Football betting is a popular pastime amongst fans and sports gamblers alike. However, there are many factors to consider when placing a bet. It is important to conduct thorough research and have ample knowledge of a team before making a wager.
Another important factor is goal expectancy. This metric takes into account a team’s defensive strategy and how they play with the ball.
Straight bets
A straight bet is a single wager at a sportsbook on one direct event. It’s different from a parlay or teaser, which require multiple picks to win. Straight bets can be placed on a variety of betting types, including moneylines, point spreads, and over/unders.
When betting on football games, you can place a moneyline bet, which is based on whether a team will win or lose. The odds on a game show the favored team with a minus sign and the underdog with a plus sign. If the favored team wins, a bet on them will pay off; if they lose, the bet is considered a push and all bets are returned.
There are also future bets on teams, players, and individual indicators or common game moments. These bets are a great way to add excitement and fun to a football game.
Parlay bets
A parlay bet allows a sports bettor to combine multiple predictions and outcomes into one wager. The total payout of a parlay depends on all the picks you make. If only two of the selections win, you will lose your bet. If the entire bet wins, the winnings roll over to the next bet.
Another popular football bet is the teaser, which combines point spreads to increase the payout. For example, if you bet on the Patriots and Browns to cover their respective ATS point spreads, you can add a 6-point teaser to your bet and get a payoff of +163. This is an advantage over laying the full point spread, which only pays out if both teams win. Nevertheless, beware of teasers, as they can be very risky.
Spread bets
A football spread bet is one of the safest types of bets to make. It lists the favored team with a minus number, which means they must win by more points than that to pay off. On the other hand, underdog bets pay off if they win or lose by less than the listed number. The most common margin of victory in NFL games is three points, so bettors who take the over/under will win if both teams score more than that amount.
If the final score lands exactly on the spread, it is known as a push. This happens when there is a large amount of bettors on the same side of the game. This reduces risk for the sportsbook and allows them to balance the action.
Over/Under bets
When placing a bet on an over/under, you are wagering that the total combined points of both teams will go over or under a specified amount. This bet type is available for most football matches and comes with a betting line that is accompanied by odds. These odds can be shifted depending on physical events that occur during the match, such as a penalty or goal.
Over/under bets are popular among sports betters because they take the result out of the game and focus on whether more or less will be scored. For example, if the over/under for an NFL game is set at 54 and the final score is 73, bettors who placed over bets will win. However, the over/under is not always accurate and weather can play a role in it.
Moneyline bets
Moneyline bets allow you to wager on the winner of a game without having to consider point spreads. They’re not as common as point spread bets, but they can offer some attractive payouts. For example, if Cleveland is a -110 favorite against the Chiefs, you can expect to win $100 on a bet of that amount.
Moneyline bets are particularly appealing for sports like baseball, hockey and soccer that are typically low-scoring. You can also find moneyline betting options for golf tournaments, Aussie rules, cricket and darts. To make a profitable moneyline bet, you need to analyze risk and reward. The secret is to look for situations where the payouts are higher than they should be based on the likelihood of a specific outcome.