Football betting is an exciting way to place wagers on your favorite team. However, you should make sure to understand how the game works before placing a bet.
The point spread is one of the most popular ways to bet on a football game. It shows each team with a minus or plus sign, which indicates whether they are favourites or underdogs.
Point spread
The point spread is a handicap used to level the playing field in sports. It is also used to adjust for home-field advantage.
A favored team is indicated with a minus (-) sign and a number, whereas an underdog is indicated with a plus (+) sign and the same number. In order to win, the favored team must triumph by more than the number of points indicated on the betting point spread.
The favored team’s victory margin can be anywhere from zero to three points, depending on the game and how it is played. In most cases, this margin determines the final score.
Moneyline
The money line is one of the simplest types of football bets. It only involves selecting a team or player that will win the game.
There are many different types of money lines, including 2-way and 3-way. In the case of 3-way money lines, you can choose a winner on either side or place a bet that predicts a tie game after regulation time.
A team that has a losing record will usually be listed as an underdog. This means that they are less likely to win but they can still pull off an upset if they have the right momentum.
Over/Under
The over/under is one of the most popular types of football bets. These bets are based on a variety of statistical categories, including total points in a game, rushing yards for a player, and more.
To determine an Over/Under line, oddsmakers consider a wide range of factors, including offense and defense, home and away results, injury reports, and more. They also consider the weather in a particular venue, which can have an impact on scoring production.
The Over/Under line is usually 53.5, which indicates that the sportsbook expects a high-scoring game. The over wins if the score ends up over 54, while the under is the winner if it ends below 53.
Parlay
The parlay is one of the most popular types of football bets. It combines several odds into one wager and pays off much higher than a single-game bet if all legs of the parlay win.
A football parlay can be comprised of any combination of moneyline, point spread, or total bets. However, most sportsbooks will restrict you from adding more than one bet from the same game.
To place a parlay, simply log on to your favorite online sportsbook and open up your football betting tickets. Click the ‘parlay these bets’ link or button (your app or mobile sportsbook should make this easy), choose how much to bet, and confirm the wager.
Futures bets
Futures bets are a fun way to root for your favorite team or player throughout the season. They range from simple wagers that say the Braves will win the World Series to more advanced proposition bets based on a team’s win total for the entire year.
Most sportsbooks offer a variety of futures options for their respective leagues and tournaments. Football, for example, has plenty of futures markets ranging from Super Bowl winners to division and conference champions to individual awards like MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Odds on these bets are posted a long time before the events take place and can change a lot as teams add or lose players and play through the season. This makes it a good idea to check odds before laying down a bet.