How to Bet on American Football
American football has a handful of core markets, and once they click the sport opens right up. Here is each one in plain terms, from the simple winner bet to live, in-play wagers.
The core markets
- Money line — a straight bet on which team wins, no handicap; the favourite pays shorter, the underdog longer.
- Point spread — a handicap on the winning margin and the most-bet market; see the point spread page.
- Over/under total — back combined points higher or lower than a line; see the totals page.
- Player props — bets on an individual's output, like passing or rushing yards or a touchdown scorer.
- In-play — live betting as the game unfolds; see in-play betting.
Where to start
If you are new, begin with the money line on a game you are watching, then try the over/under total — it only asks whether scoring goes higher or lower than a line, so you do not even need to pick a winner. The point spread is the step up that levels mismatched teams, and it underpins how the Bet Types odds are built. Most bets here run on the NFL. You bet at fixed odds, in rand, and a winning bet settles once the result is official.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest American football bet?
The money line — a straight pick of the winner — is the simplest. The over/under total is an easy next step, since it only asks whether combined scoring is higher or lower than a posted line.
What is a player prop?
A prop is a bet on an individual player's output rather than the game result — for example a quarterback's passing yards, a running back's rushing yards, or whether a player scores a touchdown.