Every NFL bet is one of three things: the moneyline, the point spread, or the total. This guide explains each type with real dollar math, examples, and a comparison of where to bet.
Quick answer: NFL moneyline bets pick the outright winner, point-spread bets adjust the result with a points handicap, and totals (over/under) bet on combined points scored.
Key Takeaways
- Moneyline bets only ask who wins; the final margin does not matter.
- Point spreads give the weaker team a head start, so the favorite must win by more than the spread.
- Totals, also called over/unders, are bets on both teams’ combined points; you do not pick a winner.
- Standard -110 pricing means risking $110 to win $100, with the extra $10 acting as the sportsbook’s vig.
- At -110 you need to win about 52.4% of bets to break even over time.
Almost every NFL bet you’ll ever place is one of three things: the moneyline (pick the winner), the point spread (pick the winner after one team gets a head start in points), or the total (bet on how many points both teams score combined). Learn those three and the whole NFL board makes sense. Below is each one in plain English, with real dollar amounts, NFL examples, and the math on which bet gives you the better deal.
What Is an NFL Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet is a bet on which team wins the game. That’s it. Win by one point or win by forty, you get paid the same.
The catch is price. Books charge you more for the better team, and pay you more for the worse one.
Say the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos. The board might look like this:
- Kansas City Chiefs -175
- Denver Broncos +145
How Do You Read NFL Moneyline Odds?
Two simple rules cover every moneyline you’ll ever see.
- A minus number is what you must risk to win $100. At -175, you bet $175 to profit $100. On a $20 bet, that’s $11.43 in profit.
- A plus number is what you win on a $100 bet. At +145, a $100 bet profits $145. A $20 bet profits $29.
Winning bets return your stake too. A $100 bet on Denver at +145 comes back as $245.
Here is the part beginners miss. A -175 favorite has to win about 64% of the time for that bet to break even. A +145 underdog only needs to win about 41% of the time. Heavy favorites are not free money—you are paying a lot for a safer-feeling result. Our step-by-step guide to placing a moneyline bet walks through the ticket itself if you have never clicked one.
What Does the Spread Mean in NFL Betting?
The spread is the sportsbook’s way of making a lopsided game a coin flip. One team gets a head start in points. The other has to overcome it.
Take a Philadelphia Eagles home game against the Dallas Cowboys:
- Philadelphia Eagles -6.5 (-110)
- Dallas Cowboys +6.5 (-110)
Philadelphia is giving 6.5 points. Bet the Eagles and they’ve got to win by 7 or more for you to cash. Bet Dallas and you win if Dallas wins outright, ties, or loses by 6 or fewer.
Final score 27-20 Eagles? That’s a 7-point win. Eagles bettors cash.
Final score 24-20 Eagles? Philadelphia won the game, but Eagles bettors lost the bet. Dallas backers got paid on a loss. That gap between winning the game and winning the bet is the whole point of the spread, and it trips up every new bettor at least once.
Both sides are priced at -110 here. Risk $110, win $100. Risk $20, win $18.18.
What Happens When the Spread Lands Exactly on the Number?
You get your money back. That’s called a push.
If the spread is Eagles -7 and Philadelphia wins 24-17, the margin is exactly 7. Nobody wins. Both sides get their stake returned.
That’s why you see so many half points, like -6.5 or +3.5. Sportsbooks add the half point—bettors call it the hook—to remove the tie and force a result. Check the house rules page at your book before you bet a whole number, since settlement wording can differ slightly between sites.
What Is an Over/Under Bet in the NFL?
A total, or over/under, is a bet on the combined points both teams score. Who wins doesn’t matter.
The sportsbook posts a number. You bet whether the real total lands above it or below it.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals might be posted like this:
- Over 48.5 (-110)
- Under 48.5 (-110)
Baltimore wins 27-24. That’s 51 combined points. The over cashes.
Baltimore wins 20-17? That’s 37 points. Under bettors get paid.
Totals are the friendliest bet for a first-timer, because you never have to pick a side. Cold weather, wind, a hurt quarterback, a slow-tempo offense—all those factors point one direction without you needing to know who wins. Our NFL betting strategies for beginners guide covers how those factors move the number.
Which NFL Bet Type Should You Use?
The table below compares the three core markets at a glance.
| Bet type | What you pick | Usual NFL price | Payout on a winning $50 bet | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | The outright winner | -110 to -400 on favorites | $45.45 profit at -110; $12.50 at -400 | The game is close, or you like an underdog to win outright |
| Point spread | The winner after the head start | Usually -110 both sides | $45.45 profit | One team is clearly better and you think the gap is bigger or smaller than the book says |
| Total (over/under) | Combined points, both teams | Usually -110 both sides | $45.45 profit | You have a read on weather, injuries, or pace but no read on the winner |
Now the part competitors skip: what the moneyline actually costs you on the same game.
Philadelphia -6.5 is priced at -110. That same Eagles team on the moneyline might sit near -280. Bet $100 both ways and the difference is stark. The spread bet profits $90.91 if the Eagles win by 7. The moneyline profits $35.71 if they win by a single point.
Break-even rates tell the same story. At -110 you need to be right 52.4% of the time. At -280 you need to be right 73.7% of the time. You are buying safety at a steep markup.
Where Can You Bet NFL Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals?
Offshore sportsbooks take U.S. players in states where local books never launched. That matters more than people think. The Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018, and more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C. have legalized some form of sports betting since, per the American Gaming Association’s state tracker—but California, Texas, and several others still have no legal online option.
These four all post full NFL boards with sides, totals, and moneylines on every game.
| Rank | Sportsbook | DWZ rating | What it does well |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BetOnline | 4.7/5.0 | Deep NFL board with alternate spreads and totals on most games |
| 2 | Bovada | 4.6/5.0 | Clean bet slip that is easy to read on a phone |
| 3 | MyBookie | 4.4/5.0 | NFL markets sit on the front page, so fewer clicks to a bet |
| 4 | BetUS | 4.3/5.0 | Long-running U.S.-facing book with crypto and card deposits |
Ratings are DWZ editorial scores based on NFL market depth, pricing, and deposit options. Bonus terms and rollover rules change constantly, so read the current offer page before you deposit.
What Mistakes Cost Beginners Money on These Three Bets?
- Betting big favorites on the moneyline. A -400 favorite pays $12.50 on a $50 bet. One loss wipes out four wins.
- Ignoring the half point. Moving from -3 to -3.5 sounds tiny. In the NFL, 3 is the most common margin of victory, so that half point matters more than in any other sport.
- Rolling three or four of these into a parlay. Every leg has to win, and the payout rarely covers the added risk. Read our breakdown of how NFL parlays work before you build one.
- Betting every game on the slate. A full Sunday slate doesn’t mean a bet on every game. Pick the two or three you actually have a reason for.
- Skipping the totals market. It’s the easiest bet to research and the one most beginners never touch.
Ready to put it into practice? Our NFL Week 1 betting guide for 2026 applies all three bet types to the opening slate.
References
- NFL Football Operations — official schedule, rules, and game data
- Pro Football Reference — historical NFL scores and margin-of-victory records
- American Gaming Association — State Gaming Map — state-by-state legal sports betting status
- Supreme Court of the United States — Murphy v. NCAA (2018) — the ruling that ended the federal sports betting ban
