Football is the most popular sport to bet on in North America. Every Saturday and Sunday football fans across the continent sit down in front of their televisions to watch the games and follow their wagers. College football games generally take place on Saturdays, with the NFL games on Sundays, plus the Monday and Thursday night games that have become staples of the weekly schedule. The passion football fans have in America translates to strong opinions and putting your money where your mouth is through betting. Each game carries significant weight in a season and the scoring format lends itself perfectly to spread betting, making football and wagering a natural fit.

Below we cover everything from the best sportsbooks for football bettors to detailed breakdowns of every major bet type with real examples, a step-by-step guide to placing your first wager, and tips to sharpen your picks. We also cover parlays, teasers, and live betting, which have all become huge parts of football wagering. If you’re looking for information specific to your state, our USA sports betting page covers the legal landscape across the country.

Best Sportsbooks For Betting On Football

The best place to bet on football is at an online sportsbook because they offer the best odds, placing a bet is as easy as logging on to the internet, and the sign up bonuses add funds to your football betting bankroll. Each of the sportsbooks listed above is well respected and trusted within the industry, offers a wide variety of competitive football betting odds, and accepts bettors from across North America.

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How To Bet On Football Online

Betting on football online is as easy as setting up an account with an online sportsbook, funding that account, then placing your bets. The three sportsbooks we have listed above are the best places to bet on football online. Each of those bookies are well respected and trusted within the industry, offer a wide variety of fair football betting odds and accept bettors from your location. Credit card deposits are the most common and most popular at the online sportsbooks, but there are a wide variety of banking options to choose from including cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin), e-wallets, bank transfers, and more. If you have trouble funding your account the customer service department will help you find an alternative means of getting money online.

Football Betting Options

Point Spread

Spread betting is the most popular form of football wager. The oddsmaker sets a spread, which attempts to put the two teams on an even playing field where a bet on either side would pay out roughly the same amount. You will typically see odds of -110 on either side of the spread, indicating that you would win $100 for a $110 bet.

The favored team must win the game by more than the spread amount for a bet on them to win, while the underdog must either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the spread to be the winning side.

Here’s an example to illustrate how spread betting works:

• Houston Texans +6.5 (-110)
• New England Patriots -6.5 (-110)

In this example the Patriots are 6.5 point favorites over the Texans. To win a spread bet on the Pats, they would have to win by 7 or more points. If the Pats win by 6 or fewer points, or the Texans pull off the upset, then the Texans +6.5 is the winning side of the bet. The half-point eliminates the possibility of a push on this particular line.

Money Line (To Win)

Moneyline betting is another popular type of football bet. It simply involves betting on which team will win the game outright. Instead of using a spread to even the playing field, the oddsmakers set odds for each team which indicate the potential risk and reward of the bet.

Let’s continue with the Texans vs Patriots example to illustrate the moneyline:

• Houston Texans +235
• New England Patriots -295

The Patriots are the favorite, so a bet on them will win less than a bet on the Texans. In this example you would need to bet $295 on the Pats to win $100. Meanwhile, a $100 bet on the Texans would win $235 if they pulled off the upset. The bigger the gap between the two numbers, the more lopsided the matchup is expected to be.

Check out our understanding sports betting odds page if you need a deeper explanation of how American odds work and how we get to these payout numbers.

Totals (Over/Under)

Totals betting is another popular way to bet on football online. Also known as over/under betting, totals betting involves wagering on how many total points will be scored in a game by both teams combined. The oddsmaker sets a total and you can wager on whether you think more (over) or fewer (under) points will be scored than the given amount.

Here’s an example from a Pats vs Texans game:

• Over 51 (-110)
• Under 51 (-110)

If 52 or more points are scored in the game then a bet on the over would win. If 50 or fewer points are scored then a bet on the under would win. If exactly 51 points are scored then the bet would “push” and all wagers would be refunded. Many sportsbooks set totals at half-point numbers (like 51.5) specifically to avoid pushes.

