If you’re a diehard follower of the National Football League, then betting on these adrenaline-pumping games is a great way to get more involved in a sport you’re passionate about. But, with so many to choose from, which wagers are the best ones, and which one is right for you?
Money Lines
Money Line stakes let you choose a squad to win without having to worry about the Point Spread. However, you must remember that you’ll need to bet more and will win less, if you choose to wager on the Favourite.
For example, a Money Line stake could see the New England Patriots at -140 and the Kansas City Chiefs at +160. If you want to bet on The Pats, who have been set as the Favourite, you’d need to wager $14 to win $10. But if you decided to stake on the Chiefs instead, you’d only need to stake $10 to win $14.
Money Lines are recommended for people who are very confident about who will win but aren’t 100% sure about the Line Spread. So, if the squad’s finest player has been injured, using this wager against that team winning could be a great idea.
Over/Under
Over/Under stakes don’t ask you to choose the winning team. You just need to predict whether or not the final score will be Over or Under a given number.
For example, the Over/Under for a game involving the Baltimore Clippers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be set at 50. If you think it will be higher than this, you’ll choose to stake on Over.
These bets can also be placed on certain things happening within a game, like whether a given team will get Over or Under two interceptions.
These wagers are a great idea if you’re convinced a game will have a very high or very low score, but you aren’t quite sure who’ll win.
Parlays
Parlays involve staking on more than one team, and while they’re more difficult to win, they pay out proportionately, so you’re looking at huge returns if you do your homework.
In a two-team Parlay, you would have to pick two squads to win their games and they will need to do so for you to win, Point Spread included.
These wagers are perfect for more experienced bettors who are willing to risk a little more in the hopes of bringing home the big win!
Point Spreads
Point Spread, or Straight, stakes, are by far the most popular bets when it comes to NFL games.
Before kickoff, each match will get a unique Point Spread assigned, based on the likelihood of one squad beating the other and what kind of difference there will be in the points.
For example, in a game featuring two unevenly matched teams, like the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’ll see a large Point Spread, like -21.5. This means that, if you wagered on the Steelers, you’ll win as long as they don’t lose by more than 21 points.