Football betting has become easier and more fun for casual bettors. There are now more ways to bet on football than you can think of. Even if you are a beginner, you are in luck. Through this guide, you will learn about the different types of football bets and how to place them.
Types of football bets
Let us look into the different types of football bets that can be placed.
- Straight Bets/Moneyline Bets
- Point Spreads
- Over/Under bets
- First-half/Halftime Bets
- Parlays
- Single Game Parlays/Same Game Parlays
- Teasers
- Live Bet
- Futures
Straight Bets/Moneyline Bets
A money line bet is a simple bet. You just have to predict which team will win the game. The sportsbook sets the odds based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team. For example:
- Green Bay Packers: +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Kansas City Chiefs: -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
In this case, the Packers are the underdogs, and the Chiefs are the favorites to win. The sportsbook has predicted that the Chiefs would win, so they offer a lower payout for betting on them.
Point Spreads
Point spread is a bet in which the sportsbook will give a point advantage to the weaker team and a point disadvantage to the stronger team to level the playing field. They then offer similar odds for both teams to cover the spread. For example, if the Green Bay Packers are favored by 7 points against the Chicago Bears, you would bet on the Packers. If you think they will win by more than 7 points. Conversely, betting on the Bears means you think they will win or lose by less than 7 points.
Over/Under bets
This bet is about guessing the total points scored in a football game. You can choose over or under.
- Over: the teams will score more than a certain number of points (e.g., over 51.5).
- Under: the teams will score fewer than a certain number of points. (e.g., under 51.5)
First-half/Halftime Bets
You can bet on the outcome of the first half or individual quarters of a football game. This type of betting can be either a money line bet, which means which team will win, or a point spread bet, which means to predict which team will cover the spread. For example, you could bet on which team will lead the halftime, the point spread for the halftime, the total score for the halftime, etc.
Parlays
A parlay bet combines picks from two or more football games. To win, all your picks should be correct. For example, if you bet on:
- New England Patriots to cover the spread
- Under 47.5 points in the Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants game.
- Kansas City Chiefs to win outright.
All these three must be right for your parlay to win. The payout increases with each correct pick as the risk is high.
Single Game Parlays/Same Game Parlays
Single Game Parlays or Same Game Parlays lets you combine multiple bets from the same game. For example, you could bet on:
- A player’s performance, like passing yards or touchdowns,.
- The point spread is to predict which team will win by how many points.
- The moneyline bet, which is to predict the winning team
All of these bets are connected, and you should win all of the bets to win parlay.
Teasers
Teaser bets let you change the point spread or total line to make it easier for you to win. This change will cost you a lower payout compared to the actual one.
Live Bet
Live betting is the bet placed when the game is happening or ongoing. This helps you make more timely decisions as the game is happening right there, and you could get more insights on the game before placing the bet.
Futures
A future bet is a type of bet made before the football season starts. You can bet on a team to win the championship, their division, or conference.
How to Bet on Football Online (step-by-step instructions)
- Firstly, you have to create a Sportsbook account if you already haven’t. Go to a sportsbook website, and you can find the “join now” option on the homepage itself. Click it
- Now you will be presented with a form to fill out your details. Information like name, date of birth, email ID, and the country you reside in will be asked. Fill them up.
- After successfully signing up, now it’s time to deposit the funds. Head to the cashier section and add the initial deposit to your account. There are various payment options that the sportsbook provides, like credit, debit, crypto, etc. You could also get welcome bonuses and first deposit bonuses.
- Now it’s time to choose the football bet. Find the NCAAF or NFL tabs at the top of the page. You can find many games and bet types in there. Select the one you wish to place the bet on.
- Add it to your bet slip. Choose the amount you are willing to risk. After checking, click on the confirm button.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to win big in football, the strategy is to learn the game’s rules. Knowing how the game works helps you make smart bets on their players and teams. Now that you learned about different types of football bets, this will give you an edge.
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