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NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

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Learn how to bet on NFL games, how to read odds, find the best prices available and spot higher-value prop bets with respected sportsbooks. AmericanGambler.com‘s how-to guide on American football betting will educate you on how to maximise winnings any given Sunday, as well as offer advice on special events like the Super Bowl.

In the US, nothing comes close to the popularity of football. The fall weekends are full of NFL and college football games, and of which can be bet on using online sportsbooks. Football betting sites give you tons of options for betting on America’s favorite sport.

On this page, we will go over exactly how to bet on football and the best sites to use. These betting apps are equally beneficial to beginners and experienced bettors.

Website

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Rating

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William Hill (Caesars Sportsbook)

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William Hill (Caesars Sportsbook)

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bet365 Sports

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BetRivers Sportsbook

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The best US football betting apps are safe and trustworthy. The sportsbooks on our page are licensed and legal to use in multiple US states.

How to Bet on Football Online

First, you need to choose an online sportsbook. Below, you can see the top football betting sites and the welcome bonuses to use when registering for an account. Our site also has pages for each state, showing you what apps are legal and approved for your state.

The registration process will only take a few minutes. Read our sportsbook reviews to learn exactly how to sign up to claim the welcome offer. Once you have an account, you will have access to NFL and college football odds. Football betting apps allow you to wager right from your mobile phone.

Real Money Betting

Many sites will offer free-to-play games, but real money betting is the most popular. Sportsbooks will offer a range of banking methods that you can choose to fund your account and withdrawal winnings.

The most common banking methods will include PayPal, credit/debit cards, Play+ Cards, online banking, PayNearMe, and wire transfer. Some betting sites will have a partner casino that allows for in-person deposits and withdrawals, but it isn’t needed.

Best Online Football Betting Sites

We have already done the research for you. This page has the best football betting apps to use for the NFL and NCAA. You’ll have plenty of options to wager, and there are many more bonus offers and loyalty programs to use after claiming the new customer offer.

NFL Betting

The NFL is the most popular league to bet on. There is a game on Thursday night, all day on Sunday, and a game on Monday night.

Since it is so popular, online football betting apps offer a range of promos for the big games. Plus, you will see exclusive offers for the team(s) located in your state.

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the biggest day for sports betting in the US. In 2022, over 30 million people wagered over $7 billion on the big game.

The Super Bowl is known for having tons of ways to place wagers, including a wide range of prop bets to choose from. There will also be free-to-play games and countless bonuses.

Previous champions since 2000:

2022 – Los Angeles Rams
2021 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020 – Kansas City Chiefs
2019 – New England Patriots
2018 – Philadelphia Eagles
2017 – New England Patriots
2016 –Denver Broncos
2015 – New England Patriots
2014 – Seattle Seahawks
2013 – Baltimore Ravens
2012 – New York Giants
2011 – Green Bay Packers
2010 – New Orleans Saints
2009 – Pittsburgh Steelers
2008 – New York Giants
2007 – Indianapolis Colts
2006 – Pittsburgh Steelers
2005 – New England Patriots
2004 – New England Patriots
2003 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2002 – New England Patriots
2001 – Baltimore Ravens
2000 – St. Louis Rams

College Football Betting – NCAA

Saturdays in the Fall are packed with college football games. College football betting is especially popular for fans of major schools, such as Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson.

Betting apps do have odds for college football, but some states have rules when it comes to betting on collegiate sports. For example, some states do not allow betting on in-state events or teams. Most states don’t allow for player props.

College Football Playoff

The college football bowl format has been debated for a long time. Currently, four teams make it to the college football playoff. The two semi-final games, as well as the championship, receive tons of attention.

Results since the college football playoff was installed in 2014:

2021 – Georgia
2020 – Alabama
2019 – LSU
2018 – Clemson
2017 – Alabama
2016 – Clemson
2015 – Alabama
2014 – Ohio State

How to Bet on Football – Betting Types

The best football betting sites will offer a variety of ways to bet on the action. Here are some of the ways you can bet on a football game.

Moneyline, Spread, & Totals

Next to every game, you will likely see the moneyline, spread, and total. These are the three most common bets. The moneyline is simply the price for betting on a team to win. When betting the spread, you are betting that a team will cover a certain number of points.

There will be a total for each team, and the entire game. You can bet over or under that amount. Many totals and spreads will include half points so there aren’t any instances where the bet is voided.

Parlays

Parlays are great for betting on multiple games. You can pick multiple outcomes, but they are all part of the same bet. You have to get every prediction correct in order for the bet to payout.

For example, if it’s a 4-leg parlay with spread picks for four separate games, all of them have to be correct. If only one misses, the bet loses. There are also same-game parlays, which are predictions for the same game that include spreads, totals, player props, and game props.

Props/Player Props

There are two types of props for football – game props and player props. Neither have anything to do with the outcome of the game. Game props are about the game in general, such as whether or not there will be an overtime or the result of the coin flip.

Then, there are tons of player props, which are extremely popular for the NFL. These allow you to bet on the stats of players. For example, you can bet over or under the total yards that Patrick Mahomes will have during the game.

Futures

At any point during the football season, or even before, you can place a future bet. This is betting on a team to win their division or championship. The odds will change as the year goes by.

You’ll get the best odds before the season starts. If your team does well, their odds will improve.

Live Betting

Live betting is an exciting way to watch the game. The best football betting sites will also include live streaming so you can watch the game from your mobile app.

