Complete Football Betting Guide for Beginners

Our Top Recommended Football Betting Site

There are plenty of platforms in the US that work great for football betting. Take a look at our honest reviews of the top gambling sites for a clearer picture, and see what real players and industry experts say about their experiences. In the meantime, what you see below currently stands out right at the top when it comes to football betting for beginners.

BovadaBest Football Site for Beginners

Bovada is the best football betting site for beginners. The whole platform is laid out in a really clean way, to the point where even somebody brand new to online sportsbooks can easily find their way around. A lot of expert reviews back that up, particularly pointing to how simple it feels on mobile, plus the $5 minimum deposit makes it one of the lightest entry points anywhere. Add to that the 75% up to $750 crypto sports — players love it because the rollover is only 5x.

NFL games at Bovada give you all the details you’d want when lining up a wager, starting with head-to-head results and then rolling into averages scored, points allowed, and even quarter-by-quarter splits. The markets stretch into the hundreds every matchup. There are also props on players and teams, plus futures boards from early pre-season. And if something’s missing, you can hit the team on X with #WhatsYaWager to request your own line.

81%71%

Bonus:75% up to $750
Visit Site Read Review

Types of Football Betting Wagers

NFL Moneylines

Moneylines in the NFL are as straightforward as betting gets. You simply choose who you think will win the game. There are no points to worry about, just winners and losers.

For instance, imagine the New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets. The Patriots might be listed as -150, which means you’d need to bet $150 to win $100 if they’re victorious. On the other hand, if the Jets are +130, a $100 bet would net you $130 if they pull off the upset.

NFL Point Spread

This market levels the playing field between teams, assigning a virtual deficit or surplus of points to each. Let’s say the Los Angeles Rams are 7-point favorites against the Chicago Bears. If you bet on the Rams, they need to win by more than 7 points for you to cash your ticket. Bet on the Bears, and as long as they don’t lose by more than 7 points—or they win outright—you’re in the money.

Expert Point Spread Tip

Consider the teams’ recent ATS (Against the Spread) records. Betting on those who consistently beat the spread can be profitable, especially when they’re underestimated by the public.

NFL Totals

Also known as the over/under, this bet focuses on the total points scored in the game by both teams combined. Let’s say the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills racked up a final score of 27-24, respectively, making a combined total of 51 points. If the over/under for this game was set at 49.5, betting on the over would have been the winning move, as the actual total exceeded the predicted line.

NFL Parlays

A parlay lets you combine multiple bets on one ticket. You need all parts of your wager to hit to win anything—it’s all or nothing. For example, you could bet on the Philadelphia Eagles to cover the spread, the total to go over in the Steelers game, and the Packers to win outright. Hit all three, and your payout is calculated by multiplying the odds of each pick, which comes out significantly larger than any single-game bet.

Expert Parlays Tip

Got a strong feeling about a particular game? Sites like Bovada let you build same-game parlays where you can mix different types of bets—like point spreads, over/unders, and player props—all from a single matchup.

NFL Prop Bets

NFL prop bets (short for proposition bets) cover events within a game that don’t affect the final outcome. Some sample prop bets include over/under passing yards for a quarterback, first touchdown scorer, and total number of field goals in the second quarter.

Say it’s the Dallas Cowboys vs. the San Francisco 49ers. A few example football prop bets could include wagering on Deuce Vaughn to score the first touchdown of the game, or for Dak Prescott to throw over 250 passing yards.

NFL Teasers

A teaser bet is like a parlay, but it gives you the advantage of adjusting the point spread for two or more games. Odds become shorter, yet it’s easier to win since you move the line in your favor.

For example, if the Raiders are favored by 9 points against the Broncos, and the Bengals are 3-point underdogs against the Browns, you could tease 6 points, so the Raiders only need to win by more than 3 points, and the Bengals could lose by up to 9 points for you to still win your bet.

