How to Bet on Football Online 2026
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Last Updated: 17 December, 2025
Football betting is one of the most exciting ways to get closer to the game.
Whether you're new or just need a refresher, learning how to bet on the NFL starts with understanding the basics.
How to bet on football games
How to bet on football for beginners
If you're just getting started, don’t worry, football betting is easy to pick up with a few simple steps.
First, choose a licensed sportsbook where football betting online is legal in your state.
Create your account, make a deposit, and you're ready to go.
Once inside the sportsbook, navigate to the football section.
You’ll see matchups listed with football betting odds, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals.
Click the odds you like, enter your wager amount, and confirm, it’s that simple.
To get the most out of it, start small and track your bets.
This helps you learn without risking too much early on.
Once you're comfortable, you can explore advanced markets like player props and live bets.
How NFL betting odds work
NFL odds are listed in the American format: negative for favorites, positive for underdogs.
A -120 line means you bet $120 to win $100.
A +150 line means you bet $100 to win $150.
These odds reflect the implied probability of how likely a sportsbook thinks that outcome is.
If a team is -200, the book sees them as a heavy favorite.
Odds shift when:
Injury news breaks
Weather changes
Large bets (often sharp money) come in
Public money piles up late in the week
If you spot a line you like, act fast. It won’t stay there for long.
New to betting?
Avoid these common pitfalls:
Chasing losses: Don’t double your next bet just because the last one lost. That’s a fast way to burn your bankroll.
Betting too many games: Stick to your best picks. Quality beats quantity.
Ignoring line movement: If a line shifts a full point or more, it usually means sharp bettors are getting involved.
Forgetting to track your bets: Keep notes. What you bet, why you bet it, and how it turned out. You’ll learn faster and avoid repeating mistakes.
When to bet on football
Betting early or late can impact your odds and your payouts.
Early in the week: Lines are fresh. Sharp bettors often pounce if a number looks off. You can get strong value if you know what you’re looking for.
Mid-week: More injury info is out. You’ll have better data, but lines may already have moved.
Late (Fri–Sun): This is when public money rolls in. If you’re going against a popular team, late bets may give you better odds.
There’s no perfect time to bet, but knowing when to jump in gives you an edge.
Football betting strategy that works
There’s no guaranteed win in sports betting, but with the right approach, you can make smarter picks and avoid common mistakes.
Here are a few proven strategies we’ve used when betting on football each week:
Follow the Numbers, Not the Hype: Popular teams get a lot of attention, but public betting doesn’t always mean smart betting. Focus on real stats like red zone performance, turnover margin, and third-down success rates. These tell you more than highlights ever will.
Shop for the Best Line: A small difference in odds or spread can impact your payout. Always compare numbers at multiple sportsbooks online before you bet on the NFL or college games. Over time, this helps increase your returns without changing your picks.
Know When to Skip a Game: Not every matchup is worth betting. If the line looks sharp or you’re unsure, walk away. That kind of discipline separates casual bettors from serious ones.
Use Betting Tools and Trends: Track line movement, public betting percentages, and injury reports. Many NFL betting sites offer free tools that show where sharp money is going; use that to guide your picks.
Track Results and Improve: Keep a log of every bet: what you picked, why, and how it turned out. The more you review, the better you’ll get at spotting mistakes and building a strategy that works over time.
Smart football betting strategy isn’t about picking every winner; it’s about making better decisions over the long haul.
NFL betting tools & resources
Smart football betting goes beyond gut picks.
Using free tools can help you spot value and avoid mistakes.
Odds comparison sites show which book has the best line on your bet. Always check before locking anything in.
Public betting percentages tell you where the crowd is putting money. Fading the public works in some cases, especially when the line hasn’t moved.
Injury reports matter more than most realize. A banged-up offensive line or a missing cornerback can swing a game and a bet.
Against-the-spread (ATS) stats track how well teams perform vs. expectations. Some teams overperform even when they lose. That’s valuable insight for point spread betting.
Use these tools to make faster, smarter calls, especially when lines move fast before kickoff.
Types of football bets explained
Before you bet on NFL or college football, it helps to know the main types of wagers.
These are the bets you’ll see at every legal sportsbook.
Moneyline: The moneyline is a bet on which team will win the game. That’s it.
A favorite is shown with a minus sign (e.g. -150), meaning you need to bet $150 to win $100.
An underdog is shown with a plus sign (e.g. +130), meaning you win $130 for every $100 you bet. This is one of the easiest ways to get started.
Point Spread: The spread evens the odds between teams.
A favorite like -3.5 means they must win by 4 or more to cover.
An underdog at +3.5 wins the bet if they lose by 3 or fewer, or win outright. Spreads are often set in half-points to avoid ties.
Totals (Over/Under): This is a bet on the combined points scored by both teams.
If the total is 47.5, betting the Over wins with 48 points or more.
The Under wins if 47 or fewer are scored. You don’t need to pick a winner, just guess how high (or low) the scoring will go.
Prop Bets: Props are bets on specific stats or moments in a game.
Will a quarterback throw for more than 250.5 yards?
Will a player score a touchdown? These are great for experienced fans who follow certain teams or matchups closely.
Futures: Futures bets cover long-term outcomes.
You can bet on who will win the Super Bowl, MVP, or a division title.
