Learn how to read NFL betting odds. Our video tutorial explains football odds in simple language. Use this knowledge hone your NFL betting skills. Below, we’ll discuss NFL point spreads, totals, and moneylines.
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Watch the following video to understand NFL Odds
NFL Matchup Betting Odds
|
Game |
 BetRiversBet |
|---|---|
Giants
Patriots
8/11/22 7:00pm EDT | |
Titans
Ravens
8/11/22 7:30pm EDT | |
Falcons
Lions
8/12/22 6:00pm EDT | |
Browns
Jaguars
8/12/22 7:00pm EDT | |
Cardinals
Bengals
8/12/22 7:30pm EDT | |
Jets
Eagles
8/12/22 7:30pm EDT | |
Packers
49ers
8/12/22 8:30pm EDT | |
Chiefs
Bears
8/13/22 1:00pm EDT | |
Panthers
Commanders
8/13/22 1:00pm EDT | |
Colts
Bills
8/13/22 4:00pm EDT | |
Seahawks
Steelers
8/13/22 7:00pm EDT | |
Dolphins
Buccaneers
8/13/22 7:30pm EDT | |
Saints
Texans
8/13/22 8:00pm EDT | |
Cowboys
Broncos
8/13/22 9:00pm EDT | |
Rams
Chargers
8/13/22 10:00pm EDT | |
Vikings
Raiders
8/14/22 4:25pm EDT |
How to Read NFL Point Spread Odds
| Point Spread Game | Line & Odds |
|---|---|
Steelers
Bengals
9/11/22 1:00pm EDT | +6.5 -110 -6.5 -110 |
NFL Point Spread Basics
09/11/22 is the game date. 1:00 PM is the game time. You must place a point spread bet before gametime.
The visiting team comes first. In the example, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the visiting team. The home team follows below. The Cincinnati Bengals are the home team.
NFL Point Spread Line
Teams with a plus line are the underdog. In the example, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the +6.5 point underdogs.
Teams with a minus line are the favorite. The Cincinnati Bengals are the -6.5 point favorites.
Why Does the Point Spread Line Have a ½ Point?
A ½ point spread means no tie bets. Either Steelers bettors or Bengals bettors will win. Oddsmakers use ½ points strategically to avoid pushing players.
A tie is possible when the point spread line is a whole number like 3, 6, or 7. If the final score difference ties the spread, your bet will be refunded. Neither Steelers bettors nor Bengals bettors will win.
NFL Point Spread Odds
The numbers next to each point spread line are odds. These numbers determine your bet’s risk and win amounts.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, -110 means you lay $110 to win $100 on either team.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. Suppose the Steelers +6.5 had +120 odds. +120 would mean you win $120 for risking $100.
+100, PK, or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100.
SportsBetting3.com Live NFL Bets Explained
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Giants
Patriots
8/11/22 7:00pm EDT |
Underdog New England Patriots - New England Patriots bettors risk $100 to win $83.33 at -120 odds.
A +1.5 New England Patriots underdog bet wins if they lose by 1, tie, or win outright. Your bet loses if they lose by 2 or more.
Favorite New York Giants - New York Giants bettors risk $100 to win $97.09 at -103 odds.
A -1.5 New York Giants favorite bet wins if they win by 2 or more. Your bet loses if they win by 1, tie, or lose outright.
How to Read NFL Total Bet Odds
| Total Game | Line & Odds |
|---|---|
Steelers
Bengals
9/11/22 1:00pm EDT | 44.5 o -110 44.5 u -110 |
NFL Total Bet Basics
09/11/22 is the game date. 1:00 PM is the game time. You must place a total bet before the game starts.
The visiting team appears over the home team. The over-under total bet is made against the sportsbook’s total line. This differs from the point spread or moneyline, where you pick a team to win.
NFL Total Bet Line
Sportsbooks set a over-under total line that combines the estimated final scores of each team. In this example, the sportsbook has set a 44.5 point line for Pittsburg Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals matchup.
o is an abbreviation for “over”. u is an abbreviation for “under”.
You decide whether the actual point total will be over or under the sportsbook’s line.
Why Does the Total Line Have a ½ Point?
A ½ total line means no tie bets. The actual point total will be either over or under the sportsbook’s line.
