Beginner Guide

NFL Betting Basics 101

Everything you need to know to get started with NFL betting

Reading Time 12 minutes

What You'll Learn

  • The three main bet types
  • How point spreads work
  • Understanding moneylines
  • Over/under totals explained
  • How odds translate to payouts
  • The concept of "juice" or "vig"

Point Spreads

The point spread is the most popular way to bet on NFL games. It levels the playing field between two teams by giving the underdog a head start.

Example: Chiefs vs Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs -7.5 Favorite
Denver Broncos +7.5 Underdog
How It Works:
  • Betting the Chiefs -7.5: Kansas City must win by 8 or more points for you to win
  • Betting the Broncos +7.5: Denver must win OR lose by 7 or fewer points for you to win
Why half-points? Half-point spreads (like 7.5) eliminate the possibility of a "push" (tie) where your bet is refunded.
Spread Scenarios (Chiefs -7.5):
Final Score Chiefs -7.5 Broncos +7.5
Chiefs 31, Broncos 20 WIN (won by 11) LOSE
Chiefs 24, Broncos 21 LOSE (won by 3) WIN
Broncos 17, Chiefs 14 LOSE WIN

Moneylines

Moneyline bets are the simplest form of betting - you just pick who wins. No point spreads involved.

Example: Bills vs Dolphins
Buffalo Bills -180 Bet $180 to win $100
Miami Dolphins +155 Bet $100 to win $155
Reading Moneyline Odds:
Negative Odds (Favorite)

The number shows how much you must bet to win $100.

-180: Bet $180 to profit $100

Positive Odds (Underdog)

The number shows how much you win on a $100 bet.

+155: Bet $100 to profit $155

When to use moneylines: Moneylines are better for heavy underdogs where the spread feels too risky, or for favorites you believe will win outright but might not cover a large spread.

Over/Under Totals

Totals betting ignores who wins - you're betting on the combined score of both teams.

Example: Packers vs Lions
Total Points 48.5
OVER -110 UNDER -110
How Totals Work:
  • Betting OVER 48.5: You win if the combined score is 49 or more
  • Betting UNDER 48.5: You win if the combined score is 48 or fewer
Totals Scenarios:
Final Score Combined Result
Packers 31, Lions 24 55 OVER wins
Packers 17, Lions 14 31 UNDER wins
Packers 27, Lions 21 48 UNDER wins (under 48.5)
Factors affecting totals: Weather (wind, rain, cold), pace of play, defensive strength, indoor vs outdoor, and injuries to key offensive players.

Understanding the Vig (Juice)

The "vig" (short for vigorish) or "juice" is the commission sportsbooks charge. It's how they make money.

Standard Vig: -110 on Both Sides
Team A -3
-110
Team B +3
-110
Why -110 Matters:

At -110 odds, you bet $110 to win $100. This means:

  • If two bettors each bet $110 on opposite sides, one wins $100
  • The sportsbook collects $220 total, pays out $210 to the winner
  • The sportsbook keeps $10 (about 4.5% of the total wagered)
Break-Even Math

At -110 odds, you need to win 52.4% of your bets just to break even. This is why finding an edge matters!

Key Numbers in NFL Betting

Certain numbers appear as final margins more often in NFL games due to scoring increments (TD = 7, FG = 3).

3
Most common margin
7
Second most common
10
Third most common

About 15% of NFL games are decided by exactly 3 points, and 9% by exactly 7. This is why spreads of -3 and -7 are so significant.

Ready to Learn More?

Now that you understand the basics, dive deeper into NFL betting.

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Quick Reference
Point Spread
Margin of victory bet
Moneyline
Straight-up winner bet
Total (O/U)
Combined score bet
Vig/Juice
Sportsbook commission
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