There are a variety of ways to bet on football. Some people prefer to bet on the point spread or money line. Others like to place a Scorecast bet, which includes selecting a goalscorer and the correct score. Betfred offers a double delight and hat-trick heaven promotion for these types of bets.
Point spread
The point spread is the betting line that oddsmakers at sportsbooks create in advance of a game to even the playing field between two teams. They set this number by taking into account factors like home-field advantage, injury, and rest. They then test it against bettors before releasing it.
If the team wins by more points than the handicap, they are considered winners and have covered the spread. If they lose by a smaller margin, the bets on them are losers and the bettors’ stakes are returned.
A plus sign (+) in front of the handicap indicates that the team is an underdog. However, this doesn’t mean that the underdog will win. Rather, they are expected to lose by less than the point spread. If the game ends with the underdog winning outright or losing by exactly one or two points, it’s a push and your stake is returned. This is more common in college football games.
Money line
The money line is one of the most basic betting options available and is a good choice for those who are looking to make a straightforward prediction on who will win a game. The payouts for winning money line bets are calculated based on the likelihood of each team to win, with a negative number representing the favorite and a positive number representing the underdog.
In sports like football and basketball, where there is a clear gulf between teams, the money line will not provide much value. However, in other sports, such as soccer and formerly hockey, where ties are common, the moneyline is a useful way to place bets.
In general, the better a team is, the higher their odds will be. These odds are based on a range of factors, including the current state of each team and previous matchups. In addition, moneyline odds are skewed in favor of underdogs, which can help bettors find value.
Over/Under
Totals (Over/Under) are posted right alongside point spreads and money lines in football betting. They represent the combined score of teams in a game and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including team strategies and weather conditions. A wager on the over means you expect more points to be scored than the total, while a bet on the under suggests fewer points will be scored.
For example, if the game between Kansas City and Arizona ends up with a total of 52.5 points, over bettors will win their wagers. This is because the over/under bet includes a half point, which eliminates the possibility of a push. In addition, over/under bets will always pay out if the final score is within the range of the total. This includes overtime, which is an advantage for over bettors but a disadvantage for under bettors. This is why it’s important to understand the vig/juice on each total before making a bet.
Parlay
The parlay is a common form of football betting and can offer huge payouts. It combines multiple bets on a single ticket and forces winnings from one leg to roll over into the next bet. It’s important to understand how parlays work before placing one. For example, if one team in an afternoon game is in danger of missing the playoffs and will rest their starters, that can dramatically change the outcome of the second game.
Parlays are popular with casual bettors and often have a lower risk than individual wagers. They also allow you to increase the amount of money you win by placing more than two teams on a single ticket. Some bettors like to include correlated bets in their parlays, such as the Over/Under total for a game between Kansas City and Washington. These bets are referred to as accumulators by some sportsbooks. Teasers and pleasers are special types of parlays that let you move the lines on each leg in a particular direction.