Here is a screenshot from BetOnline.ag showing the odds for each of the three betting options outlined above on the Bucs vs Packers NFC Championship game:

Props

Prop betting is also popular, especially when it comes to betting on the Super Bowl. Prop bets can be anything from betting on which team wins the coin flip, to which team scores first, to how many touchdowns a quarterback throws in the game. Player props such as total passing yards, rushing yards, and receptions have become increasingly popular in recent years and are now available for most regular season NFL and college football games, not just the big events.

Futures

Futures betting is the last popular form of football betting. The most common futures bet is wagering on which team will win the Super Bowl. This bet can be made at any time throughout the season, but the odds will constantly be changing depending on each team’s performance and the public’s perception of their chances. Other popular football futures include conference winners, division winners, regular season win totals, and individual award winners like MVP.

Parlays

NFL Sundays are built for parlays. With 10 or more games kicking off on a typical Sunday slate, you have a huge menu of options to combine into a single ticket. A parlay links two or more picks together – the catch is every leg has to win or the whole bet loses, but the payoff is much bigger than betting each game individually. A three-team parlay of the Chiefs -3.5, the Eagles moneyline, and the over 47.5 in the Cowboys game could turn a $50 bet into roughly $300 if all three hit.

Two or three team parlays are a reasonable play, but parlays with six or more legs are very difficult to cash despite the eye-catching potential payouts. College football Saturdays offer even more parlay options with a full day of games across multiple conferences.

Teasers

A teaser is a special type of parlay that lets you adjust the point spread or total in your favor on two or more games. In football, the standard teaser gives you 6 extra points on each selection. For example, if the Bills are -9.5 on the regular spread, a 6-point teaser would move them to -3.5. Like a parlay, all legs of the teaser must win for the bet to pay out, but the adjusted lines make each individual leg easier to hit in exchange for a lower payout than a standard parlay.

Teasers are particularly popular in NFL betting because the scoring tends to cluster around key numbers like 3 and 7. Teasing through those key numbers (for example, moving a spread from -7.5 to -1.5) can significantly improve your chances of winning.

Live Betting (In-Play)

Imagine a team is down 14 points at halftime but you’ve watched them dominate the second quarter and feel a comeback is coming. That’s exactly the kind of situation where live betting shines. Live betting lets you place wagers on a football game while it’s being played, with the odds updating in real time based on the score, time remaining, injuries, and momentum. You can bet on adjusted spreads, moneylines, and totals that shift throughout the game, as well as live props like which team scores next or whether the current drive results in a touchdown.

The ability to react to what you’re watching makes live betting one of the fastest growing forms of football wagering. The NFL’s built-in stoppages between plays give you time to evaluate each situation before the next snap, which makes football especially well suited to in-play wagers compared to faster-moving sports.

Football Betting Odds

It is important that you understand the American odds format prior to placing any bets on football online. Let’s take a look at a spread betting example:

Washington Commanders +6 (-110)
Buffalo Bills -6 (-110)

In this example the Bills are 6 point favorites over the Commanders. The Bills must win by 7 or more points, while the Commanders must either win or lose by 5 or fewer points. If the Bills win by exactly 6 points the bet is a push and you receive a refund for the amount of your bet. The (-110) indicates that a $110 wager will win $100 if you select the correct outcome.

3 Step Guide To Betting On Football Online

Follow these three steps to start betting on football online within minutes.

Step 1: Open a Sports Betting Account

The first step is to open an online betting account. You can choose any of the sportsbooks we’ve recommended above. For the purposes of this guide we’ll use BetOnline.ag, which is our top rated sportsbook for football betting. They offer a wide range of odds on all football games from the NFL, NCAA, and CFL and they accept players from across North America with no state restrictions.

Visit BetOnline.ag and click the sign up button on the home page to create your account. The registration form is short and should only take a couple of minutes to complete.

Step 2: Deposit

Next you’ll need to fund your account so you have money to bet with. Click on the Cashier section, select one of the available deposit options, and follow the instructions to complete your deposit. Popular options include Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoin, and bank wire. If you’re depositing with crypto the process is usually the fastest.

