Ways to Bet on Football

Filed in archive Betting , Quick introduction on June 30, 2010

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Football is the number one sport in the United States, in terms of both popularity and sports betting. Betting on football can be both as enjoyable and lucrative as playing online blackjack games or betting on horses. Before you begin to bet on football, you must have a firm understanding of the different types of bets available to you.


Betting with a Point Spread

Odds makers and sportsbooks employ a point spread to each game in an effort to encourage betting on both sides. The point spread is not necessarily how much they think the margin of victory will be, but actually the number odds makers believe will drive the action. Let's say the New York Giants are hosting the Washington Redskins and are favored by four points. You bet on the Giants. In order to collect, the Giants must win by at least five points. If they only win by four, the bet is set aside and no money is exchanged.

Taking the Money Line

The money line bet does not take into account a point spread. The only concern is selecting a winner. Taking the money line on the favored team will yield a lower payout than a straight bet because it is a much safer play. The Giants would have odds like -140. As a result, you would have to bet 140 dollars to make 100. The odds for the underdog, in this case, the Redskins, would be like +150. This means a bet of $100 yields $250 total (the $100 wagered plus the $150 won).

Betting the Over/Under

If you do not want to bet on either team, you can simply bet on the over/under or total. The over/under is the total number of points scored in the game. Let's say the over/under for the Redskins and Giants is 41 and you bet the under. The two teams must combine for 40 points or less for you to collect. If they combine for 41, it is a push. Often times, odds makers will have a number with a half to avoid a push.

Making a Parlay Bet

A parlay is a bet that involves two or more games. The more games you bet on, the higher the payout. In order to win a parlay, every bet must win. Bettors are drawn to parlays because there is low risk and high reward. If one of the games is a tie or push, the parlay is still valid but will pay out less.