American Football Betting Guide for Beginners: How to Bet on NFL Football

American football is considered to be one of the most popular sports in the United States. The NFL has millions of fans who watch its games every season, and the Super Bowl alone has exceeded 100 million viewers in 2024. Given its massive following, American football is a prominent gambling option among major sportsbooks globally.

Despite all it offers, many are unsure of how to bet American football games. As a result, we are providing this American football betting guide to answer any questions you may have.

What Is American Football Betting?

American football betting is not a complicated term. It involves placing bets on various events and situations associated with this sport. It goes beyond making tournament or match winner predictions. American football betting also encompasses markets such as point spreads, totals, and player performances.

Basic American Football Betting Markets

These are the core markets in American football:

Moneyline (Match Winner)

The simplest form of football bet is called the moneyline. You are just making the outright winner of the game. Odds are expressed in American style, which is based on the negatives as the favourites against the positives as the underdogs.

Example: Dallas (-180) vs New York (+150)

Placing a $180 bet on Dallas could yield $100 if they win. On the other hand, placing a $100 bet on New York will result in a $150 win if they emerge victorious.

Moneyline bets are suitable in situations where a bettor is confident in the winner but uncertain of the margin.

Point Spread (Handicap Betting)

Games are balanced through the point spread, which gives the underdog an advantage in scoring. The favored team must win by more than the assigned margin for the wager to be successful.

Example: The Eagles are listed at -7 against Washington; they must win by at least eight points. Supporters of Washington benefit if their team either wins outright or loses by six points or fewer.

Spread betting is the most common NFL market, offering more competitive odds in uneven matchups. Certain point margins, particularly three and seven, tend to shape betting behavior in this format.

Totals (Over/Under Points)

In totals betting, you predict whether the combined points scored by both teams will be higher or lower than a set number.

Example: The line for a Packers vs. Vikings game is 47.5; you can bet on the total going over 47.5 or under 47.5.

Unlike other markets, the outcome of the game doesn't determine the payout. Only the final point total matters.

This type of wager appeals to those who are confident in their expectations for how the game will unfold. Such bettors may strongly believe one team can dominate offensively or hold strong defensively.

Player and Team Props

Prop bets allow you to bet on certain in-game occurrences rather than the overall outcomes. Examples of such player props may include Mahomes passing more than 287.5 yards or Henry rushing more than 78.5 yards.

Team props may also cover betting options, such as first to score or cumulative defensive sacks. For you to get the best out of this type of wager, you need to understand

• The roles played by players
• The benefits of matches
• Anticipated gameplay

How to Bet on NFL vs College Football

It is essential to understand the differences between NFL and college football betting. Markets may overlap, but differences in structure necessitate strategies that span both.

NFL Betting

NFL betting is the ultimate form of football betting, characterised by intense competition and narrow spreads. Parity is good with 32 elite teams, and bookmakers have some great, data-driven lines. The majority of the point spreads range from 2.5 to 7.5, with totals averaging between 44 and 46 points. Injury news, statistics, and team analysis provide you with a wealth of information on structure and performance.

Some of the critical factors to consider in this NFL betting guide include bye weeks, divisional rivalries, and prime-time matchups. NFL games are more predictable due to the lower scoring variance compared to college football.

College Football Betting

The environment of college football betting is markedly different, with more than 130 teams in FBS and a vast disparity in talent. College games tend to feature powerhouse teams overpowering weaker teams with huge point spreads of 30 points or more. Games also tend to be scored higher and less predictable due to:

• Higher match tempo
• Inconsistency in defence
• Lack of proper offensive systems.

Explosive teams regularly have totals of more than 70 points. Pass-outs and shorter play clocks improve possession and scoring opportunities. Take note in this college football guide that home-field advantage is more pronounced due to the presence of student sections. The result can be a very hostile environment for visiting teams.

Live Football Betting at CryptoCasino.com

Live betting allows you to place bets after the kickoff, and odds change as the match progresses. Given its unique nature, American football often provides new winning opportunities that may not be present before the game commences.

Typical live betting markets include adjusted spreads, revised totals, next scorer, and drive results. Live betting can be exciting, and bets can be placed on specific events, such as punts, field goals, or touchdowns.

Bettors can also hedge pre-game positions or capitalise on favourable odds. NFL live betting also allows betting sites to update their data quickly. It enables betting sites, such as CryptoCasino.com , to provide more accurate real-time data.

Betting Strategies for American Football at CryptoCasino.com

To achieve long-term success, it's crucial to develop effective betting strategies. Wagering involves more than luck, and you must take the proper steps to increase your chances of winning.

Begin by comparing efficiency data, including yards per play, yards per attempt of pass, and red zone efficiency. These are defensive and offensive performances. Pre-prepared metrics, such as third-down conversion rate, turnover difference, DVOA, and EPA, are used to determine value and facilitate movement of lines.

Additionally, OI injury reports, particularly among quarterbacks, offensive linemen, and elite defenders, can significantly impact the point spread due to the absences. Lastly, apply live betting to hedge risks or capitalise on a market overreaction in real-time.

Frequently Asked Questions about Football Betting

This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Please gamble responsibly and ensure compliance with the laws in your jurisdiction.