Be sure to check for any available promo codes when making your first deposit to take advantage of the sign up bonus. Read our sportsbook bonuses explained page if you want to understand how bonus rollover requirements work before opting in.

Step 3: Place Your Football Bets

Now that your account is funded, it’s time to place your bets. Navigate to the sportsbook section and look for Football in the menu. From there you can select which league you want to bet on – NFL, NCAA, or CFL. You’ll see the point spread, moneyline, and totals listed for each game.

Click on the odds for the bet you want to make to add it to your bet slip. Enter your wager amount and confirm the bet. That’s it – you’re now betting on football online! You can also place bets from your phone using the mobile version of the sportsbook website. Check out our mobile sports betting guide for tips on betting from your phone or tablet.

Football Betting Tips

The NFL and college football seasons are relatively short compared to other sports, so every bet counts. Here are some football-specific strategies to keep in mind. You can also find broader advice on our general online betting tips page.

• Compare Lines – It is vital that you bet at the sportsbook offering the best line for the team you’re betting on. The difference between a -9.5 point spread and a -10 point spread is significant and could be the difference between winning and pushing your bet. This is one of the main reasons we recommend opening accounts at multiple sportsbooks.
• Manage Your Bankroll – The NFL regular season is only 18 weeks long, which means there’s a temptation to bet heavily on each week’s slate. Set a weekly budget and stick to it – wagering no more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on a single game helps you survive losing weeks and keeps your season alive. Check out our bankroll management guide for more detail.
• Do Your Research – Pay attention to key player injuries, weather conditions for outdoor games, and recent form. The more knowledge you have, the better decisions you will make when it comes to betting on football.
• Consider Betting More Underdogs – Casual sports bettors tend to favor the popular teams and the favorites, which can push the line and create value on the other side. This is especially true in the NFL where parity across the league means upsets happen more often than most people expect.

Specific Football Betting Pages

• Bet On College Football
• Bet On CFL
• Bet On Grey Cup
• Bet On NFL
• Bet On Super Bowl

Football Betting FAQ

Is it legal to bet on football online in the United States?

More than 30 states have now legalized some form of sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, and football is the most heavily wagered sport in nearly all of them. If your state hasn’t legalized yet, there are well-established offshore sportsbooks that are licensed outside the US and accept American players. The sportsbooks recommended on this page fall into that category.

What is the best sportsbook for betting on NFL games?

BetOnline.ag is our top rated sportsbook for football betting. They offer competitive odds on every NFL, college football, and CFL game, have a wide variety of prop bets and futures markets, and accept players from all 50 states. Check out our BetOnline review for a complete breakdown of their bonuses, deposit options, and features.

What does -110 mean in football betting?

Odds of -110 mean you need to bet $110 to win $100 in profit. This is the standard price you’ll see on both sides of a point spread or totals bet. The extra $10 is essentially the sportsbook’s commission (known as the “vig” or “juice”) for taking the wager. Visit our understanding betting odds page for a full explanation of how to read American odds.

What is the most popular type of football bet?

Point spread betting is by far the most popular way to bet on football. The spread evens the playing field between the favorite and underdog, which makes betting on either side appealing. That said, parlays and player props have grown significantly in popularity in recent years, especially among younger bettors and those using mobile betting apps.

Can I bet on college football online?

Yes, all of our recommended sportsbooks offer a full range of betting options for college football including point spreads, moneylines, totals, props, and futures. The NCAA football season runs from late August through early January, culminating with the College Football Playoffs. Check out our college football betting page for more details on wagering on the NCAA.

What is a parlay in football betting?

A parlay is a single bet that combines two or more selections. All of your picks must win for the parlay to pay out, but the potential winnings are much higher than placing each bet separately. For example, combining three NFL spread bets into one parlay could turn a $100 wager into roughly $600 if all three hit. The tradeoff is that if even one leg loses, you lose the entire bet.

How do I manage my bankroll when betting on football?

The most important rule is to set a budget and stick to it. Most experienced bettors recommend wagering no more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on any single game. This approach protects you from losing streaks and keeps betting enjoyable over the course of a full season. Read our bankroll management guide for a deeper look at managing your betting funds.