NFL Odds And Betting Lines

How to Read NFL Odds

To a new football bettor, NFL odds can look like a foreign language. But once you figure out what moneyline, spread, and point total odds mean, understanding NFL odds is quite simple. Those three betting markets are the most common ways to bet on the NFL, so once we got those down you're good to start wagering.

Below, I'll break down the ins and outs of different NFL odds and how to approach wagering on American football to get you up to speed.

Moneyline

NFL moneyline betting offers the simplest route into NFL wagering, requiring you to simply select which team you believe will emerge victorious.

In moneyline betting, the favored team is denoted by a minus sign (-) before the odds, while the underdog carries a plus sign (+). However, the potential profit differs for selecting an underdog versus a favorite. For instance, if the favored team has odds of -120, a $100 wager would yield an $80 profit, totaling $180. Conversely, if the underdog's odds are +150, a $100 bet would return a $150 profit, totaling $250.

The larger the difference between two teams' odds (say -300 and +250) the more books expect a blowout. But, the more profit you'd get if your underdog bet happens to cash.

Spread

Betting on NFL spreads remains king when wagering on pro football. It's a favorite in online sports betting among pro bettors and beginners alike.

Unlike moneylines, books set a point value teams need to cover to win in spreads. For example, a negative value (-11.5) next to a football team means that they are favored by that many points. So you must deduct 11.5 points from their score to determine if you won a bet or not. If the New York Jets win by 12 as -11.5 favorites, your bet cashes.

On the other hand, a positive value on the same game (+11.5) means the underdog starts with an 11.5-point lead before the game even begins. In NFL odds, a +11.5 underdog can lose by 11 or fewer points (or win outright) to cash your bet.

Totals (Over/Under)

NFL total betting, also referred to as NFL over/under betting, involves predicting the combined score of both teams in a game. NFL sportsbooks set a specific number, known as the total, and you decide on if the combined score will be above (over) or below (under) that mark.

For example, if you place an under bet on a total of 37.5 points, you're anticipating a defensive showdown with limited scoring. Conversely, an over bet on the same total indicates you expect a higher-scoring affair than the books suggest.

You can also place over/under bets for more than just the full game, like wagers on the point total at halftime or quarter totals, providing additional opportunities for your NFL picks.

These are just the three most common ways to bet on the NFL, but there are a bunch of other NFL betting markets to consider for your Sunday wagers:

Find the Best NFL Odds

The easiest way to ensure you're getting the best NFL odds for your specific wager is to look at a few different NFL sportsbooks, what we call "line shopping."

Despite setting similar lines, one book could have the Patriots as -1.5 favorites while another slates them at -2. That half-point doesn't seem like a lot, but it could be the difference. Books often have slightly different moneyline and point total NFL odds, too.

Another thing to consider when looking for the best NFL odds is when you're betting. Lines constantly change after they're initially set by sportsbooks, so if you've got a solid bet, locking in those odds early can be smart. Or, if you're waiting for an injury update or two, hold off until Sunday morning before kickoff.

We've got pick tools to help you find your edge and take advantage of these best NFL odds all season:

Create an NFL Betting Strategy

Once you've got the basics of NFL odds down, crafting your own NFL betting strategy is the next step to successful wagering. 

You can handicap game-by-game, find a system like only betting underdogs on the road, or use our NFL betting tools to help you find an edge each week or each game. Some of our most useful tools include the NFL head-to-head database, weekly NFL betting trends, and updated NFL power rankings. Here are some other tools I use for my own NFL betting strategy: