One of the most popular ways to place a bet on football is through an accumulator. These bets combine multiple selections into one wager and are usually priced at higher odds than individual match bets.
Another popular form of football betting is the Over/Under. This is based on the total number of points scored in the game. The Over/Under bet is especially profitable when you predict a lower figure than the one that the oddsmakers set.
Point spread
Point spread betting is a popular form of sports wagering that creates a level playing field for bettors by assessing teams’ relative strengths. This is also known as handicapping. In a point spread, the winning team has to beat the underdog by a specific margin, or the bet will lose. In some cases, a bet will end in a tie, which is called a push.
For example, if Oklahoma is a -2 favorite against Kansas, the line will contain half of a point, or a hook, to prevent bets from being graded as a push. The hook exists because 2-point margins of victory are exceedingly rare in football games. Many point spreads have key numbers like 3 or 7 points, which reflect the values of a field goal and a touchdown. This makes it easy to determine whether a bet will win or not. In addition to key numbers, point spreads can change in the run-up to a game for a number of reasons. One reason is the shift of a line in response to respected or “sharp” money.
Moneyline
Betting on the moneyline in sports like football, baseball and hockey is an excellent way to get a better return than you would betting on a point spread. But you must understand the risks involved. If you place a moneyline bet and your chosen team wins, you will win your wager amount plus your original stake. But if your team loses, you will receive nothing.
Moneyline odds are the most straightforward type of bet, because you’re simply betting on a team to win a game. There are no points spreads to cover or predict, which makes them popular among those who are new to sports betting. However, these bets offer less profit than a regular point spread, and the payouts are typically smaller for underdog teams. Moneyline odds are displayed in American format, and they’re based around a $100 bet. Here’s an example:
Over/Under
When betting on the total in football games, you are wagering on whether the combined points scored will go over or under a number set by the sportsbook. Unlike spread bets, which have a direct correlation to the winning team, a totals bet has nothing to do with who wins or loses. Sportsbooks set their totals lines with a baseline odds of -110, though they can change them in response to action or news.
Over/Under bets can also be placed in parlays with other types of bets. If you correctly predict all the individual bets in a parlay, you win the entire bet. Parlays are typically available on all major sports, although some do not allow them on college or minor league games. In addition to regular totals, some sportsbooks offer a range of specialty over/under markets, such as half-time and season totals. These are more difficult to predict and require a thorough analysis of both teams.
Parlay
The parlay is a form of football betting where multiple bets are combined to make one ticket. This type of wager can increase your payout potential and is a great way to play favorites. However, it is important to understand the risks involved.
A 3-team parlay, for example, needs all three games to win in order to pay out. If any of the bets lose, the parlay reduces to a standard spread or moneyline bet. Similarly, if one of the lines is graded as “No Action,” the entire parlay will be lost.
Parlays are a fun and thrilling way to win big, but winning them isn’t easy. They are designed to combine multiple predictions and outcomes into a single bet, but each leg must win for the bet to pay out. You can place a parlay with most bet types, including spreads, totals, and moneylines. However, you can’t place a parlay with the same team on both sides of a game or correlated props.