How to Bet on NFL Football
Everything you need to know to place your first NFL bet with confidence
8 min read
3 Things You Need to Start Betting
1. A Sportsbook Account
Sign up with a legal sportsbook like FanDuel or DraftKings. Must be 21+ and in a legal state.
2. A Betting Budget
Set aside money you can afford to lose. Start small - even $20-50 is fine for learning.
3. Basic Knowledge
Understand the three main bet types: moneyline, point spread, and totals. We'll cover all three below.
How do you bet on the NFL?
Pick one of three markets: the moneyline (who wins), the spread (who wins by how much, e.g. Chiefs −6.5 at −110), or the total (combined points, e.g. 47.5). Then shop that number across sportsbooks — in the NFL, 3 and 7 are the margins that decide games, so the number matters as much as the price.
−110 means 52.4% to break even
Risk $110 to win $100, so you need 110/210 of your bets to land just to break even. That gap is the sportsbook's margin.
3 and 7 are the key numbers
A field goal and a touchdown are the most common margins, so half a point across either is worth shopping for. See the frequencies.
Which market should you take?
- Prefer the spread when the moneyline is steep — risking four units to win one needs an extremely high hit rate to survive.
- Prefer the total when pace or weather tells you more than the matchup does.
- Pass when the injury report is still open. A number you cannot price yet is not an edge.
Understanding NFL Betting Markets
NFL betting offers three main bet types. Each works differently, and understanding them is essential before placing your first wager.
Moneyline Bets: Pick the Winner
The simplest bet - you pick which team wins the game. No point spread involved.
Example:
Chiefs -180 vs. Raiders +155
• Bet $180 on Chiefs to win $100 (they're favored)
• Bet $100 on Raiders to win $155 (they're underdogs)
Best for: Games where you're confident one team wins but unsure about the margin.
Point Spread Bets: Betting the Margin
The most popular NFL bet. The favorite must win by more than the spread; the underdog can lose by less than the spread (or win outright).
Example:
Chiefs -6.5 (-110) vs. Raiders +6.5 (-110)
• Chiefs -6.5: They must win by 7+ points for your bet to win
• Raiders +6.5: They can lose by up to 6 points and you still win
Best for: Most NFL games - spreads level the playing field between mismatched teams.
Totals (Over/Under): Combined Score
Bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number.
Example:
Total: 47.5 points
• Over 47.5: You win if the final combined score is 48+
• Under 47.5: You win if the final combined score is 47 or less
Best for: When you have a read on the game's pace but aren't sure which team wins.
NFL Key Numbers You Should Know
In football, certain margins of victory occur more frequently due to the scoring system (touchdowns = 7, field goals = 3). These "key numbers" matter when betting spreads:
| Key Number | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 3 | Most common margin - field goal difference. ~15% of NFL games land on 3. |
| 7 | Second most common - one touchdown difference. ~10% of games. |
| 10 | TD + FG difference. Third most common margin. |
| 6, 14, 17 | Other important numbers to watch when line shopping. |
Pro tip: Getting +3 instead of +2.5 can significantly improve your win rate over time.
NFL Betting Tips for Beginners
Do This
- Check injury reports before betting
Key injuries can move lines significantly
- Consider weather for outdoor games
Wind and rain affect passing and kicking
- Compare odds across sportsbooks
Getting better numbers adds up over time
- Start with small bets while learning
Protect your bankroll as you develop skills
Avoid This
- Betting on your favorite team blindly
Emotional bias clouds judgment
- Chasing losses with bigger bets
Stick to your unit size regardless of recent results
- Betting every game on the slate
Quality over quantity - be selective
- Ignoring home field advantage
Worth roughly 1.5-2 points in the NFL
Where Can I Bet on NFL Games?
Sports betting is legal in 38+ states as of 2026. The most popular legal sportsbooks include:
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
You must be 21+ and physically located in a state where sports betting is legal to place bets.
Check Your State's Betting LawsReady to Bet Smarter? Discover +EV Betting
Now that you know the basics, take your NFL betting to the next level. +EV (positive expected value) betting finds opportunities where the odds are actually in your favor - not the sportsbook's.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest NFL bet for beginners?
Moneyline bets are the easiest to understand - you simply pick which team will win the game. Point spreads are the most popular NFL bet, but moneylines are more straightforward for beginners learning the basics.
How much money do I need to start betting on NFL games?
You can start with as little as $20-50 at most sportsbooks. The key is setting a budget you're comfortable losing and sticking to it. Many experts recommend betting 1-2% of your total bankroll per game.
What does -110 mean in NFL betting?
-110 means you need to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10). This is the standard "juice" or "vig" that sportsbooks charge. It's built into most spread and total bets and represents the sportsbook's commission.
When is the best time to bet on NFL games?
Lines typically open Sunday night or Monday morning for the following week's games. Early bettors may find value before lines adjust, while waiting until game day gives you the latest injury and weather information.
Can you really make money betting on the NFL?
Long-term profitability requires finding bets where your edge exceeds the sportsbook's vig - this is called positive expected value (+EV) betting. Most recreational bettors lose over time, but disciplined bettors using data-driven approaches can be profitable.
When should I take the spread instead of a steep moneyline?
When the moneyline price is steep enough that you are risking many units to win one. A heavy favourite at -400 needs to win four times out of five just to break even on the price, and one upset wipes out several wins. The spread converts that same opinion into a bet where the number does the work instead of the price, which is usually the better instrument on a mismatch.
Why does line shopping matter more near 3 and 7?
Because those are the most common NFL margins of victory, so a half point across one of them changes far more outcomes than a half point anywhere else. Moving from -3.5 to -3, or +2.5 to +3, is worth shopping several books for in a way that -8.5 to -8 simply is not. The exact frequencies are broken down in our key numbers guide.
Not sure which of these fits how you bet?
The FairLine™ prices every game against the whole market instead of one sportsbook, and EdgeBoard™ shows where a book is offering better than that fair price. Two minutes of questions will tell you which markets are worth your time first.
Go deeper
- Key numbers in NFL betting — why 3 and 7 decide so many games
- Buying points — when paying extra juice to cross a key number pays off
- How to bet on college football — the same ideas where the numbers are less rigid
- Today's NFL board — the markets above, priced against the FairLine™