13 Ways to Make Money Betting on the NFL

The 2025 NFL season is upon us and sharp bettors have already begun cashing in on the action. If you’ve been wondering how to make money betting on the NFL, it’s all about knowing where the value is and using smart strategies to gain an edge.

Whether you’re a casual fan just having fun or a seasoned NFL bettor aiming for steady profits, there are plenty of ways to approach the game. Let’s break down the 13 best ways to make money betting on the NFL.

1. Bet on Preseason NFL Futures

One of the best ways to get an edge on the sportsbooks is by jumping on NFL futures before the season kicks off. Because sportsbooks set NFL futures months in advance, it leaves plenty of room for softer numbers. This gives you an opportunity to land strong odds before the market corrects itself.

The trick to preseason NFL futures is spotting value created by offseason moves—whether it’s a team hiring a new head coach, landing a key free agent, or drafting a franchise-changing rookie. Books can be slow to adjust to these changes, giving you the chance to lock in favorable odds before hype and public money drives the price down.

It just happened again this year with the Packers, who opened at +2500 on May 1 before a big trade and a hot start to the season shrunk their odds down to +650. As a result, the bettors who got in early locked in incredible value on one of the NFL’s top Super Bowl contenders. 

If you want to maximize profits, don’t wait for the season to start—preseason NFL futures are the best way to stay ahead of the curve.

2. Target Preseason Game Wagers

In the regular season, games usually come down to talent. It’s different in the preseason, when motivation takes center stage. Coaches aren’t chasing wins in August; they’re focused on evaluating rookies, trying out new playbooks, and sorting out roster spots. Winning the game often takes a backseat, and that’s exactly where sharp bettors can find an edge.

In NFL preseason betting, lineups and player rotations often matter more than the point spread itself. A coach might rest his starters after one drive, while the opposing team leaves its first unit on the field for an entire half. Following team beat writers, tracking depth chart news, and watching how coaches historically approach preseason games can all tip you off to valuable opportunities.

Smart bettors aren’t just guessing who’s better on paper. They’re asking who actually wants to win this game and which players will be on the field when it matters. If you can figure that out, you’ll often be ahead of the oddsmakers during the NFL preseason.

3. Bet on NFL Draft Props

The NFL Draft is one of the most unique betting events of the year because it’s driven by information, not on-field performance. That’s why draft props can be gold for bettors who know where to look. Sportsbooks post lines on things like which quarterback will be drafted first, over/under on a player’s draft position, or how many players from a certain school will go in Round 1.

The key is balancing all the mock drafts and insider reports. There’s a lot of information being passed around and it’s up to you to put all the pieces together. You’ll often find the best odds early on in the draft process, because sportsbooks are working off projections, not solid intel. That’s when value exists for bettors who’ve done their homework. 

As the draft gets closer, information sharpens, mock drafts tighten up, and the odds shift fast. That’s when timing becomes crucial: the earlier you act, the more value you can snag, but waiting can give you more accuracy if you’re willing to risk settling for shorter odds.

4. Bet on NFL Player Props

If spreads and totals aren’t cutting it, NFL player props often provide better value. Sportsbooks focus most of their energy on the big lines, which means NFL player props don’t get the same sharp pricing. That opens the door for bettors willing to dig into individual matchups.

The best way to attack props is to look at specific situations, like running backs facing a defense that struggles against the run, or receivers matching up against a weak secondary. Oddsmakers tend to price these numbers on season averages, while sharp bettors can exploit one-off mismatches.

Another smart strategy is pairing prop bets that go hand in hand. For example, if you think a quarterback is going to light it up, pairing his passing yards over with his top wideout’s receiving yards over can be a smart move. 

Props give you a chance to bet on the game within the game, and when you spot the right matchup, they can be far more profitable than sticking to traditional lines.

5. Exploit Live Football Betting

Live betting is one of the best ways to take advantage of oddsmakers in real time, where you can often spot overreactions. A quick touchdown drive in the first quarter can swing totals or spreads way too far, giving sharp bettors the chance to pounce on easy money.