NFL Futures

Futures are all about the long haul, like wagering on who will win the Super Bowl before the season even starts. Football betting sites typically release these markets well in advance, and they are constantly updated based on team performances. Other popular futures markets include Regular Season MVP, Total Season Wins, Division Champions, and Conference Champions.

Expert Futures Tip

Monitor public betting trends and avoid heavily-favored picks where the value is diluted. Track offseason moves closely; sign up for alerts on trades, draft picks, and coaching changes. Look for undervalued teams that might be flying under the radar but have strong potential to exceed expectations.

NFL Live Bets

Bets placed before the opening kickoff are called pre-match odds, and bets placed after the kickoff are considered live betting wagers. Most pre-match wagers are still offered during live betting, but the odds update in real time based on the play-by-play action.

For example: if a team scores early, the point spread adjusts right away. And if a team scores three times before the other team does, the moneyline odds are updated accordingly. You might even see new bets show up — like whether the current drive ends in a touchdown, field goal, or punt.

NFL Derivatives

NFL derivatives focus on smaller parts of the game rather than the final outcome. You can bet on events like the first half spread, second quarter total points, or how many points a team scores in a single quarter.

Keep in mind odds on these markets adjust quicker and within shorter time frames than most bets. If you see a derivative bet you like, quickly place the wager before it disappears.

Derivative bets give you additional chances to wager as the game plays out, compared to pre-match spreads or moneylines whose odds are locked once the game starts.

Football Betting Terminology to Know

Football betting terminology can be confusing, especially for newcomers. Here are a few commonly used terms to make the football betting experience less daunting:

Juice (Vig)

Think of the juice (or vig, short for vigorish) as the sportsbook’s fee for accepting your bet. It ensures that the sportsbook always makes money, no matter the outcome of the wager. The juice is worked directly into the odds on any given bet.

For example: on moneyline bets, evenly matched teams should theoretically have +100 odds, or a 50% chance for each team to win. Instead, most sportsbooks list -110 for each outcome. -110 odds imply a 52.4% probability per team for a total of 104.8%. The extra 4.8% is what the sportsbook collects as a profit.

Push

A push happens when the game’s result matches the exact number in the point spread or total. Let’s say the over/under is 48, and the game ends 27–21 for a combined total of 48 points. The bet is simply cancelled, and you get your money back.

Some sportsbooks offer spreads in 1/2 point increments to avoid push bets. For instance: a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills matchup may have a spread total of 9 1/2 points. Since it’s impossible to score a half point in football, it would therefore be impossible for a push to occur.

Off the Board (OTB)

If a game is off the board, it means sportsbooks have temporarily stopped taking bets on it.

This usually happens when an unexpected event occurs that affect the odds. Some examples include major injury, weather issues, or breaking news that could potentially affect the outcome of the game. Once the odds have been adjusted accordingly, the sportsbook resumes taking bets.

Race to Points

A Race to Points bet predicts which team will be the first to hit a specific point total. For example, you might bet on the Falcons to score 15 points first. Even if they lose the overall game, you still win the Race to Points bet as long as they reach 15 points before the other team.

Public Money

Public Money refers to wagers placed by the general public. These bets are often influenced by current trends, media hype, and other hot topics of the day. Sportsbooks monitor this activity and may adjust the odds if a bet attracts too much action. Experienced bettors sometimes go the opposite way of the general public, as they predict the majority’s picks are based more on emotion than analysis.

For example: Say the Chicago Bears are betting underdogs against the Baltimore Ravens. Let’s also say that 75% of the bets placed are on the Bears, despite them being underdogs. Even though the Ravens are still the betting favorites, sportsbooks may adjust their lines to account for the heavy betting action on the Bears.

Popular Football Betting Events

The main attention in football betting throughout the year is on the NFL, especially as the season builds toward the playoffs and the Super Bowl. College Football carries a massive following of its own, while the UFL has recently begun attracting interest during the spring. Here’s a quick breakdown of each.

