NFL

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the biggest sports betting markets in the United States. Its weekly schedule, passionate fan base, and wide range of betting options give fans plenty to follow, from a single game’s point spread to season-long award and championship futures.

You can use this guide to understand how the league works, how common NFL bets are settled, and what may move the odds. Betting rules and market availability vary by sportsbook and location, so check the terms that apply where you are before placing a wager.

How the NFL Season Works

The NFL season has four main stages: preseason, regular season, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. The calendar generally runs from late summer into winter, but the exact schedule and dates change each year.

Preseason games give teams opportunities to evaluate players and prepare for the regular season. Results typically do not count toward regular-season standings, and teams may use different lineups and playing time strategies than they do in meaningful games.

The regular season generally includes 17 games for each team over 18 weeks, with one bye week per team. The schedule includes division games, other conference matchups, and interconference games. The NFL Playoffs follow the regular season, ending with the Super Bowl. See the NFL games calendar for a hub that can connect readers with individual matchups and major events.

Conferences, Divisions, and NFL Teams

The league has 32 teams split evenly between two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference has four divisions - East, North, South, and West - with four teams in each division.

The divisions are:

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets
• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers
• AFC South: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans
• AFC West: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers
• NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders
• NFC North: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings
• NFC South: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• NFC West: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks

Division rivals meet twice during the regular season, which can make those games especially important for standings and playoff qualification. Browse the NFL teams guide to explore team-specific information and matchups.

A Typical NFL Week

Most regular-season games take place on Sunday, but the weekly slate usually includes nationally televised games on other days, too. The schedule changes from week to week and may include games played outside the United States.

Thursday Night Football opens the main weekly slate, while Sunday offers a daytime window of games followed by Sunday Night Football. Monday Night Football typically closes the week. Late-season schedules may also include Saturday games, and special holiday games can add more standalone matchups.

Kickoff times, broadcast windows, and game dates can change. Always check the current schedule before planning around a matchup or placing a time-sensitive wager.

How NFL Betting Works

NFL betting means wagering on an outcome or event connected to a game, team, player, or season. A sportsbook posts odds for available markets, and a bettor chooses an outcome and stake. If the selection wins, the sportsbook settles the wager according to its posted rules; if it loses, the stake is generally lost.

The main NFL betting markets are moneyline, point spread, and over/under totals. Other options include player and team props, quarter and half markets, parlays, futures, and live bets. The NFL betting odds page can serve as a starting point for comparing how different markets and prices are presented.

Moneyline Bets: Pick the Winner

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game, without a point spread. A favorite usually has a minus price, while an underdog usually has a plus price.

For example, if a team is listed at -150, a $150 winning bet earns $100 in profit, plus the original stake. If an underdog is listed at +150, a $100 winning bet earns $150 in profit, plus the original stake. These are examples to explain American odds, not current prices.

Some games can end in a tie during the regular season. Moneyline settlement rules for ties depend on the specific market and sportsbook, so check the rules before betting.

Point Spreads: Understand Favorites and Underdogs

A point spread gives one team a head start or deficit for betting purposes. The favorite is assigned a minus number, and the underdog gets a plus number.

If a favorite is -3, it generally needs to win by more than three points for a spread bet on that team to win. An underdog at +3 generally covers by winning outright or losing by fewer than three points. If the final margin lands exactly on the spread, the wager may be a push, with the stake returned, depending on the market’s rules.

A line such as +7 means the underdog can lose by up to seven points and still cover the spread. A favorite at -7 generally needs to win by more than seven to cover. Half-point spreads, such as -3.5, prevent a push on that line because the final score margin cannot be half a point.

Spread prices are shown alongside the line. A listing such as -3 (-110) means the team is laying three points, with the price requiring a $110 stake to earn $100 in profit if the bet wins.

Over/Under Bets: Bet the Combined Score

An over/under, also called a total, is a wager on whether both teams’ combined points will be higher or lower than a number set by the sportsbook. If the total is 45.5, an over bet wins if the teams score at least 46 points combined; an under bet wins if they score 45 or fewer.

Whole-number totals can land exactly on the line. In that case, a push may apply, depending on the market rules. Totals are affected by factors such as offensive pace, defensive strength, injuries, weather, and the likelihood of a close game.

NFL Props: Bets Beyond the Final Score

A proposition bet, or prop, is a wager on a specific event or statistic rather than only the game winner. Props may be offered before kickoff or during a game, and their rules can differ from standard spread and total markets. Explore NFL props for a closer look at player, team, and game options.

Player props focus on an individual’s performance. Examples include a quarterback’s passing yards, a running back’s rushing yards, a receiver’s receptions, or whether a player scores a touchdown. Sportsbooks may set a line that requires a player to go over or under a statistical total.

Team props relate to one team’s performance, such as its total points, rushing yards, or whether it records the first score. Game props cover events involving both teams, such as the first team to score, the method of the first touchdown, or whether the game goes to overtime.

Always check how a prop is settled. A player who does not take part in a game, for example, may be treated differently across markets and sportsbooks.

First-Half, Quarter, and Alternate Bets

Some markets cover only part of a game. First-half bets include the first two quarters, while quarter bets focus on a single period. These markets may offer a moneyline, spread, or total, and are settled based on the score at the end of the relevant segment.