Odds are highest before the season starts, but these markets stay open all year. Some books even offer award and draft futures for both the NFL and college.
Parlays: A parlay combines two or more bets into one ticket.
All legs must win for the bet to cash.
Payouts are bigger, but so is the risk. Same-game parlays are also common—combining multiple bets from one game.
Futures bets focus on long-term outcomes.
Instead of picking winners for a single game, you're betting on events that will play out over weeks or months.
Common NFL futures markets
These are the most popular futures bets across major sportsbooks:
Super Bowl Winner: Pick the team you think will win the championship.
Conference or Division Winner: Predict which team will come out on top in their division or conference.
Playoff Specials: Wager on whether a team will make (or miss) the playoffs.
Season Win Totals: Bet on whether a team will win over or under a set number of games.
Award Winners: Choose players for MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and more.
Stat Leaders: Pick who will lead the league in passing, rushing, receiving, or sacks.
When to bet futures
Futures odds are available year-round, but timing matters:
Preseason: You’ll get the highest potential payouts because nothing is settled yet.
During the Season: Odds shift based on performance, injuries, and standings.
Late Season: You’ll find more focused markets, like updated awards races or playoff clinching odds.
NFL futures strategy
Shop Around: Odds vary by sportsbook. A +900 at one book might be +1200 at another.
Avoid Longshots Without Logic: Big odds can be tempting, but check the depth chart and schedule first.
Look for Value Early: Injuries and upsets happen. Teams flying under the radar in July might be contenders by October.
Track Movement: Watch how odds change week to week. This can give clues about which way the market is leaning.
Why futures matter
Futures bets keep you involved all season.
They offer a different kind of edge for fans who follow teams closely and think long-term.
They’re also a great way to lock in value before a breakout happens.
Online football betting options
With more states legalizing sports wagering, football betting online is more accessible than ever.
But not every sportsbook is equal.
We recommend using licensed operators with secure apps, fast payouts, and competitive odds.
Top books like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars all offer live betting, same-game parlays, and custom promos during the NFL season.
Make sure the site is legal in your state and has the features you need.
Before you bet on the NFL, look for bonuses, mobile performance, and odds boosts on the teams or props you follow.
A good sportsbook makes it easier to place smart, timely bets.
Top football competitions and teams to bet on
Not all games offer the same value.
Some leagues and teams are easier to research, follow, and bet with confidence.
Here’s where to focus your time and bankroll:
NFL (National Football League): The NFL is the most popular football league for betting in the US. Every game comes with detailed stats, expert analysis, and dozens of markets. When it comes to betting on NFL games, even casual fans can find value just by following team news and line movement.
College Football (NCAAF): College football has more games, more scoring, and often more betting value, especially early in the season. Teams like Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia draw public money, but savvy bettors often find better value in smaller conferences. If you want to bet on the NFL and college football both, start by following one conference closely before branching out.
Prime-Time Matchups and Playoffs: Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and playoff games attract the most attention and the most betting volume. These games offer tight odds but plenty of live betting opportunities. For experienced bettors, they’re ideal for using advanced football betting online tools and strategies.
Top Teams for Public vs. Smart Money: Popular teams like the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Eagles draw huge betting interest, often inflating their odds. We’ve seen better long-term value backing underrated teams with strong fundamentals, like Jacksonville in 2023 or Detroit’s breakout run. Recognizing when the hype doesn’t match performance is a key to better bets.
Frequently asked questions
You can view our dedicated page for more information on how we test and review sportsbooks.
Additionally, you can view all of our sportsbook reviews for the top platforms you can bet on NFL online.
How to bet on American football sites responsibly
Although knowing your sports helps, betting is primarily luck-based, so use these top tips to practice responsible gambling when placing a bet:
Limits: Betting sites allow you to set betting limits, i.e. limit how much you can bet in a day, a week, or a month.
Cashouts: You can withdraw your winnings quite easily from any betting site, which prevents you from spending all of your winnings.
Help & resources: Betting platforms provide access to resources for problem gamblers and point them to organizations that can help with gambling addiction.
To help with gambling, we created a 'How To Bet On Sports' guide that helps new sports bettors understand the industry better, to play safer and more securely.
Problem gambling organizations and charities in the US
Why you can trust us
At Sporting Post, we prioritize accuracy, objectivity, and transparency in every piece of content we write.
Our expert team conducts thorough, real-world testing of betting platforms, ensuring reviews and insights are unbiased and reliable from a human perspective.
We adhere to strict ethical standards, maintaining editorial independence and avoiding conflicts of interest, while regularly updating our content to reflect the latest trends and developments.
Our mission is to empower bettors with trustworthy information, backed by rigorous research and a commitment to responsible gambling.
You can trust us to provide clear, concise, and honest advice, helping you make informed betting decisions.
Editorial policy
Our editorial policy ensures thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content through strict sourcing standards and diligent review by top betting experts and seasoned editors.
This process maintains the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
References
To test betting site products accurately, we dive into analytical research of the betting industry, so we understand what features are best for you.
Below are some of the references we use when making such decisions:
https://wsb.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Beggy_2023__Betting_Kelly.pdf
https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2024/01/stephen-shapiro-sports-gambling.php
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=econ_working-papers
https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026;context=glj