The NFL

The NFL season stretches from September through early February, starting with 18 weeks of regular play where every win or loss shapes playoff hopes. Rivalries drive interest all year, and the schedule builds toward games that feel like mini-events of their own on Sunday and Monday nights.

By January, the tone on NFL betting sites shifts completely as the playoffs begin. Wild Card weekend starts the elimination drama, leading through the Conference Championships and finally to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the largest annual sports event in the United States and a global spectacle. Beyond the championship stakes, it attracts enormous cultural attention with halftime shows, commercials, and celebrity appearances. Super Bowl betting sites see more action than any other single game, driven by unique proposition wagers ranging from coin toss outcomes to halftime performances.

College Football

College football dominates Saturdays across America. The season builds toward conference championships, bowl games, and the College Football Playoff. Rivalries like Michigan–Ohio State, Alabama–Auburn, or Texas–Oklahoma carry decades of history, fan passion, and regional bragging rights. It’s also where you’ll see the next generation of NFL talent before they make the jump.

Gambling on college football is extremely popular due to the sheer number of teams and unpredictable matchups. The constant roster changes also create unique opportunities that aren’t present in the more structured NFL.

Check out this dedicated guide on how and where to bet on college football.

United Football League (UFL)

The UFL launched in 2024 after the XFL and USFL merged, creating a single spring football league that runs from late March through June. It features eight teams spread across U.S. cities like St. Louis, Birmingham, and Washington. Games often take place in mid-sized stadiums, many of them college or multipurpose venues, so fans get a much closer and personal experience.

The best sites to bet on UFL give you markets that are far less efficient than the NFL. Teams change rapidly, players come from practice squads, fringe NFL rosters, or straight from college, and coaching systems are still new. That makes outcomes harder for sportsbooks to price, which sharp bettors see as an opportunity.

How to Place a Bet on Football

Football and NFL betting is easy to pick up. The simplest bets available for beginners are moneylines, as they allow you to jump right into the action by betting on which team will win outright. Moneyline bets are easy to learn and allow you to get a taste of how sports betting works without too much difficulty.

After moneylines you can learn a wide range of football bets like spreads, totals, props, and derivatives. The Bovada sportsbook offers an array of NFL bets with a clean layout that’s easy to navigate and well suited to newcomers betting on football for the first time.

Swipe for more

Create Your Bovada Account

First things first, you’ll need to set up an account on Bovada. This should take you at most three minutes to complete. Head to their website and look for the “Join” button at the top right of the homepage. Click on it, and you’ll be prompted to enter some basic information like your name, date of birth, ZIP code, email, and password.

Deposit Funds

Once your account is ready, you’ll need to add some money to it in order to bet. Look for the ‘Deposit’ option in your account menu and choose from the available options. In Bovada’s case, you’ll find some of the best depositing methods, including traditional options like bank transfers and credit cards, as well as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.

Remember: The first deposit usually qualifies for a welcome bonus, so check if there’s a promo code or a minimum requirement in order to claim.

Browse the Available NFL Markets

With funds in your account, click on the ‘Football’ option from the horizontal menu above the promotional banner. On the left, the top section shows the trending bet types and competitions—NFL Futures, Awards & Leagues, CFL, Preseason, and more. Below this, you’ll find the whole lot listed in alphabetical order. Choose the category that piques your interest to see all upcoming games and available betting markets.

NFL MVP Odds text centered with a football shield, Patrick Mahomes to left, Jordan Love to right, football stadium in background

Understand NFL Odds

You really can’t start betting on football online without a solid grasp of the odds. Offshore sportsbooks typically use American odds as default; these show you which selection is the favorite and how much you can win if your bet is successful. For example, if the odds are +150, a $100 bet would return $150 in winnings plus your original $100 back. Negative numbers like -150 mean you need to bet $150 to win $100.

Choose Your NFL Bet(s)

Now for the fun part—building your ticket. In the NFL section, you’ll see a list of upcoming games. Browse through them and pick the one(s) you want to bet on.