Alternate spreads and alternate totals let bettors choose a number different from the main line. A bettor might take a larger underdog spread or a lower favorite spread, or select a higher or lower game total. The price changes with the chosen line: a selection considered more likely to win will often come with a less favorable payout.

Parlays and Same-Game Parlays

A parlay combines multiple selections into one wager. Every selection generally needs to win for the full parlay to pay, although some sportsbooks have special rules for ties, voided selections, or related markets. Combining picks can increase the potential payout, but it also makes the overall bet harder to win.

A same-game parlay combines multiple selections from one matchup, such as a team to win, a player to exceed a yardage line, and the game total to go over. Because selections in the same game can be related, sportsbooks may adjust the combined odds or limit which picks can be paired. Review the rules and the full price before confirming a parlay.

Futures, Playoff, and Super Bowl Betting

Futures are wagers on outcomes that will be decided later in the season. Common options include a team to win its division, conference, or the Super Bowl, as well as season-long player awards. A futures wager can remain unsettled for weeks or months, and its odds can change as the season develops.

Division and conference winner markets focus on which team will finish first in a division or claim a conference title. Playoff betting may include wagers on individual postseason games, series-style outcomes, or which teams advance through the bracket. The NFL Playoffs use a single-elimination format, so a team’s season ends after a loss. Learn more in the NFL Playoffs guide.

Super Bowl betting includes the championship game’s moneyline, spread, and total, along with a large menu of props. Super Bowl futures are placed before the game, often well before the playoff field is set, and may include a team to win the championship or a player to earn the game’s Most Valuable Player award. Visit the Super Bowl betting guide for a dedicated look at the title game and its markets.

NFL award bets are another type of futures market. The most prominent is Most Valuable Player (MVP), but sportsbooks may also offer markets for awards such as Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Award markets and eligibility can vary by sportsbook.

Regular-season, playoff, and Super Bowl betting differ in context. Regular-season games are shaped by a longer schedule and division races, while playoff games are win-or-go-home contests. The Super Bowl is a single championship matchup with its own event-specific markets and props.

Live NFL Betting

Live betting, also called in-play betting, lets bettors consider markets after a game has started. Odds can change after a touchdown, turnover, injury, missed field goal, or other major play. Available options may include the live moneyline, spread, total, and selected player or game props.

Live prices can move quickly, and a sportsbook’s display may update at a different pace from the action on television or a streaming service. Check the selection, price, and bet confirmation carefully before submitting a live wager. A market may also be temporarily suspended while a key play is under review.

How to Read American NFL Odds

Sportsbooks in the United States commonly display odds in American format. A plus sign shows the profit a $100 stake would earn on a winning underdog bet. A minus sign shows how much you would need to stake to earn $100 in profit on a winning favorite bet.

For example:

• +150 odds: A $100 winning bet earns $150 in profit, plus the $100 stake.
• -150 odds: A $150 winning bet earns $100 in profit, plus the $150 stake.
• -110 odds: A $110 winning bet earns $100 in profit, plus the $110 stake.

The amount returned includes the original stake, while profit does not. The odds also reflect the sportsbook’s pricing, not a guarantee that an outcome will happen.

What Can Move NFL Betting Odds?

NFL odds can shift as new information becomes available or as betting activity changes. Important factors include:

• Injuries and quarterback changes: The status of a starting quarterback can have a major effect, as can injuries to other key players.
• Team form: Recent performance can influence expectations, but a short run of results does not necessarily show how a team will perform next.
• Home-field advantage: Playing at home may help with familiarity, crowd support, and routine, though its value varies by matchup.
• Weather: Wind, rain, snow, and extreme temperatures can affect passing, kicking, ball handling, and scoring expectations.
• Travel and rest: Long travel, short rest, and a team’s bye-week timing can influence preparation and player recovery.
• Offensive and defensive matchups: A strong pass rush, effective run defense, or mismatch between a team’s strengths and its opponent’s coverage can shape the game outlook.
• Coaching and roster changes: New coaches, play callers, starters, and strategic approaches may affect how a team performs.

Odds can also change based on betting market activity. A line movement is a change in the spread, total, or price. Compare the latest market details with reliable team news, and avoid treating any single factor as a certain predictor.

NFL Betting Terms to Know

A few common terms can make sportsbook menus easier to understand:

• Favorite: The team expected by the market to be more likely to win, typically shown with minus odds or a minus spread.
• Underdog: The team priced as less likely to win, usually shown with plus odds or a plus spread.
• Cover: Meeting the conditions of a spread bet.
• Push: A tie between the final result and the betting line, often resulting in the stake being returned.
• Juice or vig: The sportsbook’s charge, reflected in the odds.
• Handle: The total amount wagered on a market or event.
• Closing line: The final posted odds before a market closes.
• Teaser: A parlay-style wager that adjusts point spreads or totals in exchange for a reduced payout and specific rules.

The exact meaning and settlement of a market can depend on the sportsbook’s house rules. Read those rules when a bet includes an unusual or less familiar condition.

Betting Responsibly

NFL betting should be treated as paid entertainment, not as a way to make income. Set a budget before you bet, decide how much time you want to spend, and do not wager money needed for bills or other essentials. Consider taking a break if betting stops feeling enjoyable or begins affecting your finances, relationships, or well-being.

Legal access and age requirements vary across the United States. Use only a sportsbook that is authorized to accept wagers where you are located, and check your local rules. If you need support, contact a responsible gambling organization or use the limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools available through your sportsbook or local resources.

NFL Betting FAQ