Another edge comes from hedging or middling during live action. If you’ve got a pregame bet on one side, you can use shifting lines to lock in profit or even set up a middle—where both bets cash if the final score lands in the sweet spot. It’s a technique the pros use to reduce risk without killing upside.

The bottom line? Live betting isn’t about guessing—it’s about reacting faster and smarter than the sportsbook. If you can stay disciplined and strike when the market overadjusts, in-game wagers can be one of the most profitable tools in your arsenal. If you want to take advantage of in-game lines, make sure you’re using one of the top sites to bet on NFL that offer fast, reliable live markets

6. Lean into Parlay Betting (with Caution)

Parlays are one of the most popular types of NFL bets, and it’s easy to see why. Stacking multiple games into one ticket turns a small stake into a huge potential payout. But let’s be real—parlays stack the odds against you. Sportsbooks love them for a reason.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid them entirely. Parlays can be great as a low-risk, high-reward option when you’re betting for entertainment. They’re also a spot where promos come into play. NFL sportsbooks like Lucky Rebel offer parlay boosts, insurance on one-leg misses, or special NFL combo deals that can tilt the math back in your favor. If you’re going to fire at parlays, those are the times to do it.

What you don’t want to do is chase losses with big, desperate parlays. That’s one of the fastest ways to torch your bankroll. Treat them as a fun side bet, not your main strategy. Used sparingly, and with the right promos, parlays can add some excitement to your betting card without wrecking your bottom line.

7. Bet Against the Public

Sometimes the smartest bet is the one nobody else wants to make. Betting against the public means fading the side that everyone else is piling on. Sportsbooks know most casual bettors love favorites and overs, so lines often get shaded in that direction. By going the other way, you can often grab extra value.

This strategy is called contrarian betting, and it works best when the action is heavily one-sided. For example, say 75% of bets are on Team A, but the line actually moves toward Team B. That tells you the bigger, sharper money is coming in on the underdog, even though the public is hammering the favorite.

The logic here is simple: the more lopsided the action, the more inflated the line becomes. That inflation creates value for anyone willing to go against the grain. It’s not about blindly fading every popular pick, but rather spotting the games where sportsbooks are clearly adjusting for public action.

Betting against the public takes patience and the guts to side with an ugly underdog, but over the long haul it’s one of the sharper strategies for NFL bettors to turn a profit.

8. Bet on NFL Totals

Betting the over/under is one of the simplest NFL wagers, but also one of the easiest spots to find hidden edges. Weather can be a major factor: heavy wind, snow, or rain can kill passing games and kickers, making the under much more appealing. Fatigue is another factor, especially for teams on short rest or traveling cross-country. 

It’s also important to keep an eye on key trends when betting NFL totals. For example, divisional unders have historically been profitable because those teams know each other so well, which usually leads to tighter defense and lower scoring. The same goes for primetime unders, where inflated betting on overs from the public often pushes lines higher than they should be. 

Totals can also move faster than spreads when the market reacts to news, so being plugged into injury reports or late weather updates is huge. If you’re willing to dig beyond the surface, betting totals can offer just as much value—if not more—than trying to pick winners against the spread.

9. Take Advantage of NFL Teasers

Teasers let you move the point spread in your favor, usually by anywhere from 4 to 7 points. When it comes to NFL betting, that can make a huge difference. The trick is understanding the key numbers, like 3 and 7, because so many football games end with those margins. By crossing both numbers with a teaser, you’re flipping a tough spread into one that lands in your favor.

One of the most popular strategies is the Wong teaser. The idea is to take favorites of -7.5 to -8.5 and tease them down through both key numbers, or underdogs of +1.5 to +2.5 and tease them up above those same numbers. That way, you’re using the teaser to cross the most common scoring gaps in NFL games.

Where most bettors go wrong is trying to tease totals. Scoring swings in the NFL are much less predictable, so moving the line 6 points doesn’t carry nearly the same value as it does with point spreads. Stick to picking teams, respect the key numbers, and teasers can be a sharp addition to your NFL betting strategy in 2025.

