Point Spread Betting Nfl
- Point Spread For Nfl Games This Week
- Point Spread Betting Nfl Spreads
- Nfl Games Betting Line This Week
- Nfl Vegas Over Under Odds
- Nfl Point Spread Betting Explained
Get the latest NFL odds, spreads and betting lines from this week's games, as well as full coverage of the National Football League from USA TODAY. NFL point spreads are set by oddsmakers. This is the final outcome they expect one team to have over the other. For example, if the New England Patriots are squaring off against the Miami Dolphins. Free NFL Picks + Predictions, Betting Tips and Parlays for Today. NFL POINT SPREADS EXPLAINED: The NFL is the most wagered upon sport in North America and it's not even close.
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How to read Super Bowl 55 Odds
The Kansas City Chiefs wil meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 7, 2021.
The Chiefs opened as -3.5 betting favorites while the Buccaneers are 3.5 underdogs.
After early wagers came in, most operators are holding Kansas City -3 (-120).
If you were to wager on Kansas City -3, you would have to lay 5/6 odds (Bet $120 to win $100) instead of your normal 10/11 juice (Bet $110 to win $100).
The return on Tampa Bay would be even-money (1/1) and a $100 wager would return $100.
The total or over-under on Super Bowl 55 is hovering between 56 and 57 points.
How to read NFL Las Vegas Odds
The point-spread was developed to provide a balance for both teams involved in a contest to entice bettors to potentially back the weaker team and receive points. The two squads in a game are listed with a title, either a favorite or an underdog. The favorite is usually the perceived better team in the game, as backing them means giving up several points.
The favorite is always listed with a minus (-) sign before the point-spread while the underdog is labeled with a plus (+) label.
Ex. Favorite -10, Underdog +10
On the VegasInsider.com odds page, there is another number associated with the favorite and its listed as -10. This number is simply defined as “vig” or what many in the sports betting industry call vigorish. Another common term is called “juice” and it’s technically the price the bettor has to pay on a straight wager.
Ex. Bet $110 to win $100 (10% juice)
Ex. Bet $100 to win $90.91 (10% juice)
It's not uncommon to see other values posted other than -10. Examples seen on the NFL Vegas Odds pages could include -08, -12, -15 and -20. The -10 price is the most common value in the industry while many books offer reduced 'juice odds' and that would fall into the -08 category.
The lower-juice sportsbooks are normally found outside of the state Nevada. If you are in a state where sports betting is legal, please check out our online sportsbook directory to find the best and most secure places to make NFL bets.
Another number that’s posted on the NFL Las Vegas is the total or ‘over/under’ for the specific matchup. If the favorite is designated as the home team, then the total will be listed above and vice versa if the visitors are favorites.
All of the above numbers are listed next to the teams, and before each matchup is a Rotation number. The NFL Las Vegas Odds are listed in order of rotation and those numbers are generated and produced by the sportsbooks. Above each matchup and rotation is the Time of the game, which is subject to change. All game times are Eastern Standard Time.
NFL Open Line
One of the best features on the NFL Vegas Odds is the Open Line. This numbers consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Global Sportsbooks. The opening line varies depending on the sportsbook but it provides a clear-cut rating that the oddsmakers use. If you’re betting on the NFL or any other sport, it’s a great idea to view the open line first.
VI Consensus NFL Line
The VegasInsider.com Consensus NFL Line is just as important as the Open Line and also a key resource on odds platform. The Consensus column could be called a “Median Line” since it shows the most consistent number provided by the sportsbooks on VegasInsider.com. The consensus line will be the same as the open line but once the wagers start coming in, this number is often different than the openers.
How do I bet on the Super Bowl?
We know that you can bet on the Super Bowl and all of NFL Futures or bet on the NFL Draft at any time of the year, but what’s the process? The future wager or the “Odds to Win” bet on the Super Bowl is correctly selecting a team to win an event that takes place at a later time. A bettor will have his wagered money tied up until there is an outcome and bettors will receive fixed odds when they place the wager. In the case of the Super Bowl, you’re not a winner or loser until you see zeros on the clock in the final game.
