The new NFL season is upon us, and that means it's time to consider your betting options for the 2023 campaign. Regardless of the quality of your favorite side, you will no doubt be hoping against hope that they deliver the goods.
For fans of top franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, that means backing them to win the Super Bowl.
For supporters of historically abject teams like the New York Jets, you'd be happy just to succeed in your wager on the team making it to the postseason, and with Aaron Rodgers on board, that may well be a great bet to place.
Betting on the NFL is, however, not an easy undertaking, and novices doing so can make the most of the odds listed on this page to get an idea of who's worth piling your hard-earned dollars on this time around.
For those with only a limited knowledge of betting on NFL games, here's a refresher course on how to read NFL odds.
The Moneyline
A money line is effectively related to a straight bet on which of the two teams playing you want to back for victory.
An example of how this might look is as follows:
- Detroit Lions +225
- Kansas City Chiefs -278
So, in this scenario for NFL Week 1, the Chiefs are clear favorites (which is hardly surprising given that Patrick Mahomes' side is the reigning Super Bowl champions).
The number attributed to each team relates to winnings from a payout.
If you place a $100 bet on the Lions to win, you'll win $225. For you to win $100 on the Chiefs, you'd have to place a bet of $278.
Obviously, there will be games that are far more, even when the differences in the sums won't be quite so diverse.
The Spread
Using the same game, we can also look to explain how the point spread bet would work.
So, with this in mind, below is an example of how it might look on a betting slip both online or offline:
- Detroit Lions +6.5 -110
- Kansas City Chiefs -6.5 -110
Now, a point spread bet is a great way to even the odds a little and is worthwhile for a neutral looking to back an underdog or, similarly, a fan who is convinced his side can easily outdo a weaker opponent.
So in this example above, a $110 bet on the Lions would earn you $100, but clearly, Detroit will then have to be within at least 6 points of the Chiefs in order for you to win that bet.
And vice-versa, if you back Kansas City, you have to be confident they can beat their visitors by at least seven points.
Over/Under Bet
Another common form of game betting within the NFL is the Over/Under bet.
Again, a useful bet for those who are looking to just enjoy the game and don't necessarily have a horse in the race, so to speak.
We'll use another game from NFL Week 1 as an example here:
- San Francisco 49ers O 41 -110
- Pittsburgh Steelers U 41 -110
Here, the over/under spread line is 41.
So you are basically just betting on whether the total number of points will be over 41 when you combine the total of the two teams.
For example, if you believe the score will be over 41 and it was to finish, for example, 27-20 (and it doesn't matter to which team that favors), then a $110 bet will earn you $100.
When it comes to placing your NFL bets, always be sparing.
Less is most definitely more.
Don't rush into anything, and don't look for extravagant wagers; keep it nice and straightforward.
Good luck out there, gridiron fans!