10. Bet on NFL Futures During the Season

Futures aren’t just a preseason play—they’re alive all season long. Odds shift every week based on wins, losses, and injuries. A team that starts slow might drift to long-shot odds, only to bounce back later in the year. On the flip side, a hot stretch can cut a contender’s price in half in a matter of weeks.

This week-to-week movement also opens the door to hedging opportunities. Say you grabbed a team early at +400 to win their division. By midseason, they’re leading the pack and the odds have shortened to -150. Instead of riding it out, you can place a smaller bet on their closest rival. That way, no matter who ends up on top, you’ve locked in a profit. 

We see examples every year. In 2023, the Texans went from long shots in September to AFC South champions by January, rewarding anyone who bought in during their midseason run. Keeping an eye on futures markets throughout the NFL season is one of the best ways to stay ahead of the sportsbooks.

11. Make Good Use of Line Shopping

One of the simplest ways to boost your profits is line shopping. Odds vary from site to site, so having multiple sportsbook accounts is essential. Even a half-point difference on a spread or an extra ten cents on a moneyline can add up over a full NFL season. The public tends to focus on the bet itself, but sharp bettors know the number is just as important as the pick.

Line shopping also opens the door to arbitrage opportunities. That’s when two books post drastically different numbers, letting you bet both sides and lock in a guaranteed profit. For example, if one book has Team A at +105 and another has Team B at +105, you can split your stake across both and walk away a winner regardless of the outcome. These chances don’t come around often, but when they do, they’re basically free money.

If you don’t want to track lines manually, there are odds comparison tools that update in real time. They’ll show you which sportsbook has the best price for your bet, so you’re never leaving value on the table. Over the long haul, line shopping is one of the easiest habits that separates pros from casual bettors.

12. Find an Edge in Super Bowl Betting

The Super Bowl is the biggest single betting event in the world, and that means more ways to find value than any other game on the NFL calendar. Sportsbooks take massive action on the game so the lines are tighter than usual, but that doesn’t mean sharp bettors can’t carve out an edge.

For example, if you have a futures bet on a contender before the playoffs, you can hedge during Super Bowl week and guarantee yourself some profit. Another option is to attack live betting during the Super Bowl itself, taking advantage of momentum swings in the game. And of course, there’s the buffet of props covering everything from the coin toss to the game’s final score.

It’s also worth noting the sheer scale of Super Bowl betting, with more prop bets available than any other sporting event. That flood of action means sportsbooks have to post lines on just about everything, and sharp bettors who dig deep can often spot the numbers that don’t add up.

13. Maximize Bonuses & Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are another easy way to add value to your NFL betting. From welcome bonus offers to odds boosts, the top online sportsbooks are constantly dangling incentives that can fatten your bankroll. 

The most common types of promos include deposit matches, bonus bets for new users, odds boosts on marquee games, and parlay insurance when one leg misses. Some betting sites also run weekly or gameday specials tied directly to NFL action, so staying alert can pay off.

The smartest strategy is to use promos on bets you already like. That way, you’re not just chasing a bonus; you’re improving the payout on a play you would’ve made anyway. Just make sure to read the fine print. Bonus bets often can’t be withdrawn, may expire quickly, or have minimum odds requirements.

Bonuses and promotions won’t make up for a poor betting strategy, but they can give smart bettors a steady advantage over the course of a long NFL season.

The Best Way to Make Money Betting on the NFL

At the end of the day, there’s no single trick to beating the books—it’s about stacking small edges, staying disciplined, and managing your bankroll. From preseason futures and live betting to player props and line shopping, the strategies we’ve covered show that making money on the NFL is possible if you play the long game.

The most important takeaway is to stay disciplined. Set a budget, stick to it, and never chase losses. Betting should enhance your season, not control it. If you want to go deeper, check out our related guides on football betting strategy, which can help sharpen your approach.

Ready to put these tips into action? Sign up at Lucky Rebel, claim your welcome bonus, and start betting smarter this season.

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