NFL Betting at Bally Bet Sportsbook

The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920, and Americans have been betting on it since day one.

NFL betting is now up and running, legally, in a staggering 20+ states across the U.S. And many more are on the way soon.

And with Bally Bet Sportsbook, you can pick a wager for practically every aspect of the sport, whether that’s which team you think will win, or whether your favorite quarterback will throw 300+ yards. That’s just two options of many in our betting playbook – and they’re available for regular season games as well as playoff games, too.

Read on to see what bets are popular, how they work, and why you might choose one over the other.

Popular Types of NFL Bets

Get acquainted with the most popular types of NFL bets here. Our guide explains how the bets work and provides a handy example for each, so you know exactly what you’re looking at when you next fire up Bally Bet Sportsbook.

Moneyline

Moneylines are one of the best football bets for those new to NFL betting as the principle is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is predict which team will win.

Moneyline example: In a game between the Patriots and the Browns, you could choose either team to win. If they do, so does your bet, regardless of who the favorite or who the underdog is.

Over/Under

With an over/under bet, the sportsbook predicts the number for a certain statistic in a game. Your aim is to guess whether the result will be higher or lower than that prediction.

Over/Under example: The book sets the line for the Cowboys' total pass yards at 232.5. If you take the over and the Cowboys nail 233 yards or more, you win. It's as simple as that.

Spread

Football spread betting is similar to a moneyline bet, made more challenging by adding a point handicap to a team. While factoring in the handicap, you need to predict which of the teams will win.

Spread example: If you bet on the Titans to beat the Chiefs at +6.5 and the Titans lose by six points or less - or simply win - your bet pays out.

Props

With this bet, you can wager on interesting aspects of the game, from rushing yards to the first to score a touchdown or the odds of a certain player getting a sack or interception. Here at Bally Bet, NFL props are only limited by your imagination.

Prop example: You bet on Marquez Valdes-Scantling to receive over 1.5 passes in his next game.

Parlays

Combine multiple NFL bets into a single wager and enjoy the combined odds. You can even take advantage of same-game parlays.

Parlay example: Place wagers on the Baltimore Ravens winning and Gus Edwards rushing for over 100 yards.

Teasers

A teaser combines handicap and parlay bets. You adjust the points spread for the games and then parlay two or more selections.

Teaser example: The Eagles are -5 and the Patriots are +5. You change the spread so that the Eagles are -8 and the Patriots are +9. The Eagles and the Patriots cover the new spreads, so your teaser bet pays out.

Futures

With a futures bet you’re wagering on the outcome of a tournament, league, or end-of-season award. There are markets for individual players as well as teams.

Futures example: You bet on Patrick Mahomes to win the NFL MVP award or the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl.

At Bally Bet, there's all kinds of NFL wagers. For instance, you can back your favorite NFL team to win the Super Bowl this season or, if you'd prefer to err on the side of caution, bet on them to make it to the playoffs or to win their conference. You can also wager on player awards: Our MVP markets are always popular, and you can bet on which player you think will be first pick in the NFL draft.

Our NFL markets really come alive during the playoffs, where every game becomes do-or-die and the stakes are raised. But don’t worry, we also have live betting markets for all regular season games, and you can even bet on the preseason games.

Remember to check out the betting markets around game nights. Just before the game starts, there's often influx of betting activity, which can cause the odds to shift sharply in each direction.

With our NFL live betting coverage, you can stay up to date with all the latest action, whether that's a random injury sustained mid-game or a last-minute storm threatening to disrupt a team's passing offense. Odds will fluctuate in real time, but you'll also have the advantage of being able to adapt and place wagers reactively.

With a live bet, you can watch both teams play each other and see which team is in form and whose strategy is more effective. Then, once you’ve wrapped up your analysis, you can place your bet. And, thanks to our sportsbook app, you can do all of this without leaving the couch!

NFL Betting Tips

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to football bet advice. But if you’re looking for a little guidance, here are some football betting tips that might help you and your next wager out.

Stats are your friend

Don’t worry, you don’t need to go all Moneyball 2.0, but by guiding your NFL betting decisions with the help of a few key stats, you could potentially improve your winning percentage. Some of the most effective stats that have shown the highest predictive power are head-to-head records, QB ratings, the average number of points scored and conceded per game, the average number of yards gained per game, and records over the last three to five matches.

Patience is a virtue

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is do nothing at all. If you can be a little more selective with your bets and only pull the trigger when you find value, your bankroll will thank you.

Don’t ignore playing conditions

It isn’t just the weather that you need to think about. You also have to consider where the game is being played. Ask yourself which team has the home advantage. Is a team coming off a bye? Did the away team have to travel far? Ideally, you want to find a home team playing a tired away team who have had to make a long trip. For example, if the Giants are playing the Seahawks in Seattle, then New York might be in for a long day.

Find your niche

You may find that certain bet types come more easily to you. For example, one bettor may focus exclusively on spread betting, while another might be a master at predicting totals. Before you settle on an NFL bet type, try different markets and see which ones you vibe with.

Go beyond simple home advantage

Home NFL teams have a 56% win rate. This win rate is even higher when an East Coast team makes the long trip to take on a West Coast team. The Seattle Seahawks are a particularly formidable opponent when playing at Lumen Field.

Bankroll management is important

It doesn’t matter if you have a high winning percentage. If you risk too much of your bankroll on a single wager, all it takes is a few bad losses to get wiped out. To avoid this situation, bet conservatively and don’t risk more than 3% of your bankroll on a single bet. For example, if your bankroll is $1,000, consider sticking to $30 bets.

Feeling prepared? Join Bally Bet today and check out the variety of NFL betting markets and bet types we've got for every single game throughout the season.

A Brief History of the NFL

The NFL has come a long way since it was founded in 1920. The league presently features 32 teams, which are divided between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).

The NFL season features 17 regular games and then a single elimination playoff tournament. Then there's the final spectacle — the Super Bowl. Though there are always plenty of teams and players to keep an eye out for, some household names that stand out from the crowd include the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants.

The NFL is the most popular sports league in the U.S., with Americans apparently watching a combined total of 974.7 billion minutes per year. Over 115 million people watched the 2023 Super Bowl as the Kansas City Chiefs narrowly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

The most popular team is the Dallas Cowboys, but that doesn't necessarily translate into winning: The last time the Cowboys tasted Super Bowl victory was back in 1996. Statistically, the most successful NFL team of all time is the New England Patriots. For this franchise, quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls together.

NFL Betting vs. College Football Betting

There’s admittedly very little difference between NFL and college football. Placing bets is exactly the same, and you have access to the most common markets such as the moneyline and the spread. One key difference is that there are no restrictions on betting on local teams in the NFL, and you can enjoy tons of player props — due to state restrictions, this isn't always the case when you bet on a college game.