NFL Betting Guide 2024

NFL leads the wagering handle in all betting states. Betting on the most popular sport in America is very easy, and you can do it on any sportsbook in the U.S. Let’s check out some basics on how to bet on the NFL.

NFL Betting Guide

Start betting on the NFL with BonusFinder tips!

?? How to Bet on NFL Games

All online sports betting sites in the entire world feature National Football League games on their platforms. In fact, NFL bets are so popular that NFL betting lines are posted months in advance.

Betting on the NFL is very easy and you can get started with a small bankroll if you are new to sports wagering. To begin, sign up on an online betting site; you can find legal options in your state on BonusFinder US.

Once you have an account, choose your bets. Below we you talk you through the main bet types which apply to both National Football League and college football betting.

?? Betting Options for NFL Games

There are hundreds of different options, and your NFL betting strategies are largely influenced on what bet types you choose. The best bets for you depend on your preferences and how much money you can wager.

You can check out potential winnings from our odds calculator. Below are some choices for your bet slip.

Point Spread Bets

The straight bet against the point spread betting is the most popular form of wagering on the NFL. You can place point spread wagers on the NFL betting websites, with -110 odds on both sides. For these wagers, the outcome of the NFL game is adjusted by a set number of points the other team needs to “cover the spread”.

For example, the point spread line could be Packers -4,5 which would mean that Green Bay would need to win by 5 or more for you to cash your bet. The half point means there can’t be a push (that’s when you get your stake back as the bet is not a win or a loss).

The extra 10% is the vig. Also called the juice, it’s how sportsbooks make money. If an equal number of NFL football bets are taken on each side at -110, they will make a profit regardless of the outcome. For most football games, both sides often get bets although there is the option to choose alternative line which might have different odds.

Moneyline Bets

You can also wager on who wins the game outright with moneyline betting. Unlike the point spread bet with -110 odds on both sides, the likely outcome of the game affects the moneyline odds.

If Tampa Bay is visiting New England as 3 point favorites, the NFL moneylines for Buccaneers might be -125 and the line for the Patriots +110. The minus sign always indicates the favored team in moneyline betting, but it’s up to you to guess which team will win.

Totals Bets

All sites offering betting action on the NFL also have total bets, or over/under on the total combined score. You bet whether the combined points scored is over or under a predetermined number; the odds for NFL totals are balanced at -110 to ensure both sides get bets.

For example, if the Steelers vs Ravens game has a total line of 44.5, you can bet over if you think it’ll be a high scoring affair and under if you think defense will rule. Sportsbooks also post halftime totals for NFL games and total wins for regular season games.

Parlay Bets

Sportsbooks take a lot parlay bets and round robins. It is a type of bet where you place multiple games on a single bet. The more legs on the ticket, the bigger the win.

However, the sportsbook takes a larger cut out of the ticket on NFL parlay bets than on straight bets. The NFL teaser bets are similar, but you can alter the point spread. Parlay boosts increase the winnings if you get all NFL picks correct.

You can also place a same game parlay bet on football on most sites. That means your selections all come from the same NFL game; you can include the moneyline, point spread, total, and NFL players’ props on your wager.

The same rules apply for single game parlays: the more picks, the higher the NFL odds. Check out the potential winnings from the parlay calculator!

Types of NFL Bets

There are all sorts of NFL bets you can place on sportsbooks.

Live In-Game Wagering

Most NFL online sites also offer in-game live betting or in-play betting, which means you can wager during the event on the next play. However, betting live on college games is not available in every state, so make sure to check the regulations from local authorities or your own sportsbook.

Top sportsbooks have a huge range of live odds which change quickly as the game progresses in real time, so keep an eye out for favorable line movement. Live betting markets can be found on most books when you click on the game.

Futures

A futures bet is the bet to make for every NFL fan during preseason games. You can bet on the eventual division winner, the Super Bowl winner, the NFL MVP and other player awards, or even the Heisman Trophy winner. NFL futures are the greatest sports bets to make, because you can sweat them all season long until the Big Game.

Future betting is also a fun way to make money if you feel like you have insight on a team or player’s season-long performance or if you can handle more risk. Remember, the higher odds, the less likely to win.

Proposition Bets

Also called prop bets, NFL betting sites offer a wide array of these popular bets on all of the games. Prop bets are wagers on events that happen during the game even on a single play, and live betting also features a ton of options for prop betting.

For example, you can bet on a number of passing yards Patrick Mahomes throws (a player prop) or the number of touchdowns for Kansas City Chiefs (a team prop) in a given game. You can place a prop bet on the coin toss at the Super Bowl and more props depending on the betting site’s selection.

?? Betting Tips

There is no universal NFL betting strategy, as all sports bettors are different. However, below are a couple of NFL betting tips you should follow when making a bet on upcoming NFL games for real money.

  1. Never wager beyond your means! Decide on a bankroll and do not go over it.
  2. The odds on the best online sportsbooks (and even on the not-so-good ones) are the result of loads of research. It’s unlikely you’ll have insight the oddsmakers don’t since football is the most popular sport in the U.S. Make your bets when line movements are favorable for your choices.
  3. You can employ the stats to your advantage when it comes to prop bets and certain teams you know well.
  4. Make bets you like and think can win. If your favorite NFL team doesn’t stand a chance against the favorites, don’t go all in on them.
  5. Shop around for betting odds, and look for alternative lines for betting flexibility. The big books usually have a large selection of wagering options.
Tips for NFL Betting

Follow our tips to get the most out of your NFL betting experience!

