How to Read NFL Odds and Lines
Learning how to read NFL odds is vital to understanding how NFL betting works, and you should master it before making picks on football games at online sportsbooks.
Odds highlight the profit you will earn from a winning football bet, and they also tell you the implied probability of the wager succeeding. You can use this information to decide whether an NFL bet is appealing or not.
We will break down the main NFL wagering options and show you how to find the best odds available on your picks.
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NFL Odds Explained For All Bet Types
Trying to understand the NFL betting odds can feel overwhelming at first. But once you get a handle on how each type of bet works, like the moneyline, point spread, and over/under, you’ll find that reading these odds is simpler than it seems.
Below, we’ll go over the core bet types you’ll see every week during the NFL season at online sportsbooks. Use this information to place smarter bets on game day.
NFL Moneylines
The moneyline is a simple bet on which team will win an NFL game. It doesn’t matter by how many points. The sportsbooks assess the strengths of both teams and then release moneyline odds.
Online US sportsbooks display their NFL odds in the American format. That means the odds will either be a positive (+) or negative (-) number. A positive number for the underdog (least favorite to win), and a negative number for the favorite.
Reading NFL Moneyline Odds
- Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Buffalo Bills (+200)
- Buffalo Bills to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (-240)
The betting odds tell you the potential profit available by betting on each team and the implied chances of either team winning.
When the NFL odds are positive, they tell you the profit available on a $100 bet. In this example, you will earn a $200 profit for every $100 wagered on the Chiefs, but they only have a 33.3% implied chance of success (they are the underdog here).
Negative NFL odds tell you the amount you must risk to win $100 betting on the favorite. In this example, a $240 bet on the Bills would produce a $100 profit.
Pro Tip: Use our Moneyline calculator to determine potential payouts on your bet.
NFL Point Spreads
The point spread is probably the most popular NFL bet type.
Points are added or subtracted from a team’s final score based on the point spread to determine which team wins the bet. Let’s take a look at an example.
Reading NFL Point Spread Odds
- Buffalo Bills -2.5 (-110)
- LA Rams +2.5 (-110)
Buffalo is a short favorite. The Bills are giving (or laying) 2.5 points. This means they have to win the game by at least three points to cover the spread.
Los Angeles, as the underdog, is getting 2.5 points. This means the Rams can lose the game by two points and still cover the spread.
Who covers the bet if Buffalo wins by a score of 23-21? Los Angeles does because it’s getting 2.5 additional points on the spread.
Notice in the table above that Buffalo has -110 odds to cover the spread at -2.5 points. Sportsbooks charge a fee to handle your bet. This is known as the vig or juice, and it’s only applied to losing bets.
The vig computes to 4.36% at standard odds of -110 on both sides of the bet. This simply means you have to bet $11 to win $10 (of course, your initial $11 wager would be returned to you as well, so you would collect $21 in total).
Typically, $100 is used as the benchmark for making these calculations. You don’t have to bet that much, though; bet $10, $25, $50, or more, depending on your bankroll.
While -110 is the standard vig applied to a point spread bet, bookmakers sometimes vary the juice. For example, if you see -115 next to the spread for one team, it means you have to bet $115 to win $100.
If the other team is offered at -105, a bet of $105 returns $100 if the Rams cover the spread (i.e., lose by no more than two points or win the game outright).
Pro Tip: Use our NFL Spread Calculator to determine whether it is in your interest to bet on an alternate point spread.
NFL Totals or Over/Unders
This is another popular NFL betting option, which simply requires you to predict how many points both teams will combine for in a game.
The sportsbooks will assess the offensive and defensive capabilities of each team, and they will then set a total points line. You normally find similar odds on Over and Under.
Reading NFL Totals Odds
- Over 46.5 points (-110)
- Under 46.5 points (-110)
If you think the teams will combine for at least 47 points, bet on Over. If not, you can bet on Under. Simple as that.
Other Types of NFL Odds and Bets
There are more types of bets you’ll find at NFL sportsbooks, offering extra options to get in the action during the season.
These normally use the American odds format, just like moneylines. To make things easier, here’s a clear explanation of these alternative wagers.
NFL Futures
Futures bets are made on the outcome of an event that takes place in the future. Simple, right?
The best example of this is betting on the future Super Bowl winner. You can do this at any point during the calendar year.
You can also bet on the winner of each conference or division, and football fans can bet on player awards.
NFL Futures Odds Examples
- 49ers to win the next Super Bowl (+1600)
- Chiefs to win the AFC West Division (+250)
There are also long-term team specials, such as:
- Bengals to win Over 9.5 regular season games (-110)
- Bengals to win Under 9.5 regular season games (-110)
The odds on these markets change throughout the season to reflect recent results and other variables, such as injuries to key players.
Pro Tip: Use our NFL Futures calculator to determine the true probability of each outcome occurring within a futures market.
NFL Propositions or Prop Bets
Prop bets are fun. These odds are offered on outcomes that aren’t tied directly to the final result of the game.
NFL player props, for example, are offered on the number of rushing, passing, and receiving yards a player has in a game.
Odds are available on player performance stats, team stats, and game events. They present you with a proposition, and you can then make a Yes/No or Over/Under prediction.
