How To Read The Football Odds

November 8, 2022 by Staff

Football is one of the most popular sports in the USA, and it is only normal that sports betting sites will look to exploit that fact. There is a wide range of options for you if you seek to start betting on American football, but first, you need to understand how to read the odds.

There are various types of odds to bet on sports betting sites, so let’s take a closer look at the specifics of the most important ones.

Point Spread Odds

The starting point here is that you need to understand the team listed as favorites needs to win by more than the points listed to payout.

Here, you need to check the odds of the game you want to place a bet on and see which team has a minus sign next to the point spread. The number after that sign will get you an indication of how many points the team needs to win.

Another thing to note here is that the underdog will payout if they win or lose by fewer points than the point spread.

See the plus sign next to the point spread odds, and you can also win if the team loses by less than the number of points listed by the bookmaker. Of course, if the team loses by more than the number listed, you will lose your bet.

Next, you will be able to get your bet back if the point spread ends up in a tie. Here, if the points spread for both teams is a round number, there could be a tie – also known as “Push”. If a team scores the same amount on the point spread, then you will get just the money you have wagered.

Finally, if there is no clear underdog for the match, the newest online bookmakers will list the odds as “Pick”. If there is no number on the point spread, just pick a team you think will win the game.

Money Line Betting

It is very simple here – money line odds are based on which team eventually wins. They are different to point spread odds, as they don’t have any concern about what the actual score of the game is.

If you bet on the winning team, then you are paid out, and if you bet on the losing team, you lose the money – it is that simple.

So, you need to look for the team that has a minus sign next to the money line odd and that is how you know which team is the favorite. The same logic applies to the team with the plus sign.

When you're betting on BC.Game games, understanding these odds is crucial for making informed decisions. The odds not only reflect the likelihood of various outcomes but also guide you on where the value lies in betting markets. By mastering the art of reading football odds, you'll enhance your betting strategy, enabling you to make more calculated bets and ultimately enjoy a more rewarding betting experience on platforms like BC.Game.

Other Types of Bets

Bettors will also be able to combine bets into a parlay for a bigger payout. However, keep in mind that you can only place parlay bets if you have already wagered on other games.

Parlay bets are made if you are confident you will win, so you can combine them for a better payout. Of course, if you don’t get one of the bets correctly, you lose the parlay completely.

Moreover, some bookmakers can also offer a teaser parlay that will give you the chance to adjust the point spread to help your preferred team win.

It is also commonly seen that teams in the NFL fire coaches mid-season and bookmakers will also come out with odds on who is the likely successor of the fired coach.

Bookmakers also provide odds for over/under scores. The over/under is a number that is listed in all football games and it refers to the points both teams score at the end. Of course, if you think that the teams will score more points than the given value, bet over, and vice versa.

Finally, prop bets may have different odds at bookmakers. They can be made of any aspect of a football game and they are usually based on a simple question that needs to be answered as “yes” or “no”.

These types of bets vary from one bookmaker to another, so you should check them out before you decide to place any bets.

Do’s and Don’ts of Football Betting

Whenever you’re placing bets, you need to be mindful of several things. This doesn’t concern football only, it applies to many other sports. Learning the do’s and don’ts will help you have the best experience ever. With that being said, here’s what you need to pay attention to.

Do’s of Football Betting

Let’s start with the positive betting activities. The first and most important thing you should do is always conduct proper research on the game on which you’re planning on betting. Research involves getting familiar with the following topics:

• The form of the two teams in the past few games
• Player injuries
• H2H scores – which team is better
• The average number of points that they've scored recently
• Recent changes in the team (new players, new managers, directors, etc.)

All of this information will help you come up with a more educated decision. Although it won’t guarantee you any wins, it’ll increase the chances of one.

Next, if you’re betting at an online sportsbook, make sure you use bonuses and promotions if they apply to your game. They allow you to increase your potential payouts. Here’s what you need to be careful about, though. Every bonus has its own terms and conditions. They tell you how you can claim the offer, how to use it and what you should do to withdraw its winnings.

Make sure you read them and understand them. The terms will tell you whether it’s worth it to use the offer or not. There’s no point in claiming and using a bonus if the terms and hard to meet.

Finally, make sure that you are gambling responsibly. The goal of placing football bets is to enjoy and have fun. There’s no point in excessive gambling and placing risky bets.

Don’ts of Football Betting

There are a few don’ts in the world of football betting. You should try to avoid them if you want to have ultimate fun and increase your chances of winning.
The first and most important don’t in football betting is thinking emotionally, rather than rationally. This especially concerns betting on your favorite team to win. Rely on statistics, not emotions. If your favorite team doesn’t have the statistical upper hand, then don’t bet on them.

Secondly, don’t boost your parlay bets just to increase your overall winnings. The more games you add, the more likely you are to lose the bet. If you’re placing parlay bets, add a few games that you think are safe bets and turn your betting ticket in. Don’t think or overdo things. There’s no point in adding 10 games just to have a decent payout.

Finally, never chase after losses. If you place multiple betting tickets and they all fail, don't start to bet just to cover the losses. Chasing losses only leads to more losses. This also concerns chasing wins. Just because you won one or two tickets, that doesn't mean that luck will be with you forever. If you won a certain amount, cash it and call it a day.

Verdict

The popularity of football grows with each passing day, and the calibre of people looking to invest in it serves as proof.

For this reason, bookmakers around the world make sure to offer a rich football betting market, as they know players will seek to turn their expertise in the sport into profit. If you are a newbie in the football betting sector, then this guide is the ideal starting point for you.