?? Benefits of Betting Online on the NFL

During the NFL season, millions of people bet online on their mobile devices and computers. Thanks to the multitude of options, the betting experience is becoming better and better. All the best sportsbooks are now online, and there are several reasons why you should be too.

  1. Bonuses
    The main reason why betting online is great is that you can get a lot of extra funds with very little effort. In addition to the welcome bonuses you can claim, you can find promotions on many of the sites. Examples of promos are odds boosts and profit boosts, which bump up the potential payout, parlay insurance so you get something back if your bet loses, and deposit match bonuses for reloads.
  2. Bet Wherever You Want to
    Retail betting is a fun experience, but visiting a casino or a kiosk continuously can be frustrating. If you download the betting apps straight to your phone, you can get your bets in at home, at the stadium, or while watching the game at your favorite bar.
  3. Check Around for Odds
    You can check out the most competitive football odds and the best lines from various sportsbooks to make the best possible betting decisions; each online betting account is free to create!
  4. Live Streaming
    Caesars Sportsbook has an exclusive deal with the NFL to provide a new service: the NFL Watch and Bet. Active sportsbook users can catch games for free and place bets on the same go!
  5. Easy Access to Stats
    Some of the sportsbooks we recommend provide a multitude of statistics you can rely on when making your bets. Conveniently, you can access the relevant information from the same site, so you can place your bets quicky before professional bettors get in on the action and the odds change.

?? NFL Teams

NFL has a long history in the US, and is extremely popular among all sports fans. While there are many important factors to consider when betting on the NFL, ultimately the most fun is rooting for your favorite team to win.

As there are a good number of states and teams to choose from, everyone can pick a favorite. Below you can see the breakdown of the conferences and divisions.

AFC North Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC East Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC South Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
AFC West Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
NFC North Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
NFC East Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders
NFC South Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks

?? NFL Betting Sites

You can bet legally on football and other sports at any retail or online sportsbook that operates in a legal gambling state. You can see the NFL sportsbooks live in your state on BonusFinder US. You can bet on all NFL games on all sportsbooks and each has a ton of props to choose from as well.

NFL Betting Online

Choose the best online sportsbook for you; BonusFinder US lists all the best books in your state, including PA sports betting promos.

?? How to Choose an NFL Sportsbook

There are several factors to consider when choosing a sportsbook, even though there might be small differences among the operators. You should think about each of the points below before making your decision; you can also sign up on several sportsbooks if you want to!

If you want to bet on the NFL games online, you’ll come across hundreds of football sites when searching the web. However, offshore sportsbooks are not legalized by U.S. sports betting authorities.

BonusFinder US only reviews online sportsbooks which are regulated by authorities like the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement or the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to promote legal sports betting. You can see which sportsbooks are legal by looking for the logo of the regulator on the sportsbook’s website.

Welcome Bonus

Sign-up offers are some of the biggest draws that state-regulated betting sites have. Most common new customer bonuses are deposit match bonuses, second chance bets, and bet & get offers. The sportsbook bonuses range from $50 to $1,000 or more, meaning you can find a suitable bonus for your betting style.

Remember to check whether you need a bonus code or not and what the terms & conditions are for your chosen bonus. These details are listed for each legal sportsbook, so you should be able to find them easily. For example, you might have to make multiple bets to get the full bonus or spend your credits in a certain amount of time.

Odds & Lines

You want the best odds and betting markets when betting on the NFL. However, odds vary among the sportsbooks significantly. While most sportsbooks offer the same betting odds on moneyline and point spread bets, it’s easy to see that some sites have much better odds on proposition and futures bets than others.

Some apps also have numerous alternative lines to choose from, if the point spread doesn’t appeal to you. If there is a notable incident that will affect the game, you’ll see the adjusted odds soon after.

User Interface

The website’s ease of use of is naturally one of the most important things for many recreational bettors. You want the experience to be as easy and pleasant as possible when betting on NFL games. The ease of in-game betting is one the most important aspects in this category. Most online sportsbooks’ websites work well on mobile as well; you can also download an app.

Betting App

Most NFL bettors use their mobile device for betting. In fact, the estimated mobile usage is 79% of all wagers. Therefore, it’s crucial that the betting sites have an app for both iOS and Android devices. You can download sportsbook apps from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

When you bet, you naturally want to win. And when you win, you want to get your money out of the gambling site safely and quickly. Luckily, most sportsbooks have quick payouts and all financial transactions are safe and secure for football fans.

However, not all betting sites feature the same deposit options and withdrawal methods; some operators are better in this regard than others. Some of the common payment methods include debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets.

author
Author
Head of Content

Internationally renowned author Henri Ojala has spent more than a decade mastering the ins and outs of the gambling industry, focusing on online poker, sports betting, and casino games. With over 10 years of experience in the gambling industry, he is a respected expert in various forms. Henri shares his extensive knowledge of strategies, odds, and risk management, earning him recognition as an authority in the online casino field.