Most sportsbooks offer different ways to read to Super Bowl Odds. In the fractional NFL Futures Odds format below, you simply take the odds and multiply by the amount wagered.
Ex. Green Bay (8/1) to win the Super Bowl
The Packers are listed as an 8/1 betting choice to win the Super Bowl. If you wager $100 on Green Bay to win the NFC and they capture the championship, then you would win $800 (8 ÷ 1 x 100). Your online betting account would then credit your account $900, which includes your win and stake ($100).
The American Format would see Green Bay listed at +800 and for the Decimal Format, the Packers would be 9.00.
If you are in a state where online betting is legal, we encourage you to check out our sportsbook directory to find the most trustworthy and reputable sites and mobile apps to place your Super Bowl bets.
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Tired of the lousy returns that come with betting favorites on the moneyline each week? Then it’s time to move up in the world of NFL betting online. For many, betting against the spread is the best way to start making some real money, fast.
If you’re entirely new to NFL point spread betting, or even the concept of odds, visit our series of articles for new bettors for a comprehensive introduction.
When betting on the spread, you’re betting on a team to either win by a certain point margin, or a team to lose by a certain margin (or win outright). The spread is the great equalizer in sports betting.
How Does Football Spread Betting Work?
In spread betting, the favorite has to win by a certain number of points for the bettors who pick them to cash in.
On the other hand, the underdog ‘gets’ points, meaning that bettors who back them will see a profit even if they lose, so long as it’s by less than the spread.
Often, you will see a spread with a half-point attached to it. This is called a hook (you’ve probably heard someone say they lost by the hook.) The hook ensures there will not be a push (a betting term for a tie). In the case of a push, most bookmakers will return the money wagered. However, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions at your sportsbook, as some will count a push as a loss.
Now that you’ve got the basics, let’s dive deeper into the world of NFL spread betting. In this article, we’ll be covering:
- How point spreads are set
- Why the spread changes during the week
- Strategies to win NFL point spread bets
How is the NFL Point Spread Set?
Point spreads are designed to attract equal betting on both teams in a football game. The majority of NFL games have a perceived favorite, and without the addition of a spread, the bets would be one-sided. This is unprofitable for bookmakers unless the underdog wins.
The opening football spread for each week is set shortly after the Sunday night wrap up. Week 1 is the exception, with the lines coming out well in advance. When creating spreads, bookmakers are trying to read how the public perceive both the team and game in question. Obviously, some math, team stats, and storylines are involved, but this all secondary to public perception.
Bookmakers are not gamblers. Instead of letting their money ride on one team, they are happy enough to collect the juice (or vig) on each game. When betting the spread, the odds for both teams are often -110. This means a bettor has to wager $110 to win $100. Therefore, if the money is evenly split, the bookmakers simply pay winners from the money collected from losers and pocket the remaining 10%.
Let’s use the matchup of Kansas City at New England (-7.5) as an example. We’ll assume the money is split evenly.
Let’s say a bookmaker takes 1,000 bets of $110 for New England to cover, and 1,000 bets of $110 for Kansas City to cover. Therefore, each bettor would win $100 if their team covers the spread, since the odds are -110 for each team.
- Money bet on New England = 1,000 x $110
Money bet on New England = $110,000 - Money bet on Kansas City = 1,000 x $110
Money bet on Kansas City = $110,000
Now let’s assume the Patriots win in blowout fashion, 42-7, covering the spread. All 1,000 individuals who bet $110 on the Pats win $100, while the Chiefs supporters surrender their wager to the bookmaker.
- Money paid out to New England bettors: 1,000 x $100
Money paid out to New England bettors: $100,000 - Money collected from Kansas City bettors: 1,000 x $110
Money collected from Kansas City bettors: $110,000
After both exchanges, the bookmaker has turned a nice profit ($110,000 – $100,000 = $10,000). And remember, this is just one game. The best NFL betting sites are likely taking more than 1,000 bets on each game. That can result in hundreds of thousands in profits. And this is why bookmakers like to include a hook in the spread; a push results in no juice collected.