NFL Prop Bet Odds Examples
For example, you can bet Over/Under on the number of yards a QB will throw for, the number of yards a running back will rush for, or the number of sacks a defensive lineman will record.
Game props include Yes/No bets on whether there will be overtime, a safety, a two-point conversion, an octopus, and so on.
You can even go crazier with weird props, like Super Bowl Halftime Show prop bets, where you can bet sometimes on whether the performer will have a wardrobe malfunction or not…
I know, you can bet on everything these days, and we are all for it! Make sure to check out our NFL prop bets calculator to find interesting odds.
NFL Parlay Bets
NFL parlays combine predictions on two or more games to create a single wager. For example, you might bet on the Ravens, Buccaneers, and Panthers all to cover the spread on the same day.
The parlay will only pay off if all three picks are correct, so it is a risky wager. However, it can be lucrative if you succeed, as the profit from each correct pick rolls over to the next prediction, and the overall profit compounds.
Using Gaming Today’s parlay calculator, you plug those figures in and get your parlay odds, implied probability of winning, and potential payout on a bet.
You receive your initial stake back, too, so you’re more than doubling your money if a parlay hits.
Remember that every leg of your parlay must be correct to win, though. The more legs (or outcomes) you add, the more difficult it becomes to win. Bottom line: Don’t expect to cash many 10-team parlays.
NFL Live Betting Odds Explained
NFL live betting is available after a game begins. They update their NFL odds on markets like the spread, total, moneyline, props, and same-game parlays in real time, reflecting the score and how well each team is performing.
Some apps also offer micro-betting options during a live NFL game. For example, you can bet on the outcome of each drive or each down.
The way to read NFL odds for live bets is the same; you check the American format odds and make a decision. The difference is that these lines are constantly moving, so make the right decision at the right time, or you could lose your chances of getting that big payout.
What is NFL Line Shopping?
Line shopping is literally shopping (or browsing) for the best available odds at online sportsbooks for a specific bet.
You will maximize your potential profits if you shop around for the best odds and lines, looking for the most favorable odds.
That’s why it’s helpful to register with more than one online sportsbook legal in your state. That way, you can check around for the best odds, but also take advantage of different NFL betting promos.
How To Bet on NFL Odds at Legal Sportsbooks
Before you can put Gaming Today’s NFL betting tips to the test and grab the best NFL odds, you must sign up for at least one (or more than one) online sportsbook account. The steps to making your first legal mobile sports bet include the following:
Find an online sportsbook
Check out the best sports betting apps for the latest on promotions, betting markets, and online sportsbook launches across the US.
Claim a welcome bonus
Check in with Gaming Today for updated promo codes for each legal US online sportsbook. These promo codes unlock the welcome bonuses at the sportsbook.
Register for a new account
Most sportsbooks require first and last names and a valid email address to sign up for a new account. You’ll need additional proof of age and identity to make your first deposit.
Make your first deposit
Once the sportsbook verifies your identification documents, you can access several remote deposit options. Some of the most reliable deposit methods include ACH/eCheck, PayPal, and the Play+ Prepaid card.
Download a mobile sportsbook app
Most legal online sportsbooks offer their platforms on Apple iOS and Android apps. Apple device owners can find sportsbook apps in the App Store, while Android users can download apps directly from a sportsbook’s website. The Google Play store recently approved legal gambling apps, but it might take a while for the top US sportsbook brands to get their apps on the Google Play menu.
Place bets
Online sports bets require just a couple of clicks for the wager to appear on your betslip. Once you’ve input how much you want to bet on a particular line, confirm the wager on the betslip and send it through to the sportsbook.
Bet Tracking
The practice of tabulating your betting history. Advanced bet tracking for sports betting is essential because numbers are king. Properly monitoring and tracking your bets makes you gambling royalty. Sports gamblers, novices, and veterans alike are guaranteed to improve their game with this simple hack.
NFL Odds FAQ
Those NFL odds mean you must risk $110 in order to win $100. They are the most common NFL odds, as many online sportsbooks offer -110 on either side of a point spread or total points line. That gives the sportsbook a 4.77% house edge, known as the vigorish.
NFL odds of +110 mean that a $100 bet will result in a $110 profit if the wager is successful. You do not need to wager precisely $100, as the odds are just there to guide you. For example, you can wager $10 at odds of +110 and receive an $11 profit if the pick is correct.
Yes, DraftKings offers NFL odds on every game of the season. You can bet on the point spread, total points, moneylines, props, parlays, and much more. DraftKings also offers NFL odds on futures markets, such as the winner of the Super Bowl.
Yes, FanDuel offers live odds during NFL games. Visit the “Live now” section or head to the NFL page and choose the “Live” tab to browse a list of live NFL games. Select one, and you will be presented with a wide variety of live NFL betting options, with the odds updating in real time.
You can find the best NFL odds by comparing the numbers at each legal online sportsbook in your state. Our NFL odds comparison chart makes it easy to quickly see which site has the best odds on your picks. Just bookmark our NFL odds page and return whenever you want to find the best prices.
The best type of bet using NFL odds is the point spread. This is the most popular NFL wager, and it has a lower house edge than markets such as prop bets and parlays. You may sometimes spot arbitrage opportunities, meaning you lock in a guaranteed profit by covering both sides of the same bet at rival sportsbooks.