There are in-game betting odds for literally every play. You can bet whether or not the next play will be a run, pass, or first down. The spread and totals will also move to reflect what is going on during the game. It creates many chances to get a leg up on the sportsbook by paying attention to what is going on, such as injuries and changes in momentum.

Live betting is a great way to hedge your wagers. You can place a bet against your pregame wager to minimize your losses or create a win-win scenario.

Types of Football Betting Promotions

Since so many people bet on football, sportsbooks provide different promotions to use throughout the NFL and NCAA seasons. After you claim the welcome bonus, be on the lookout for more football betting promotions.

Here are some examples of different types of online football betting promos.

Risk-Free Bets: Place a bet and get a refund in bonus money if it loses.

Parlay Insurance: Get a refund or partial refund if only one leg of your parlay doesn’t hit.

Odds Boost: When a sportsbook increases the odds and winnings. It can be for a particular wager or for a wager of your choosing.

Live Betting Promotion: Receiving bonus money for simply placing a live bet of a certain amount.

Refer-a-Friend: Get a friend to sign up for the sportsbook you use and receive a bonus for the referral.

Loyalty Programs

Most football betting sites have loyalty programs that allow customers to earn additional perks and bonuses. As soon as you register, be sure to know how the loyalty program works and whether or not you need to sign up.

Not only can you earn betting bonuses, many loyalty programs have other rewards, such as hotel and dinner discounts, shopping experiences, flights, and more. Many NFL teams will partner with sportsbooks, giving customers the chance to win tickets to games!

Football Betting Tips

There are several online football betting tips that you should keep in mind when wagering on the NFL or NCAA.

1. Shop for the Best Odds

We recommend using several betting apps. This gives you the ability to shop around for the best odds. For example, the moneyline on one site may be +100, while the other is +110. Plus, you can also take advantage of more bonuses by using multiple sportsbooks. The only downside is gaining points toward the rewards program.

2. Use Live Betting to Hedge

Live betting is the best way to hedge your pregame wagers. You can do this to minimize what you are going to lose or create a scenario where you will win regardless of the outcome.

If the team you bet on isn’t looking great, you can place a wager on the other team, lessening the loss that you’ll take. Or, if the team you bet on is performing well, you can place a smaller wager on the other team’s positive odds. In some cases, this will create a scenario where you are guaranteed to win a small amount of money.

3. Look at the Weather

Check to see what the weather is going to be like before the game starts. This will give you a good idea of how the game is played. If the conditions are wet and cold, that is a sign that the game is likely to be low scoring. On the other hand, great weather can mean an easier surface for the offense. Some games will be indoor, so the weather won’t matter.

4. Check Recent Trends – How the Team has Performed

The best football betting sites will show you the stats of each team. Don’t just look to see if they are winning games. Check to see how well they are doing against the spread and how often they hit the over. If a team continues to lose close games, it may be a good sign that they will cover a large spread.

5. Don’t Follow the Public or Media

When betting football online, it’s not a good idea to follow what the public is doing. And the media isn’t filled with betting experts. Do your research, but don’t simply follow along with the crowd. That is a quick way to lose your money.

6. Manage your Money

Legal sports betting apps have responsible gambling tools that help manage your bankroll. Set limits on your account so you know how much you are spending. Don’t spend more money than you can afford to lose. If you need additional help, betting apps have contact information for organizations that can assist.

Football Betting Guide FAQs

Common questions about online football betting.

What is the best site to bet on football?

There are several football betting sites we recommend. Caesars Sportsbooks is among the best, as well as FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet.

Where can I bet on football?

You can bet on the NFL and NCAA by using any of the legal sports betting sites on this page. Our reviews include instructions on how to register with a promo code.

Can I legally bet on college football?

Around half of the states in the US have legalized online sports betting. If you are located in a legal state, you can sign up and bet on the NFL from a mobile app.

How can I bet on NFL games?

Every NFL game will have odds on the sportsbook apps on this page. Several betting types will be available, including live betting.

Can you make money betting on football games?

Yes. Use our football betting tips and strategies to help make a profit when betting on NFL and NCAA games.

Super Bowl F2P

How to Play Super Bowl Squares

- NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What stats are used when betting the NFL?:

Every bettor or handicapper has their own strategy when locking in an NFL wager.

- NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What is the best betting app to bet on NFL games?:

This is a tough question to answer because everyone has his or her own taste.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What is handicap betting on American (NFL) football and how does it work?

Much like in other sports leagues around the world, the National Football League (NFL) has different betting lines on every game. The handicap, or point spread line, is a forecast of the number of points by which a stronger team is expected to defeat a weaker one.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What does U 52 mean on a betting line?

U 52 is an abbreviation for “under 52 points”. This means the total points of the game being bet must be less than 52 points for a bettor to win this wager.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What does money line mean in American football (NFL, NCAA) betting?

As opposed to betting the point spread (a forecast of the number of points by which a stronger team is expected to defeat a weaker one), the money line in NFL betting is a wager made on a team to win the game straight up, with no spread. The money line favorite is the team that oddsmakers think should win the game.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What are the algorithms for NFL betting?

nfl players in action

An algorithm for the NFL is defined as a set of steps followed to solve a mathematical problem or complete a computer process. In terms of NFL betting that means using the data of the past to try to predict the future.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What is PK on a NFL betting line?

PK is short for Pick, or Pick ‘em. When you see that on an NFL betting line, it means the game is considered to be even.

NFL Betting: How to Bet on American Football

What does +7 and -7 mean in a NFL bet?

If you are placing an NFL bet, one of the ways to do so is on the spread. An NFL point spread indicates how much the favorite has to win by and the margin of error for the underdog.

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