So, the next time you’re wondering how a bookmaker came up with the spread for a specific game, just take a good look in the mirror.
Why Do NFL Betting Spreads Change During the Week?
Point Spread For Nfl Games This Week
Now that you know how spreads are created, it should be fairly obvious why they change. Quite simply, a spread changes throughout the week if more money has been placed on one team. The bookmaker will alter the spread to encourage betting on the other team. This way, the money evens out, and they aren’t risking losses. Here’s another example to help out:
Point Spread Betting Nfl Spreads
Let’s say Carolina’s starters look good during the first preseason game, and bettors flock to the Panthers (-4.5). The bookmakers’ first response may just be to adjust the odds to -120 for Carolina with even money for San Francisco (meaning bettors have to wager $120 to win $100 when betting Carolina, but only have to wager $100 to win $100 when betting San Francisco). However, if the money is too lopsided, the spread may increase to -5.5 or -6 for Carolina, to encourage new bettors to start putting their money on San Francisco.
Injuries also play a significant role in spread adjustments. Occasionally a spread may be withheld until the injury reports are released. If a star player’s status is unknown, bookmakers will wait until news regarding that player is released. If a star player is ruled out at the last minute, bookmakers will change the spread immediately (knowing that savvy, attentive bettors will try to get their money down as quickly as possible, hoping to beat the line movement).
NFL Point Spread Betting — How to Win
The heading is a little misleading. No formula that results ensures money. (But when one does exist, you’ll find it here first.) There are, however, strategies to maximize your chances of success.
First off, it’s important to understand that a game with two evenly matched teams will often result in an opening 2.5-point spread in favor of the home team. The conventional wisdom is that home-field advantage is worth three points.
As discussed, public perception can and will change the opening spread between two evenly matched teams. Therefore, if you believe two teams are evenly matched and don’t see a 2.5-point spread, it’s something to investigate.
Nfl Games Betting Line This Week
Other details that should be considered before making a bet against the spread:
- Where is the game being played?
As mentioned, home-field advantage is a real thing. The bookmakers are considering it, and so should you. - Is it a divisional matchup?
Many teams perform better when playing within their own division, and these games tend to be closer in score. Familiarity is an equalizer in football. - Where and when did each team play the previous week?
After playing on Monday Night Football in a different time zone, even the best teams can look a little sluggish. Cross-country travel means less time to rest and practice. - Monitor the betting spreads
Waiting until Sunday morning to place your bets can result in missing out on a favorable opportunity. - Know the injury reports
Football is the ultimate team sport. Monitoring the health of the quarterback isn’t enough. - Be aware of individual matchups
In spite of what I just said, some players and coaches just have each other’s numbers. For example, Tom Coughlin is 5-2 when coaching against Bill Belichick. - Know the teams
Yes, knowledge of each team’s strengths and weaknesses seems rather obvious. But also, be aware of team popularity. For example, the Packers and Cowboys have legions of fans who like to bet on them. That can push spreads higher, even when it isn’t justified. - Don’t go overboard on parlays/teasers
A parlay is just a fancy term for a bet that involves more than one team. A teaser is a parlay that allows bettors to adjust the spread in their favor in exchange for a smaller potential payout. Both of these are common when betting against the spread. Be cautious as to how many teams you include in one bet. The potential payout of an eight-team parlay may look tempting, but the odds of winning are extremely slim. Upsets and unforeseen events will occur—count on it.
Following the eight rules we’ve discussed doesn’t guarantee a payout. As Kevin Garnett so eloquently put it, “anything is possible.” But those considerations will increase the chances of beating the house. So, take that newfound knowledge of spread betting and give it the old college try (responsibly, of course).
Looking for More Football Betting Knowledge?
The point spread is the most popular way to bet on football, but it’s only one of many options. Be sure to review the rest of the NFL content in our sport-specific betting advice section,
Nfl Vegas Over Under Odds
Check out the quick tips and tricks outlined in our beginner’s guide to betting on college football if you’re looking to expand your football betting portfolio beyond the professional gridiron, and enjoy the action this season!