You’ll need to decide what type of bet you want to make. Bovada offers various options like point spreads, moneylines, and totals (over/under). Each will have its own odds; click on the ones you want to go for, and they’ll be automatically added to your bet slip. This will show you the different permutations (singles or multiples) available, as well as the potential payout.

Note: At this point, you’re still allowed to play around with different selections (add or remove). No bets are yet confirmed!

Place Your Bet

Once you’re happy with your ticket, enter the amount of money you want to wager and click on ‘Place Bets’. You’ll get a confirmation message once it’s accepted.

Watch the Game and Wait

All that’s left now is to watch the game and hope for the best! You can follow the action live, and Bovada usually offers a way to track your bet in real time.

If your bet wins, your winnings will automatically be added to your account balance. You can either withdraw them or use them for further bets as you please.

NFL Betting Tips for Beginners

Now that the process is clearer, let’s walk through six expert tips that form the backbone of the best football betting strategies.

Follow the Line Movement

NFL odds shift from the moment they open until kickoff. If you like a favorite and see the spread widening, bet early before the value disappears. On the other hand, if you’re leaning toward the underdog or an Under total, waiting until closer to game time can secure better odds.

Know the Key Numbers

NFL point spreads often land on three, six, or seven due to football’s scoring structure. A wager at -6.5 offers more value than -7, while +7.5 is stronger than +7. Always watch movement around these numbers since they drastically impact the probability of winning your bet.

Pay Attention to Public Money

Sportsbooks track where the majority of recreational bettors place their bets. If heavy public backing pushes a line, it may create inflated odds. The sharper play is to spot when fan-driven money skews the spread and step in on the opposite side, especially in primetime or playoff games where bias runs high.

Use Long-Term Trends Wisely

Teams develop betting patterns over multiple seasons, such as consistent success as an underdog or dominance after bye weeks. Short-term streaks are often noise, but multi-season performance trends with logical explanations provide actionable insight. Use those carefully to guide your wagers instead of relying on isolated outcomes.

Factor in the Weather

Wind, rain, and snow influence totals more than point spreads. Strong wind impacts field goals and passing efficiency, while heavy rain or snow benefits ground-heavy teams. Always check the forecast in outdoor venues before wagering totals, and look for value in line shifts tied to weather reports.

Check the Full Injury Report

Quarterback absences move the spread immediately. However, there might be hidden value in cluster injuries. A weakened offensive line or depleted secondary can alter matchups dramatically. Monitoring injury reports throughout the week, especially by unit, provides sharper insight than simply tracking headline players like quarterbacks or wide receivers.

Re-Evaluate Home-Field Advantage

The traditional three-point value assigned to home teams has declined. Recent data suggests closer to 1.5 points, and for some teams, even less. The best approach is to weigh each matchup individually. Consider things like stadium environment, travel distance, and crowd intensity, as they all determine its true influence on outcomes.

Read more: Here are the 10 greatest NFL defences in history.

Final Thoughts on NFL Betting for Beginners

Football betting brings plenty of opportunities if you approach it with preparation and discipline. Understanding odds, keeping up with team news, and comparing lines across sportsbooks all shape the outcome of your wagers.

For beginners, we recommend Bovada as the best starting point because it combines ease of use with strong bonuses and a wide range of markets. Staying alert to developments around players and teams while treating every wager as part of a longer journey will help you maintain perspective and give yourself the best chance to enjoy the process.

Charlon

Muscat

Content Specialist

Articles

133

All the way from the renowned iGaming hub of Malta, Charlon has been contributing to the gambling industry since 2019. He began his career at Paddy Power™, but the onset of the pandemic led him to swap his nine-to-five for a life of full-time travel.Throughout his journey, Charlon developed a successful freelance career, leveraging his prior industry knowledge and focusing on analyzing online casinos, sportsbooks, slots, payment methods, and current trends and strategies through the lens of an actual player.

See All Charlon’s Articles