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. Use SportsBetting3.com’s Live NFL odds example to learn how different bets from upcoming NFL matchups win, lose, or push.
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Table of Contents
Watch the following video to understand NFL Odds
NFL Matchup Betting Odds
Markets|
Game |
 BetRiversBet |
 BetMGMBet |
|---|---|---|
Falcons
Jaguars
10/01/23 9:30am EDT | ||
Vikings
Panthers
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Dolphins
Bills
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Bengals
Titans
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Commanders
Eagles
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Buccaneers
Saints
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Rams
Colts
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Steelers
Texans
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Ravens
Browns
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Broncos
Bears
10/01/23 1:00pm EDT | ||
Raiders
Chargers
10/01/23 4:05pm EDT | ||
Patriots
Cowboys
10/01/23 4:25pm EDT | ||
Cardinals
49ers
10/01/23 4:25pm EDT | ||
Chiefs
Jets
10/01/23 8:20pm EDT | ||
Seahawks
Giants
10/02/23 8:15pm EDT |
Point Spreads
| 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.
PK, short for “Pick’em”, equals a 0 point spread. The point spread becomes a moneyline bet with the odds indicating risk and win amounts for each side.
NFL Odds Example
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Falcons
Jaguars
10/01/23 9:30am EDT |
Underdog Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta Falcons bettors risk $100 to win $90.91 at -110 odds.
A +3 Atlanta Falcons underdog bet wins if they lose by 2 or fewer, tie, or win outright. The bet pushes if they lose by 3. Your bet loses if they lose by 4 or more.
Favorite Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville Jaguars bettors risk $100 to win $90.91 at -110 odds.
A -3 Jacksonville Jaguars favorite bet wins if they win by 4 or more. The bet pushes if they win by 3. Your bet loses if they win by 2 or fewer, tie, or lose outright.
Total Bets
| 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.
NFL Odds Example
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Falcons
Jaguars
10/01/23 9:30am EDT |
An Over 43 bet wins if the total is 44 or more. The bet pushes if the total is 43. Your Over 43 bet loses if the total is 42 or fewer, or a 0-0 tie.
Taking the Under - Under bettors risk $100 to win $91.74 at -109 odds.An Under 43 bet wins if the total is 42 or fewer, or a 0-0 tie. The bet pushes if the the total is 43. Your Under 43 bet loses if the total result is 44 or more.
Moneylines
| 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.
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.
NFL Odds Example
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Falcons
Jaguars
10/01/23 9:30am EDT |
- Atlanta Falcons bettors risk $100 to win $138 at +138 odds. The implied probability for Atlanta Falcons is 42.02%.
- Jacksonville Jaguars bettors risk $100 to win $59.88 at -167 odds. The implied probability for Jacksonville Jaguars is 62.55%.
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!
NFL Futures Bets
The following are the most popular NFL futures bets. These bets are the most commonly placed by recreational and professional bettors alike. Use the odds to guide your handicapping throughout the season.
- Super Bowl
- AFC Futures
- NFC Futures
- NFL Team to win Most Regular Season Games
- NFL Team to win Fewest Regular Season Games
- NFL Regular Season MVP
|
Team | BetRivers |
BetMGM |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | ||
| Chiefs | ||
| Eagles | ||
| Dolphins | ||
| Bills | ||
| Cowboys | ||
| Ravens | ||
| Bengals | ||
| Lions | ||
| Browns | ||
| Chargers | ||
| Jaguars | ||
| Steelers | ||
| Saints | ||
| Seahawks | ||
| Falcons | ||
| Packers | ||
| Vikings | ||
| Patriots | ||
| Rams | ||
| Buccaneers | ||
| Commanders | ||
| Titans | ||
| Colts | ||
| Giants | ||
| Jets | ||
| Raiders | ||
| Broncos | ||
| Panthers | ||
| Bears | ||
| Texans | ||
| Cardinals |
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”. It means that the point spread is 0, so the wager is essentially the same as a moneyline bet. The odds indicate each side’s risk and win amounts.
When both teams have a -110 moneyline there is no favorite. The sportsbook has set equal odds for each side. 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 line, or betting line with .5, means that 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.
NFL Betting Resources
- How to Bet on the NFL – An in-depth look at how to place bets on the NFL, including common straight bets and exotics like parlays, teasers, and props.
- NFL Betting Sites – Our list of the best NFL betting sites features licensed and legal US sportsbooks, just in time for the action on the gridiron.
- NFL Betting Odds – Current NFL odds for upcoming matchups, including the preseason and postseason. Review futures odds, the greatest all-time teams, regular-season standings, and valuable handicapping strategies.
- NFL Prop Bets – Prop bets from upcoming NFL matchups, including a complete NFL prop betting tutorial. Learn how to bet on NFL props.
- NFL Futures Odds – Odds for popular NFL Futures, like the Super Bowl, AFC and NFC conference winners, each division winner, and offensive and defensive player awards. Learn how to bet on NFL futures in minutes.
- NFL Win Total Odds – Review regular season win total lines and odds for each team. Remember to place you bet before each team’s first game of the regular season.
- Super Bowl Betting – The latest Super Bowl odds for every NFL team, plus a great guide to how to bet on the Super Bowl. Review how to bet Super Bowl props and recent winning teams.
- Quarterback Props – Review each quarterback’s regular season performance props. Bet over or under the sportsbook’s line.
- Running Back Props – See performance props for the league’s top running backs. Bet over or under the sportsbook’s line.
- How to Read NFL Odds – Great for beginners: learn what the numbers for each bet mean.
- Super Bowl National Anthem Prop Bet Trends – Review recent Super Bowl National Anthem prop bet trends before placing this exciting prop bet.
- NFL Team Betting Odds – Betting odds and bonuses for each NFL team, including their Super Bowl, Conference, and Division futures, plus historical standings going back to before you were born.