A tie is possible when the total line is a whole number like 42, 45, or 49. If the actual point total equals the sportsbook’s line, your bet will be refunded. Neither the over nor the under will win.
NFL Total Bet Odds
The numbers next to each total bet line are odds. These numbers determine your bet’s risk and win amounts.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, -110 means you lay $110 to win $100 on both the over and under.
Sometimes the numbers will differ. The over might have -115 odds while the under has -105. In this case, you would lay $115 to win $100 on the over. Or, you would lay $105 to win $100 on the under.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. Suppose the under had +120 odds. That means you win $120 for risking $100 on the under.
+100, PK, or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100.
SportsBetting3.com Live NFL Bets Explained
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Giants
Patriots
8/11/22 7:00pm EDT |
An Over 33.5 bet wins if the total is 34 or more. Your Over 33.5 bet loses if the total is 33 or less, or a 0-0 tie.
Taking the Under - Under bettors risk $100 to win $94.34 at -106 odds.An Under 33.5 bet wins if the total is 33 or less, or a 0-0 tie. Your Under 33.5 bet loses if the total result is 34 or more.
How to Read NFL Moneyline Odds
| Moneyline Game | Line & Odds |
|---|---|
Steelers
Bengals
9/11/22 1:00pm EDT | +215 -275 |
NFL Moneyline Bet Basics
09/11/22 is the game date. 1:00 PM is the game time. You must place a moneyline bet before the game starts.
The visiting team comes first. In the example, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the visiting team. The home team follows below. The Cincinnati Bengals are the home team.
NFL Moneyline Bet Odds
The moneyline favorite will have a minus value. The moneyline underdog will have a plus value.
Minus numbers indicate how much you lay to win $100. In the example, the favorite Bengals have a -275 moneyline. That means you risk $275 to win $100.
Plus numbers indicate how much you win for risking $100. The underdog Steelers have a +215 moneyline. That means you win $215 for risking $100.
+100, PK, or EV is an even money bet. You risk $100 to win $100 on the underdog. You’ll only see this when the favorite has -120 odds.
Rarely, both sides will have -110 moneylines. That means there’s no favorite or underdog. The sportsbook regards this game as an equal matchup. Risk $110 to win $100 on either team.
SportsBetting3.com Live NFL Bets Explained
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Giants
Patriots
8/11/22 7:00pm EDT |
- New England Patriots bettors risk $100 to win $104 at +104 odds. The implied probability for New England Patriots is 49.02%.
- New York Giants bettors risk $100 to win $78.74 at -127 odds. The implied probability for New York Giants is 55.95%.
Tips for comparing betting odds and finding value
Given two equal point spreads or totals, bet at the sportsbook charging less juice. A lower commission means you won’t have to risk as much to bet on the favorite.
Also shop positive juice numbers. Under 35 +118 at one book is less profitable than +120 at another. You’ll get an extra $2 reward for making this bet at the other book!
How to Read NFL Odds Tables and Reference
NFL Betting Information
- Super Bowl Futures
- How to Bet on the NFL
- Point Spread Tutorial
- Total Bet Tutorial
- Moneyline Bet Tutorial
Common NFL Odds FAQs
A -6.5 point spread means the favorite must win by 7 points or more. The underdog will have a +6.5 point spread. The underdog must win outright or not lose by more than 6 points.
-110 odds mean you risk $110 to win $100. -110 odds are considered standard sports betting odds.
PK stands for Pick ’em. EV stands for even money. Both mean even money odds or +100. You win $100 for risking $100.
When both teams have -110 there is no favorite. The sportsbook believes both teams are equally likely to win. Risk $110 to win $100 on either team.
“o” stands for Over. “u” stands for Under. Choose whether the actual result will be over or under the sportsbook’s line.
A half-point or betting line with .5 means no tie bets are possible. One side or the other will win.
A game result that ties the spread results in a push. The sportsbook will refund your bet.
Betting lines and odds change as the sportsbook balances its action. Bookmakers want equal action on either side of the line
The most common NFL key numbers are 3, 7, and 10. These numbers are the most common final score difference between teams.
A big point spread favorite will be a less expensive than a big moneyline favorite. You’ll risk less money and have more room for error.