategy and potentially increase your chances of winning.
Alternative Point Spread Betting:
In alternative point spread betting, sportsbooks offer alternative point spreads with adjusted odds. This market allows you to explore different scenarios and potential outcomes by selecting a different point spread than the one initially set by the sportsbook. It provides flexibility and the opportunity to find value in alternative lines.
Winning Margin Betting:
Similar to margin of victory betting, winning margin betting involves predicting the exact margin by which a team will win a game. Instead of choosing a range, you can place bets on specific winning margins. This market requires a keen understanding of team strengths, offensive and defensive capabilities, and potential game dynamics.
Special Teams Betting:
Special teams betting focuses on specific events or outcomes related to kickoffs, punts, field goals, or extra point attempts. You can bet on events like successful onside kicks, blocked kicks, or the number of touchbacks. Special teams play a significant role in the game, and this market provides an opportunity to capitalize on their impact.
Time of First Score Betting:
In this market, you can bet on the time when the first score of the game will occur. You can choose specific time ranges such as within the first 5 minutes, between 5 and 10 minutes, or even later in the game. This market adds an element of excitement as you try to predict when the first points will be scored.
Conclusion:
American football offers a wide range of betting markets that cater to the diverse preferences of bettors. Whether you prefer traditional markets like point spread, moneyline, and over/under, or you’re inclined towards prop bets, player performance bets, or live betting, there is something for everyone in the world of American football betting.
By understanding and exploring these various betting markets, you can enhance your overall betting experience and potentially increase your chances of success. Each market presents its own set of opportunities and challenges, requiring careful analysis, research, and strategic decision-making.
