How to Bet
On Football
Most
sports fans are pretty familiar with the standard types of football
bets, but there are many options out there. Below you will find
some of the common types of football bets offered at online sportsbooks.
These of course are just examples. Please read the betting rules
of the specific sportsbook you place a bet with prior to laying
down any money. Their specific bettting rules override anything
that is explained here.
Bet
on Football! Click here!
To
bet on football, determine the team you wish to bet, with the point
spread, and the amount you wish to wager. The payout, unless stated
otherwise, is figured at odds of 10/11. This means that a wager
of $11 would win $10 and return $21.
This
is called a straight bet. A straight bet is the most common
type of football bet.
The
point spread: When betting on football, the team you bet on must
"cover the spread". This means they must win or not lose
by a predetermined margin of points.
Point
spread bets are one of the most common sports bets. Spreads are
intended to level the betting playing field between two teams. If
the handicappers do their job right and choose the right spread
number, there should be an even chance of winning or losing the
bet taking into account the spread and a roughly equal number of
bettors on both sides of the game. It is a way to even the odds
and make things a little more fun.
In a spread bet, the team perceived to have less of a chance of
winning will have points added to their score and the team expected
to win will have the same number of points subtracted from their
score.
Example:
Straight Bet
Team Line
Redskins
Steelers -5
Note: The bottom
team is always listed as the home team unless otherwise noted.
The
point spread is always placed to the immediate right of the team
that is favored. If you bet the Steelers, the Steelers must win
by 5 points for you to win your bet. If you bet the Redskins, any
of the following will declare you a winner.
(a) The Redskins win the game.
(b) The game ends in a tie.
(c) The Redskins lose the game by not more than 5 points.
If
the Steelers win by exactly 5 points, the wager is declared a push
and all money is refunded.
Point spreads
change constantly. The listed point spread at the time you make
your bet may be different than the point spread when the game starts.
The point spread that is listed on your ticket is your official
spread.
Total: Total points scored in a game(also called the over/under)
You may wager
that the total score of the game will be more or less than the number
listed. It makes no difference which team covers the spread. Simply
add the final score of each team. The payout, unless stated otherwise,
is figured at odds of 10/11.
In some cases,
bettors have the option to discard the point spread and bet on which
team will win. This is called betting on the "Money Line"
The Money Line:
Odds for a game based on $1.00. A "minus" (-) preceding
the number indicates the team is a favorite. A "plus"
(+) preceding the number indicates the team is an underdog.
Bet the Team
Total Money Line
Redskins 40 +160
Steelers -6 -180
The Steelers odds are -180, meaning an $18 bet would win $10, for
a return of $28. The Redskins' odds are +160, meaning a $10 bet
would win $16, for a return of $26.
Football
Parlays: More than one team on the same bet
You may combine
several teams into one wager. All teams and/or totals must cover
the point spread to win the bet. Odds and the number of teams vary
from casino to casino. The following are approximate odds:
2 teams 13-5
3 teams 6-1
4 teams 11-1
5 teams 22-1
6 teams 44-1
Any game that
results in a push reduces the parlay one team. A two-team parlay
would become a straight bet.
Parlays: These
offer the potential for huge return while betting as little as two
dollars.
Football
Teasers: A wager that improves the point spread, but at
reduced odds.
Teasers can not be straight bets.
"Teasing"
the point spread is done adding points to a underdog, or subtracting
points from a favorite. This increases the probability of winning
your bet, but decreases the odds of the parlay. Odds and the number
of points available to "tease" vary from casino to casino.
The following are approximate odds:
Number of teams 6 points 6.5 points 7 points
2 teams 10-11 10-12 10-13
3 teams 8.5-5 7.5-5 7-5
4 teams 3-1 5-2 2-1
5 teams 9-2 4-1 7-2
6 teams 7-1 6-1 5-1
7 teams 10-1 9-1 8-1
3
Team Special Teaser 10 pts 10/11
How to Bet
on Football! Click here! |
