How to Bet on the NFL: A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

Betting on the NFL means putting money on a game’s result through three main bet types: the moneyline (who wins), the point spread (the margin), and the total, also called the over/under (combined points). Learn those three and you can bet almost any NFL game with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• NFL betting comes down to three core bets: moneyline, point spread, and total (over/under).
• Most NFL bets are priced at -110, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. That built-in fee is called the vig.
• A few offshore books shave that price to -105, which saves real money over a full 17-game season.
• U.S. bettors in states without legal apps can still bet the NFL at offshore books using crypto or cards.
• Start with one bet type, bet small, and set a season budget before Week 1 of the 2026 season.

What Are the Three Main Ways to Bet on the NFL?

The three main NFL bets are the moneyline, the point spread, and the total. Each answers a different question about the game.

The moneyline is a bet on who wins, straight up. Odds show the price. A favorite might be -200, meaning you risk $200 to win $100. An underdog might be +170, meaning a $100 bet wins $170. If you want the full walkthrough, read our guide on how a moneyline bet works.

The point spread levels the field. The favorite must win by more than a set number; the underdog can lose by less than that number and still cover. A spread of -6.5 means the favorite must win by 7 or more.

The total, or over/under, is the combined score of both teams. NFL totals usually sit between 40 and 50 points. You bet whether the real total lands over or under that line.

What Is the Easiest NFL Bet for a Beginner?

The moneyline is the easiest NFL bet for a beginner because you only pick the winner. There is no math about margins or combined scores. You pick a team, and if it wins, you win.

Start there for your first few weeks. A $10 moneyline bet on a team you already follow is a low-risk way to learn how prices move. Once that feels natural, add point spreads and totals. Skip parlays at first. A parlay ties several picks into one ticket, and every leg must hit, so one wrong pick sinks the whole bet. Our beginner parlay guide explains the trade-off in plain terms. Our free betting calculator can help you check potential returns before you bet.

How Do You Read NFL Odds and Payouts?

NFL odds in the U.S. use the American format, which is built around $100. A minus number is the favorite and shows what you risk to win $100. A plus number is the underdog and shows what $100 wins.

Here are simple examples:

• -110: risk $110 to win $100 (the standard price on spreads and totals).
• -200: risk $200 to win $100 (a clear favorite).
• +150: risk $100 to win $150 (an underdog).

That -110 price is the vig, short for vigorish. It is the small fee the book charges on most bets. Think of it as the house’s cut. The vig is why you risk $110 to win $100 instead of an even $100 for $100.

Why Does the Vig Matter Over a Full Season?

The vig matters because it quietly eats your bankroll across a 17-game NFL season. Small pricing differences add up fast.

Say you bet $50 per game at the standard -110 price. The extra 10 cents of juice on each side is the cost of doing business. Now compare a book that offers reduced juice at -105. On a $50 bet, -110 risks $55 to win $50, while -105 risks $52.50 to win $50. That is $2.50 saved per bet. Over a 17-week season betting one game a week, that is roughly $42 back in your pocket for the same action. Bet a few games a week and the gap grows into real money. (This is editorial math to show the effect of price, not a record of placed bets.)

Standard NFL pricing conventions as of July 2026. Always check the live number before you bet.

Bovada and BetUS post standard -110 pricing on most NFL sides, while BetOnline runs reduced-juice pricing on select NFL markets. Shopping two or three books for the best number is the simplest edge a beginner can pick up.

How Can U.S. Bettors Bet on the NFL Without a Legal App?

U.S. bettors in states without a legal sportsbook app can still bet the NFL at licensed offshore books that accept American players. These sites take bettors from most states and settle in U.S. dollars.

Funding is usually fastest with cryptocurrency. Crypto deposits clear in minutes and carry lower fees than cards, and payouts tend to move faster too. Our step-by-step guide on how to deposit Bitcoin on Bovada covers the setup from wallet to first deposit. If you prefer a full rundown of one book’s markets, payouts, and terms first, our full Bovada review breaks it down.

One honest caveat: offshore books are not state-regulated. That means fewer local protections, so stick to well-known names, read the payout rules, and only deposit what you can afford.

What Mistakes Should New NFL Bettors Avoid?

The biggest beginner mistake is betting more after a loss to win it back. That habit, called chasing, turns one bad night into a bad month.

A few simple rules keep you steady:

• Set a season budget before the first game and split it into small, equal bets.
• Bet 1% to 2% of your budget per game, so no single result hurts.
• Stick to one or two bet types until they feel routine.
• Compare the price at two or three books before every bet.

Betting should stay fun, not become a plan to make rent.

References

• ESPN, “The beginner’s guide to sports betting” — bankroll management basics.
• DraftKings Football Betting Guide — bet-type definitions and odds examples.
• Sporting News, “How to bet NFL: Complete guide” — bet types, reading odds, key terms.